This past Monday saw the start of the first Omaha tournament at this years Poker Stars World Championship of Online Poker. The buy-in stood at an affordable $200 + $15, and with a guaranteed prize pool of at least $300,000 it was no surprise to see that a whole host of top Omaha players registered. A total of 2,457 pot limit players signed up for the tournament, swelling the prize pool to over $491,000. The tournament’s format may have also tempted in a number of players. Each table was capped at 6 players, in what is more commonly known as 6-max.

As expected a large contingent of Poker Stars pros turned out to try their hand at a spot of PLO, including the likes of: ElkY, Chad Brown, Dario Minieri, John Duthie, Isabelle Mercier, Tuan Lam, Vanessa Rousso, and Victor Ramdin. However, despite their numbers, none of them were able to make it further than the 219th place occupied by Alexandre “Allingomes” Gomes.

Some of those pros were, no doubt, among the raft of early knockouts. The tournament set a frenetic opening pace, with 600 players eliminated in just 40 minutes. The stage seemed set for a whirlwind event and the high velocity did continue for a time. However as the field began to shrink things began to slow and it would be 16 hours before the start of heads up play.

One major sticking point was the final table bubble, no player wanting to be the one denied the chance to play at a WCOOP final table. Not only the prestige of making the final table was at stake, a sizable jump in prize money was also up for grabs. The prize structure of this years WCOOP has been criticized by some for its top heavy nature, and the final table bubble will certainly have added more fuel to the fire. The difference between 6th and 7th places was a massive $8,000, with the prizes almost tripling from $4,500 to $12,500.

In the end markkx was the unlucky one, leaving the chipstacks going into the final table as:

mddgfc: $1,348,188
HOREogHALM: $447,113
kev19: $1,900,088
bearbeer123: $571,028
Mary 717: 2,204,333
rkruok: $900,250

Those of you who have been keeping up to date with the results of this years WCOOP thus far may well recognize the name ‘rkruock’. Despite the series being only 4 days old, he had already recorded 3 cashes and was now in with a shot at becoming an event champion. If the other players hadn’t heard of him it wouldn’t be long before his name was on the tip of their tongues, as he became embroiled in some early controversy. The clock was paused and the players discussed whether it was time to make a deal for the money. Many professed to be tired and hungry and would sooner divvy up the proceeds and play out the final few hands than slug it out for the agreed prizes. It came to a vote and all were in favor withstanding HOREogHALM and rkurock. So play continued as normal.

Their decision appeared to immediately bear fruit, when the short stack, bearbeer123, became embroiled in a hand with rkurock. With his few chips over the line, his fate was sealed when a King came down to connect with rkrock’s AK, ahead of bearbeer123’s pocket 10’s. Rkrock’s elation at his wise decision would prove to be short-lived, as he became the next player to leave the table. The pain of missing out on the $13,000 extra he could have earned had he taken the deal would not have been dulled to any degree after his elimination by Mary 717 – her paired 10 finding a companion as an 8 hit on the river to give her two pair, far ahead of rkruock’s AA.

With one of the main opponents of the deal out of the picture the players again tried to reach an agreement, but just as before, HOREogHALM was opposed to the idea and play resumed as normal. He may well have come to immediately regret that decision, but by then it would have been too late. Mary 717 appeared to be punishing those who would block the other players ambitions as she slow-played her set of aces and drew the all-in from HOREogHALM and his two pair.

Now that both of the deal-breakers had been eliminated an accord was struck, with the prize money split according to chipstacks. Mary 717 took the biggest share, $65,730, mddgfc the next largest, $50,301, and kev19 a marginally smaller portion, $49,861. All that was left to play for was the remaining $6,000 and the highly regarded WCOOP bracelet. The players seemed keen to end it all and get to bed at this point. After an agreement was reached the tournament lasted all of 5 minutes.

Lady luck seemed to be siding with the fairer sex yet again, as Mary 717’s K-K-9-5 found three more nine’s on the board to crush kev19’s A-A-3-2. This elimination put Mary 717 in a commanding position for heads up play, with a chip advantage of around 5/1. It took no time at all for mddgfc to get his chips all-in and this time Mary 717 found herself ahead. Her Ad-Ah-Qs-10c the favorite over kev19’s  Jd-10d-10s-9h before the flop, and once the Kd-Qc-Jh came down her victory was assured with a flopped nut straight. So Mary 717 was crowned the first Omaha champion of the 2008 World Championships of Online Poker and will take with her 14 karat gold WCOOP bracelet, and $71,730, as a reward for her fantastic victory.

