The players in the $25,000 PLO are now on a quick break and will return to the felt shortly. There have been a total of 200 entries thus far and that number is expected to grow substantially as the players use their remaining bullets.
Event #45: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Jour 3 terminé
The third day of Event #45: $1,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo at the 2023 World Series of Poker has come to a close with Houston native William Leffingwell taking home the $253,651 first-place prize and his first WSOP gold bracelet.
Leffingwell had no easy task navigating his way through this final table with bracelet winners Shaun Deeb, Joey Couden, Raj Vohra and 2019 Main Event finalist Zhen Cai attempting to stand in his way, but by night's end, he'd be hoisting a bracelet over his head and carrying the Houston PLO scene on his back.
Leffingwell had a huge rail, and it was clear how much it meant to him to have people that he cares about behind him to witness him stepping into the spotlight and clinching the top spot. In fact, he hadn't even planned to come to Las Vegas for the WSOP until the main event, but his best friend Scott Dulaney won a bracelet last week and told him he needed to come win a bracelet before the main event. Leffingwell's response? "Ok, I'll come win the $1,500 Mixed Omaha event."
One week after calling his shot, he stands atop a field of 1,091 players as the last man standing. After coming into Day 3 in the middle of the 33 returning players, Leffingwell steadily built a stack and marched toward the final table. Once there, he put on a clinic by picking his spots well, being disciplined when needed, and getting max value when it counted.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Leffingwell | United States | $253,651 |
| 2 | Zhen Cai | United States | $156,773 |
| 3 | Carlos Guerrero | United States | $109,474 |
| 4 | Joey Couden | United States | $77,620 |
| 5 | Shaun Deeb | United States | $55,894 |
| 6 | Raj Vohra | United States | $40,887 |
| 7 | Benjamin Miner | United States | $30,392 |
| 8 | John Zable | United States | $22,960 |
| 9 | Nelio Gatta | Italy | $22,960 |
When asked what it meant to him to be standing in the Thunderdome with a bracelet in hand and the people he cares about in his corner, Leffingwell said, "Man, I love these people, and I love Houston. We've been through a lot these last couple of years, and poker down there is the best in the world."
He even laid an open invitation to anyone in the world, saying, "PLO is our game, and we invite everyone in the world to come play at any stakes." Before letting him get back to his celebration, his last parting words with PokerNews mentioned plans to win another bracelet this summer, so we'll have to keep a look out for Leffingwell to see if he can call two shots in one summer.
The first casualty of the final table was John Zable when he was ousted by the eventual runner up, Zhen Cai.
Following him to the door was Benjamin Miner, who got a very short stack in before the flop and couldn't find the help he needed to extend his run at the final table.
Raj Vohra was next to the payout desk after getting short and mounting a big comeback that ultimately fell short of helping him win a second bracelet.
Five-handed play lingered for some time, but it was eventually another bracelet winner in Shaun Deeb who exited after coming into the final table with a big chip lead. All eyes were certainly on Deeb to see if he could add a seventh lifetime bracelet and a second of the summer to his legacy, but he would eventually fall in a big confrontation with the eventual champion.
Another bracelet winner, Joey Couden, was sent to the rail in fourth place when he couldn't dodge the scoop outs of his opponent, Carlos Guerrero, and while Guerrero would come out the victor in that confrontation, he was also the next to exit the final table in what became a massive confrontation with Zhen Cai.
The heads up battle between Cai and Leffingwell lasted a total of seven hands with a massive swing taking place on the second hand dealt that would allow Leffingwell to take command of the momentum and the chip lead before ending Cai's run in second place to take the title.
To say this event was exciting would be an understatement, and with half the summer still left, there will be many more stories just like this jumping to the forefront, and PokerNews is the one and only place to get up-to-date coverage of every event left on the schedule!
Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
William Leffingwell raised to 500,000 and Zhen Cai called.
