Local Luu wins World Series of Poker event for second straight year

Las Vegan Thang Luu has pulled off one of the more unusual feats at the World Series of Poker.

Luu, a 34-year-old native of Vietnam who has been in the United States for 17 years, won the $1,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low event for the second year in a row. In addition, Luu finished second in the same event in 2007.

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,” said World Series of Poker spokesman Nolan Dalla.

Luu collected $263,135 for first place, the largest cash prize ever awarded in an Omaha High-Low tournament. He defeated a field of 918 players over three days.

Luu was also awarded his second World Series of Poker gold bracelet. He now has cashed five times at the tournament in his career and has amassed $727,755 in total winnings. 

The last time any player has finished first, first and second in the same event at the World Series of Poker was Johnny Chan’s accumulated record in the $10,000 buy-in Main Event between 1987-1989. He won the titles the first two years but finished runner-up to Phil Hellmuth in 1989.

Prior to becoming a poker pro, Luu worked as a table games dealer in Las Vegas.

The World Series of Poker is entering the second week of a six-week, 57-event run at the Rio.
 

Victorious Thang Luu