The full list of cashes for WCOOP Event #7 is:

1      Mary 717     United States      $77,395.50
2     mddgfc     United Kingdom     $55,282.50
3     kev19     Canada     $40,294.80
4     HORERogHALM     Norway     $30,221.10
5     rkruok     Australia     $21,130.20
6     bearbeer123     Sweden     $12,481.56
7     markkx     Canada     $4,619.16
8     EggBall     Australia     $4,619.16
9     greenrizla     Ireland     $4,619.16
10     RaSZi     Netherlands     $1,818.18
11     Kid Atavism     United States     $1,818.18
12     Analyser2     Hungary     $1,818.18
13     Maverick1     Denmark     $1,572.48
14     AGame18     United States     $1,572.48
15     onehandturks     United Kingdom     $1,572.48
16     schuster90     United States     $1,572.48
17     payupnowx     Canada     $1,572.48
18     silo9206     United States     $1,572.48
19     NA$DAq     Russian Federation     $1,523.34
20     Narec     Canada     $1,523.34
21     Pass_72     Canada     $1,523.34
22     Belabacsi     Hungary     $1,523.34
23     losyara007     Russian Federation     $1,523.34
24     lowballeric     United Kingdom     $1,523.34
25     timmy720     United States     $1,474.20
26     Trona ziptet     Brazil     $1,474.20
27     Us_Alex     Russian Federation     $1,474.20
28     Duchow     United States     $1,474.20
29     THE__D__RY     United States     $1,474.20
30     wombat007     Germany     $1,474.20
31     L.O.G.I.C.O     Netherlands     $1,425.06
32     t soprano     United States     $1,425.06
33     Chancew     United States     $1,425.06
34     JPRGriff     United Kingdom     $1,425.06
35     PearlJammer     United States     $1,425.06
36     croissants     United States     $1,425.06
37     michsandjr     United States     $1,375.92
38     crackhAAd     United States     $1,375.92
39     aNatty     Finland     $1,375.92
40     JaySick88     United States     $1,375.92
41     actionjack     United Kingdom     $1,375.92
42     Madcandle     Finland     $1,375.92
43     pogi74     Canada     $1,326.78
44     Believer82     United States     $1,326.78
45     Kayjen625     New Zealand     $1,326.78
46     vilaincanard     France     $1,326.78
47     Mizuno MX20     Denmark     $1,326.78
48     SpaceyFCB     Belgium     $1,326.78
49     csmooth02     United States     $1,277.64
50     charli70     Ireland     $1,277.64
51     Moberg72     United Kingdom     $1,277.64
52     maxit11     Denmark     $1,277.64
53     krex     United States     $1,277.64
54     tipp2000     Germany     $1,277.64
55     risti7     Estonia     $1,228.50
56     Maanu3L     Germany     $1,228.50
57     AttyBubba     Philippines     $1,228.50
58     Mr. C. Brown     United States     $1,228.50
59     marzello     Uruguay     $1,228.50
60     surfstar33     United States     $1,228.50
61     varela42     United States     $1,179.36
62     Reesy     Ireland     $1,179.36
63     Tünchen     Germany     $1,179.36
64     PeachyMer     United States     $1,179.36
65     farva00     United States     $1,179.36
66     Player007     United States     $1,179.36
67     StorPike     Sweden     $1,130.22
68     gutshtallin     United States     $1,130.22
69     NAVARONE     United States     $1,130.22
70     interceptor     Sweden     $1,130.22
71     jay3400     Denmark     $1,130.22
72     THAIBOXX     Denmark     $1,130.22
73     TheWhtWhale     United States     $1,081.08
74     BBB-111     Finland     $1,081.08
75     Greatone572     United States     $1,081.08
76     dapotpot     United States     $1,081.08
77     Hone2709     Austria     $1,081.08
78     stuestudent     United States     $1,081.08
79     Atila5     Spain     $1,031.94
80     weaktight     United States     $1,031.94
81     lokern     Norway     $1,031.94
82     Specialk66     United States     $1,031.94
83     mikeymcdx     United States     $1,031.94
84     doublmeup1     United States     $1,031.94
85     julefou8484     France     $982.80
86     thelick     Norway     $982.80
87     BGnight     United States     $982.80
88     grabskia     France     $982.80
