Event #9: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship

Ari Engel of Canada earned his second career bracelet by winning Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship at the 2021 World Series of Poker. Engel won after an epic heads-up battle against Zachary Milchman that lasted six hours and ended in a hand where Engel's two pair was good against his opponent's pair of eights.

With the victory, Engel secured a $317,076 cash and a coveted WSOP bracelet while Milchman, a Floridian who was after his first bracelet, earned a payday of $195,968 for his runner-up finish.

Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship

Engel, who won his first bracelet in Event #48: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em at the 2019 WSOP, had to get through a field of 134 runners that included many of the biggest names in poker, including Erik Seidel, Mike Matusow, Shaun Deeb and Phil Hellmuth — who was seeking a record-setting 16th bracelet but ultimately fell short when he was eliminated in fifth place in the first level of play on Day 4.

Engel entered the final day with a big chip lead and used it to his advantage by putting pressure on his opponents, including Andrew Yeh and Eddie Blumenthal, both of whom were eliminated by the eventual champion.

"In these kinds of situations, it's a balance between wanting to put pressure on other players who presumably want to move up, and then at the same time kind of protecting your own chip lead," Engel told PokerNews about his strategy entering the day. "You've got to strike the right balance depending on how the other players are playing and how the stacks work out."

Engel had Milchman down to under a million chips at a point, but his heads-up opponent always found a way to climb back and the two exchanged chip leads multiple times throughout heads-up play.

"He played amazing and I easily could have lost it," Engel said. "It's not like I was crushing him or anything close to that."

Anyone in the Amazon Room at the Rio on Thursday likely heard the screams and cheers of a rambunctious group of Engel's friends on the rail — a group that Jason Koon at one point asked to quiet down as he played for all the marbles in an adjacent tournament.

"It's rare for me to have a crazy rail like I had today, so that's really exciting that I did have so many friends around," said Engel. "It made it all the sweeter."

That wraps up the PokerNews live reporting team's coverage of the Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, but be sure to check out the WSOP reporting portal for additional coverage.

In what would end up being the final hand of the tournament, Ari Engel raised on the button and Zachary Milchman called.

The flop came     and Milchman checked. Engel bet and Milchman went deep into the tank before deciding to raise. Engel made it three bets to go and Milchman called off for his remaining chips.

Zachary Milchman:     
Ari Engel:     

The   turn and   river completed the board — leaving Engel best with queens and tens and eliminating Milchman in second place.

Stay tuned for a recap of this prestigious championship event!

Ari Engel	8,000,000	700,000
Zachary Milchman	0	-755,000

Zachary Milchman raised on the button and Ari Engel called.

Both players checked on the     flop.

Engel then check-raised a bet from Milchman on the   turn and Milchman called.

Engel bet a final time on the   river and Milchman gave up his hand.

Ari Engel	6,600,000	1,100,000
Zachary Milchman	1,400,000	-1,100,000

Zachary Milchman completed from the button and Ari Engel checked his option.

Both players checked on the     flop and Engel check-called a bet from Milchman on the   turn.

The   completed the board and Engel check-folded after facing another bet from Milchman.

Ari Engel	5,400,000	-200,000
Zachary Milchman	2,600,000	200,000

There have been an inordinate amount of chop pots at showdown as of late. The chip counts have not moved significantly in either direction for a while.

Ari Engel	4,500,000	-400,000
Zachary Milchman	3,500,000	400,000

Zachary Milchman has won several small pots in succession and increased his chip stack to back over three million.

Ari Engel	4,800,000	-1,200,000
Zachary Milchman	3,200,000	1,200,000

Ari Engel raised on the button and Zachary Milchman three-bet. Engel called.

Milchman continued for a bet on the     flop and Engel raised. Milchman called.

Milchman check-called a bet from Engel on the   and opted to lead out for a bet on the   river.

Engel went into the tank, but eventually tossed in a call.

Milchman tabled      for a flush and a low. Engel mucked and Milchman scooped the pot.

Ari Engel	5,200,000	-1,200,000
Zachary Milchman	2,800,000	1,200,000

Ari Engel and Zachary Milchman are on another 10-minute break with Engel having a commanding chip lead.

Zachary Milchman opened on the button and called when facing a three-bet from Ari Engel.

Milchman called again when Engel bet on the     flop but folded when facing another bet on the   turn.

Ari Engel	6,800,000	1,100,000
Zachary Milchman	1,200,000	-1,100,000