WSOP 2010 Event 4 - Michael Chow Wins $1,500

Event #4 at the 2010 WSOP was the $1,500 Omaha 8 or Better.  Thang Luu won this event the past two years, but a one year ban from the WSOP last year meant he was unavailable to defend his title.  This allowed a new group of players to take their shot at the title.

WSOP 2010 Event 4 winner Michael Chow

The first two days saw many hopefuls take their shot at going deep in this event.  Notables that finished in the money in this event include Fu Wong in 76th, Berry Johnston in 73rd, Todd Brunson in 52nd, and Allen Kessler in 39th.

Going into day three, Jeff Madsen, David Bach, Huck Seed, Ylon Schwartz, and Dan Heimiller all were still in the field.  Day 3 started with three tables and played until a bracelet winner was decided.  David Bach went out in 24th, followed by Huck Seed in 18th.  Jeff Madsen came close to making the final table, but finished in 12th.  Both Dan Heimiller and Ylon Schwartz made the final table.

Here are the final table participants of 2010 WSOP Event 4:

Seat 1 - Michael Cipolla
Seat 2 - Ylon Schwartz
Seat 3 - Fred Koubi
Seat 4 - Todd Barlow
Seat 5 - Scott Epsein
Seat 6 - Sasha Rosewood
Seat 7 - Dan Heimiller
Seat 8 - Michael Chow
Seat 9 - Joe Leibman

Ylon Schwartz finished in 3rd place.  After getting his stack crippled, he moved all-in against Dan Heimiller holding two pair.  Heimiller actually had flopped the same two pair, but improve his hand to a better two pair to win the hand and send Schwartz to the rail.

Heads-up play was between Michael Chow and Dan Heimiller.  At one point Heimiller held a sizable chip lead, but Chow stormed back to take his own lead.  Heimiller pulled back to even and then decided to make a ill-advised bluff with only a pair of nines.  Chow rivered a straight and took nearly all of Heimiller's stack.

The very next hand was the final hand of the event.  Heimiller moved in with 10-8-7-2 and Chow called with Q-9-3-2.  The board came A-10-5-J-K to give Chow his 2nd straight in a row and the title.

Michael Chow won $237,140 for his victory in Event #4.  In addition he received a gold championship bracelet.  Chow is normally a cash game pro and is a Omaha 8 or Better specialist.

Congratulations to Michael Chow, Event #4 Champion

Final Table Payouts:

1	Michael Chow	237,140
2	Dan Heimiller	146,505
3	Ylon Schwartz	94,446
4	Fred Koubi	69,188
5	Scott Epstein	51,431
6	Michael Cipolla	38,747
7	Sasha Rosewood	29,548
8	Joe Leibman	22,798
9	Todd Barlow	17,780