The flop came A♦3♣J♣ and Cai led out with a pot-size bet of 1,200,000, leaving 400,000 behind. Leffingwell moved all in and Cai committed his last chips.
Zhen Cai: A♥K♥9♠5♥
William Leffingwell: Q♣J♥5♠2♣
"Four," Leffingwell called out to his rail as he held up four fingers and stood up from his seat. The 10♥ came on the turn, and Leffingwell now began calling for a king.
He got his wish as the dealer turned over the K♣, completing his straight as he ran over to celebrate with his supporters while Cai had to settle for a runner-up finish.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
27,275,000 | 2,675,000 |
|
Eliminé |
Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
Zhen Cai raised to 600,000 and William Leffingwell called.
Both players checked the 8♦9♠10♣ flop before Leffingwell potted the 3♠ turn, sliding forward 1,200,000.
Cai called to the K♣ river and Leffingwell potted again for 4,200,000. Cai, with around 2,600,000 remaining, gave it some thought before mucking as Leffingwell opened a massive lead.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
|
24,600,000 | 2,400,000 |
|
|
2,600,000 | -2,400,000 |
Big O
Zhen Cai raised the button to 500,000 and William Leffingwell called to see the Q♣J♦3♥ flop.
Leffingwell checked to Cai who quickly bet 600,000. Leffingwell called and watched as the dealer burned and turned the 6♣.
Leffingwell again checked over to Cai who announced pot for 2,400,000. Leffingwell slid out calling chips, prompting the dealer to put the 2♦ out on the river.
Leffingwell led for the first time in the hand for 6,000,000.
Cai thought briefly before announcing call and Leffingwell immediately exploded out of his char screaming, "Nut nut, baby!" with his rail almost coming over the barrier in celebration of what was a massive swing in chips very early in this heads up match.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
|
22,200,000 | 9,000,000 |
|
|
5,000,000 | -9,000,000 |
Big O
Zhen Cai limped in, then called when William Leffingwell raised to 500,000.
The flop came Q♠3♠7♥ and Leffingwell bet another 500,000. Cai called and the 7♠ fell on the turn.
Leffingwell now checked and Cai put in a bet of 1,200,000. Leffingwell quickly slid forward a raise to 3,000,000, and Cai's hand quickly hit the muck.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,000,000 | -3,300,000 |
|
|
13,200,000 | 3,300,000 |
Niveau: 36
Limits: 400,000-800,000
Big O
On the last hand before tournament officials were going to force the players to bag up for the night, Zhen Cai bet 300,000 on a flop of 7♥8♠4♠ before Carlos Guerrero potted to 1,200,000.
Cai called to the 10♥ turn, where Guerrero potted again for 2,900,000, a bet representing most of his stack. Cai stood up and studied the board for a moment before raising, and Guerrero called for the rest of his chips.
Guerrero had A♦9♣7♠4♣2♥ for the low and two pair, while Cai had Q♥J♣6♥5♥2♦ for a straight. The players were preparing to chop until the river came the 2♠, counterfeiting Guerrero's low and sending him to the rail in third place.
The floor gave Cai and William Leffingwell the option to continue, and they agreed to take a short 10-minute break before starting heads-up.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
|
17,300,000 | 5,300,000 |
|
|
9,900,000 | 800,000 |
|
Eliminé |
Omaha Hi-Lo
Zhen Cai limped the small blind and called a raise from William Leffingwell in the big blind leading to a 7♣5♥J♠ flop.
Cai checked to Leffingwell, who bet and was met with a call from Cai before watching as the dealer burned and turned the K♠.
Cai led this time with a bet, and Leffingwell called to take both players to the 8♦ river.
Cai check-called a bet from Leffingwell and saw Leffingwell turn up the A♥10♥10♦2♠ which was good enough to chop the pot with Cai's Q♠J♥10♠4♦.
| Joueur | Jetons | Progression |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,000,000 | |
|
|
9,100,000 |
