Poker Tournament Results

40th World Series of Poker 2009

Ed Smith

Tournament Report

Tournament Highlights: The Winner The 2009 World Series of Poker $1,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low champion is Thang T. Luu, from Las Vegas, NV. Luu accomplished one of the most astonishing feats in many years at the WSOP. He successfully defended his title as the $1,500-buy-in Omaha High-Low champion after winning the same event last year. Furthermore, Luu managed to finish second in this same 2007 event. This means Luu has now finished second, first, and first – in the same event over three consecutive years. In the future, poker historians will debate poker’s greatest accomplishments and this feat is certainly among them. The last time any player has finished 1-1-2 (in any order) was Johnny Chan’s accumulated record in the $10,000 buy-in Main Event between 1987-1989, when he finished 1-1-2. However, it may be argued that since Chan’s number of opponents was considerably smaller, that Luu’s accomplishment is even more impressive. In 2007, he finished second in a field of 690. In 2008, he topped a field of 833. In 2009, he defended his title with 918 entrants. Luu is 34-years-old. He is a professional poker player. Luu is originally from Vietnam. He arrived in the United States at the age of 17. Prior to becoming a poker pro, Luu worked as a table games dealer in Las Vegas. He is single, and is also known as 'Tiger Luu.' Luu is primarily known as a cash game player. He plays regularly in $80-160 limit games at various casinos in Las Vegas. His favorite game is $200-400 mixed games when it’s spread, because he does not think many players play multiple games well. Luu doesn't play tournament poker very often, but does try to play in most major Omaha High-Low Split tournaments, which he enjoys. Aside from Omaha High-Low Split, Luu says his favorite poker game is Badugi. In a post-tournament interview, Luu stated: “It feels even better than the last one,” in referring to the comparison of winning the previous year. “I think these kinds of $1,500 buy-in events are the best for me,” Luu said. “There are a lot of new players in the (lower buy-in tournaments). An interesting coincidence: Luu remembered that he won the same event last year at the exact same level (30,000-60,000 limits). Luu stated afterward, “I know one thing for sure. I will play in this event every year from now on!” Luu collected $263,135 for first place, the largest cash prize ever awarded in an Omaha High-Low tournament. He was also awarded his second WSOP gold bracelet. He now has cashed five times at the WSOP and has amassed $727,755 in career winnings. The Players The final table was comprised of two former WSOP gold bracelet winners – Freddy Deeb (2 wins) and Thang Luu (1 win). The runner up was Ed Smith, from Twentyninepalms, CA. Smith appears to be snake-bit with “second-itis” at the WSOP. He has now finished second three times in WSOP events. Smith finished as the runner up in tournaments played in 1999 and 2000. The third-place finisher was Ming “Joy” Reslock. She is from Atlantic City, NJ. This was Reslock’s best WSOP finish ever. She is married to former WSOP gold bracelet winner Chris Reslock. The fourth-place finisher was Robert “Animal” Price. He is a poker pro from Cornwall, UK. He previously worked as an accountant and was born in Honk Kong. Price also cashed in the 2006 WSOP Main Event. The fifth-place finisher was Pascal Leyo, from New York, NY. He is a day trader. This marked his first time to cash in a WSOP event. The sixth-place finisher was Jordan Rich, from Portland, OR. The seventh-place finisher was Jim Geary, from Phoenix, AZ. He is a pro poker player who is a master gamesman. Geary was the chess champion at Arizona State University at age 17. He is also a four-time U.S. representative to the World Scrabble Championship. The eighth-place finisher was popular poker pro Freddy Deeb, from Las Vegas, NV. Deeb’s quest for gold bracelet number five ended early at the final table. The ninth-place finisher was Senovio Ramirez III, from Mercedes, TX. Other notable former WSOP gold bracelet winners who cashed in this event, included Eli Elezra (20th), Annie Duke (30th), Erick Lindgren (34th), Layne Flack (44th), and Todd Brunson (77th). This marked Annie Duke’s first re-appearance back in the poker spotlight since her runner-up finish to comedian Joan Rivers on NBC’s hit television show, “Celebrity Apprentice.” Predictably, Duke was bombarded by autograph seekers and with table questions while returning to the green felt of the WSOP. Odds and Ends The tournament began with WSOP President and Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack and WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel at center stage. “Shuffle Up and Deal” honors went to Effel himself, who began the tournament on time. Prior to the start of the event, the tournament room was filled with popular music from the year 1970. Since this is the 40th anniversary of the WSOP, much of the music and memories that his year’s series will flashback to the earlier era. The three songs played as background music prior to the start were “American Woman” by The Guess Who, “Instant Karma” by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band, and “Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel. The final table had to be played on a standard tournament table, rather than on one of the main poker/television stages supplied by ESPN. This was due to two enormously popular events being played on the same day – the finals of the $40,000 Buy-In No-Limit Hold’em Championship and the Champions Invitational, also known as “The Binion Cup.” With all due respect to the higher profile events, Thang Luu’s successful defense of his title had the entire room applauding when the winner was announced at slightly past mindnight. In a very unusual spectacle, many players playing in cash games and other tournaments actually stopped, stood, and applauded Luu’s extraordinary accomplishment. The Event This was the largest live Omaha High-Low Split tournament in history. The previous record was set at the 2008 WSOP when the same event attracted 833 players. The number of entrants this year – 918 – smashed the previous mark and represented a nine percent increase in attendance over the same tournament held last year. Omaha High-Low Split has been offered at the WSOP every year since 1990. Omaha (high) was first seen at the WSOP back in 1983. The game phased its way onto the annual schedule as draw poker and lowball began to fade in popularity. All WSOP Omaha events played between 1983 and 1989 were Limit (high) and Pot-Limit. Now, Pot-Limit Omaha and Omaha High-Low Split are the most popular forms of this poker game. Omaha High tournaments are now rare. It was last played at the WSOP in 2003. Omaha High-Low Split is also called 'Omaha Eight-or-Better.' This means the low hand must be an 'eight or better' qualifier to split half of the pot. The tournament was played over a three-day period. The End Day One chip leader was defending champion, Thang Luu. Jordan Rich arrived at the final table as the chip leader. However, he ended up in sixth place. The final table lasted about 150 hands and last six hours and 10 minutes. The final hand took place when Luu was dealt Q-9-8-7 double suited. Smith was dealt J-9-9-3 double suited. The final board showed Q-5-4-5-10. Luu’s two pair (queens and fives) bested Smith’s two pair (nines and fives). There was no low hand. Thang Luu’s back-to-back defense of his title is the first such feat since 2000-2001. He is one of only nine players to have accomplished this. Here is the list of “Back-to Back WSOP Champions:” Johnny Moss -- $10,000 World Championship (1970-1971) Lakewood Louie -- $5000 Limit 5-Card Draw High (1978-1979) Bones Berland -- $500 7-Card Stud (1978-1979) Doyle Brunson -- $10,000 World Championship (1976-1977) Stu Ungar -- $10,000 World Championship (1980-1981) Johnny Chan -- $10,000 World Championship (1987-1988) Susie Issacs -- $1000 Women’s Seven-Card Stud (1996-1997) Nani Dollison -- $1,000 Women’s Mixed Stud/Hold’em (2000-2001) Thang Luu -- $1,500 Omaha High-Low Split (2008-2009) The tournament officially began on Friday, May 29th at 12:01 pm. The tournament officially ended on Monday, June 1st at 12:24 am. WSOP Statistics Through the conclusion of Event #3, the 2009 WSOP has attracted 1,985 entries. $9,361,170 in prize money has been awarded to winners.