Event #16: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw

When the final table started in Event #16: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball, Todd Bui was sitting with the second shortest stack and he only had five big bets. Less than six hours later, he overcame that deficit and emerged victorious to win his first bracelet over eventual runner-up "Captain" Tom Franklin. In addition to the bracelet, Bui also collected $124,510 in first-place prize money.

When asked about that deficit he had to overcome, Bui had this to say: "In this format, I wasn't too worried. You have to produce a hand. I wasn't trying to move up spots. I came in trying to win and had one goal. I achieved it."

Bui is originally from Sacramento, CA and came up learning to play poker with JC Tran. "He's my best friend in poker," said Bui. "We started playing low limits together and then I moved down to Los Angeles because of the poker scene there. I started with limit hold'em, but branched off into other games."

Bui went on to explain that he doesn't play tournaments often. In fact, he said: "This is my first tournament win of any kind."

"I said before I came here this year that I was going bracelet hunting," Bui added. "The very next event I played after saying that was this one."

Final Table Results

To get the victory, Bui had to best a field of 348 players. Among those that would take part in the tournament were notables like Josh Arieh, David Benefield, Ted Forrest, Daniel Negreanu, Justin Bonomo, Phil Galfond, Phil Ivey, Tom Schneider, and Scott Clements. Mike Leah would end with the Day 1 chip lead, and he was joined by players like Jason Mercier, Stephen Chidwick, Todd Brunson, and Dan Smith in moving on to Day 2.

At the end of Day 2, only eight players remained and it was eventual runner-up Tom Franklin who held the chip lead. Among those who made the money but came up short of a bracelet were Dan Kelly (35th - $2,767), Brunson (31st - $2,767), Layne Flack (30th - $3,359), Daniel Idema (25th - $3,359), Chidwick (24th - $3,359), Smith (21st - $4,082), and Leah (11th - $6,586).

The final table would be a tough one as it contained players like WSOP bracelet winner Aaron Steury (5th - $22,935), one-time $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. runner-up Vladimir Shchemelev (4th - $33,388), and David Bell (3rd - $49,944). Three-handed play between Bell, Franklin, and Bui started with Bui being the shortest of the three stacks, but he would go on a run winning six of seven hands to move into the chip lead. It was a lead he would never relinquish on his way to victory.

Thank you for following PokerNews with our coverage of this event and stay tuned the rest of the summer for more exciting WSOP action.

Players are on a 20-minute break. Here are the updated chip counts:

Todd Bui	1,243,000	183,000
Tom Franklin	323,000	-177,000

Bell raised from the button and Captian Tom Franklin called from the big blind. Both players drew two, Franklin bet, bell raised, Franklin three-bet, and Bell called. Both players stood pat, Franklin lead, Bell called, and both stood pat again. Franklin lead out, Bell made the call, and Captain Tom turned over       for the win.

Tom Franklin	500,000	60,000
David Bell	160,000	-80,000

Todd Bui has just won six of the last seven pots to surge from the short stack to the big stack. He's opening up a lot of pots and being very aggressive. It helps to hit hands as well, which he's done several times recently. It's still anyone's tournament, however, as one big pot could shift that chip lead back to Tom Franklin or David Bell.

Todd Bui	750,000	510,000
David Bell	450,000	-250,000
Tom Franklin	350,000	-170,000

Hand: David Bell opened from the button, Todd Bui raised from the small blind, and Bell made the call. Bui stood pat, Bell swapped one, Bui lead out and got a call. Bui stood pat, Bell asked for one, Bui lead out again and Bell let it go.

Hand: Bui raised, Bell three-bet and Bui called. Bell stood pat, Bui drew one, bell bet and Bui called. The next 2 draws went the same way, but when Bell lead the final draw, Bui folded.

Hand: Captain Tom Franklin raised, Bui called, and they both drew one. Bui check-called a bet from Franklin, drew one, and Franklin stood pat. Bui again check-called a bet from the Captain, they both stood pat, and this time Bui check-folded to Franklin's bet.

David Bell	700,000	-20,000
Tom Franklin	520,000	-30,000
Todd Bui	240,000	-30,000

Tom Franklin opened for a raise and was three-bet by the short stack at the table Vladimir Shchemelev. Franklin called and drew two to Shchemelev's one. Franklin checked, Shchemelev raised, and Franklin three-bet which was enough to set Shchemelev all in.

They both stood pat the next two streets and Franklin announced a wheel and turned over the nuts      . A hopeless, and eliminated, Shchemelev turned over      . He received congratulations from the other three at the table and was off to the cashier to collect his $33,388 4th place winnings.

Tom Franklin	550,000	110,000
Vladimir Shchemelev	0	-80,000

David Bell raised from the button and Tom Franklin called out of the big blind. They both drew two and Franklin check-raised Bell's bet and Bell made the call. Franklin stood pat and Bell drew one. Franklin led out and would call a raise from Bell. They both stood pat and Franklin would check-fold to Bell's bet.

David Bell	720,000	90,000
Tom Franklin	440,000	-160,000
Todd Bui	270,000	121,000
Vladimir Shchemelev	135,000	-25,000

Three players saw the first draw in a raised pot and Vladimir Shchemelev put his last 10,000 in after drawing one when Tom Franklin and David Bell both drew two. They both called and Franklin drew one and Bell two on the next two streets, checking both times. Shchemelev showed       which was good enough to take the pot and stay alive for a shot at the bracelet.

Vladimir Shchemelev

130,000

60,000