Event #20: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

It took an extra day than scheduled, but at the end of four days of split pots, scooped pots, and wheels, Calen McNeil has emerged as the victor, taking home his first gold bracelet, and $277,274 for first place. McNeil and the runner up, Can Kim Hua, ended play heads-up last night, and returned today to battle it out for the bracelet.

Hua started the day with just five and a half big bets, but he quickly won a handful of pots to take a 2:1 chip lead over McNeil. From there, the two exchanged the lead multiple times for the near three hours of Day 4 play, until McNeil was finally able to pull away from Hua. On the last hand of the day, Calen McNeil raised it up, and Can Kim Hua made the call. The flop came    , and Hua bet right out. McNeil raised it up, and Hua called. The turn brought the  , and the rest of the money got in the middle.

Hua:     
McNeil:     

McNeil celebrated a bit prematurely when he saw the cards, thinking that Hua was drawing dead. However, he could still catch a six or a jack on the river for a straight. McNeil was able to fade the river, the  , and him and his rail erupted in celebration.

Congratulations again to McNeil, who beat out a stacked final table that included Todd Brunson, Stephen Chidwick, John Monnette, and Tony Ma, amongst others. McNeil has no plans to relax or celebrate however, as he has said that he will be hopping right into the 5 PM $5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Event and try to go for back-to-back bracelets. We will keep track of his progress there. Thanks for tuning in, and make sure to check out all the other events going on today!

Calen McNeil raised it up, and Can Kim Hua made the call. The flop came    , and Hua bet right out. McNeil raised it up, and Hua called. The turn brought the  , and the rest of the money got in the middle.

Hua:     
McNeil:     

McNeil celebrated a bit prematurely when he saw the cards, thinking that Hua was drawing dead. However, he could still catch a six or a jack on the river for a straight. McNeil was able to fade the river, the  , and him and his rail erupted in celebration.

It was a valiant effort for Hua, who finished one spot short of his goal, but $171,577 is a nice consolation prize.

Calen McNeil	4,570,000	925,000
Can Kim Hua	0	-925,000

After Can KIm Hua lost a checked down pot, and limp folded the next one, he is down to 1.125 million, which is less then four big bets right now.

Calen McNeil	3,445,000	500,000
Can Kim Hua	1,125,000	-500,000

Calen McNeil called from the button, and Can Kim Hua checked. The flop came    , and both players checked. The   hit the turn, and Hua fired out. McNeil called, and the same thing happened when the   hit the river. Hua announced "six," and McNeil shot back with "queen," showing      for a better three of a kind.

Hua mucked, and he is back down to just over two million, which means that once again, the lead has switched.

Calen McNeil	2,545,000	700,000
Can Kim Hua	2,025,000	-700,000

The two players are taking a 20-minute breather. We will post updated counts when they return.

The two players have exchanged small pots over the last 15 minutes, with Hua slowly building back towards a slight chip lead.

Can Kim Hua	2,425,000	300,000
Calen McNeil	2,145,000	-300,000

The see-saw battle between Can Kim Hua and Calen McNeil is still raging on as Hua has just retaken the lead. McNeil raised it up from the small blind, and Hua called. The flop came down    , and Hua check called a bet from McNeil. Both players checked the   turn, and the river brought the  . This time, Hua led out, and McNeil called.

Hua showed      for a striaght and a low, and McNeil tossed his hand to the deal.

Can Kim Hua	2,725,000	600,000
Calen McNeil	1,845,000	-600,000

Can Kim Hua called on the button, and Calen McNeil checked his option. The flop came down    , and McNeil check called a bet from Hua. Both players checked the   on the turn, and the river was the  . Hua bet after McNeil check, and McNeil kicked his hand in.

Calen McNeil	2,745,000	-100,000
Can Kim Hua	1,825,000	100,000

Can Kim Hua called, and Calen McNeil checked his option. The flop    , and McNeil check called a bet from Hua. On the turn, the  , McNeil pulled a check raise on Hua, who made the call. McNeil then fired out on the  , and Hua called.

"I almost have nut nut," McNeil said showing      for the nut flush and second best low. Hua flashed the    for a lesser flush, giving a huge pot to McNeil.

Calen McNeil	2,845,000	1,000,000
Can Kim Hua	1,725,000	-1,000,000