Thang Luu (pronounced \”Tang\”) just took down the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo … and while normally an Asian dude winning a smallish mixed game bracelet would hardly merit more than polite applause, this win is truly impressive because Luu won the same event in 2008, and took second place in its nearest equivalent — $2,000 OHL — in 2007.
The last player to do something similar — booking back-to-back same-event bracelets — was Johnny Chan, who won the WSOP main event in 1987 and 1988 … and then took 2nd place in 1989.
ALT HED: Luu, Thang Clan Ain\’t Nothin\’ Ta Fu-k Wit
UPDATE: I wasn\’t entirely correct about Johnny Chan. Yes, he was the last one to get two 1sts and a 2nd in three years, but here\’s the complete list of back-to-back WSOP champions:
Johnny Moss — $10,000 World Championship (1970-1971)
Lakewood Louie — $5000 Limit 5-Card Draw High (1978-1979)
Bones Berland — $500 7-Card Stud (1978-1979)
Doyle Brunson — $10,000 World Championship (1976-1977)
Stu Ungar — $10,000 World Championship (1980-1981)
Johnny Chan — $10,000 World Championship (1987-1988)
Susie Issacs — $1000 Women’s Seven-Card Stud (1996-1997)
Nani Dollison — $1,000 Women’s Mixed Stud/Hold’em (2000-2001)
Thang Luu — $1,500 Omaha High-Low Split (2008-2009)
NOTE: Be sure to read the comments for the \”more complete\” list of back-to-back champions.