Leif Force Wins WSOP $3k HU NLH/PLO Event

Leif Force has won WSOP Event #3: $3k Heads Up NLH/PLO, after winning nine consecutive matches on his way to topping the 317 player field and collecting the $207,708 first-place prize.
Back in 2006, the US pro finished 11th at the Main Event for $1,154,527, but after his latest victory can add a gold bracelet to his poker resume, which now totals $2,056,160 from live tournaments.
Leif Force overcame a host of tough competitors on his way to success including George Lind, Andy Frankenberger and his pal Julian Powell in a good humoured semi-final match. As Force explains:
“I get to the next round with my buddy Julian, he’s an Omaha player, and we like kidding around. Because I like to gamble, I just thought we could spice it up and show one card and I thought he’d go along with it, which he did.”
Before long, Force was through to a final heads-up encounter against Jason Koon, during which Force was able to pull away in the opening PLO round, before his opponent took the lead when the game switched to no-limit hold’em.
Nevertheless, PLO proved the game of choice for Leif Force who was then able to score two important double-ups before being dealt Ac-Kc-Jh-8c and putting Koon (10d-9s-8s-5d) in on a 8h-7d-5c flop. A 10c on the turn gave Koon two pair, but the Qc river made Leif Force the nut flush, to eliminate Koon as the runner-up for $128,660.
Meanwhile, Leif Force was crowned the 2012 WSOP $3k HU NLH/PLO Event Champion, and commenting on his favourite poker format, said:
“I play Omaha because I hate folding and I love to play hands. It’s just such an enjoyable game, and even the people who play Omaha are more fun in general.”
Payouts for the top eight finishers of Event#3 were as follows:
1. Leif Force – $207,708
2. Jason Koon – $128,660
3. Simeon Naydenov – $73,655
3. Julian Powell – $73,655
5. Greg Merkow – $28,409
5. David Benefield – $28,409
5. Andy Frankenberger – $28,409
5. Annette Obrestad – $28,409