89     J_soldier     South Africa     $982.80
90     TwistedEcho     United Kingdom     $982.80
91     Assassin8tor     United States     $933.66
92     duzeplecy     Poland     $933.66
93     Sage Phantom     United States     $933.66
94     VERY_HIGH     United States     $933.66
95     LaJune     United States     $933.66
96     gaffel     Norway     $933.66
97     skinut     United Kingdom     $884.52
98     IAmSnow     United States     $884.52
99     retaaded     United States     $884.52
100     DedoDeGorila     Brazil     $884.52
101     Exit4afilm2     United Kingdom     $884.52
102     Dee_Zaster11     Finland     $884.52
103     Jamalshabazz     United States     $835.38
104     __2cb__     Netherlands     $835.38
105     cop17     Denmark     $835.38
106     TOOL ON TOUR     United Kingdom     $835.38
107     ThomasToget     Norway     $835.38
108     PushThButton     Finland     $835.38
109     CanonExpress     United States     $835.38
110     DNA2RNA     United States     $835.38
111     Tmay420     United States     $835.38
112     mattydthe3rd     United Kingdom     $835.38
113     danish69     Denmark     $835.38
114     sunnyknight     Germany     $835.38
115     Rivvie     Netherlands     $786.24
116     mahtipeluri     Finland     $786.24
117     Tankmaestro     United Kingdom     $786.24
118     beardoh     United States     $786.24
119     babsgard     France     $786.24
120     ThroXerioN     Germany     $786.24
121     pr23     Germany     $786.24
122     AWice     Canada     $786.24
123     zipperoo     Sweden     $786.24
124     tavira     United Kingdom     $786.24
125     carguy789     United States     $786.24
126     emilas     Norway     $786.24
127     RobertKoren     Norway     $737.10
128     yoda777     United Kingdom     $737.10
129     Ultra Donk     United States     $737.10
130     Canuck     Canada     $737.10
131     houdini_msu     United States     $737.10
132     SolaSystem     United States     $737.10
133     VinceVega12     France     $737.10
134     ryanbluf     United States     $737.10
135     WiLDmAn75     United States     $737.10
136     brutus07     Norway     $737.10
137     solvalla08     Norway     $737.10
138     SirEklund     Sweden     $737.10
139     YoungHero     United Kingdom     $687.96
140     AKQJ10uk     United Kingdom     $687.96
141     piccolino     Italy     $687.96
142     redddog413     United States     $687.96
143     titko23     Poland     $687.96
144     Antonio7     United States     $687.96
145     merlinpinpin     France     $687.96
146     ACESEDAI     United States     $687.96
147     SARPAT     France     $687.96
148     pittrounder     United States     $687.96
149     Squirrelsky     United States     $687.96
150     riksanchez     United Kingdom     $687.96
151     VINDOG1     United States     $638.82
152     flexmasterNL     Netherlands     $638.82
153     royeapoker     Chile     $638.82
154     Teddy FBI     Netherlands     $638.82
155     pairDboard21     United States     $638.82
156     silverfox555     Australia     $638.82
157     Darkpoker12     United States     $638.82
158     Gelo19     Latvia     $638.82
159     joshuah333     Canada     $638.82
160     antroff     Sweden     $638.82
161     MikeMcDermot     Sweden     $638.82
162     DaNutzRGood     United States     $638.82
163     DNcrew     Sweden     $589.68
164     xxjondxx     United States     $589.68
165     suns100     Latvia     $589.68
166     p10ker     United Kingdom     $589.68
167     Busted777     Germany     $589.68
168     Paryjane     Denmark     $589.68
169     simont1     United Kingdom     $589.68
170     BruschiChang     United States     $589.68
171     davidp55     United States     $589.68
172     HERITAGEM     United States     $589.68
173     jvengrin     Canada     $589.68
174     tor66     Norway     $589.68
175     imjuniar     United States     $540.54
176     barlogos     Poland     $540.54
177     vince vegas     United States     $540.54
178     kenydalglish     United Kingdom     $540.54
179     Cobra234     Denmark     $540.54
180     MutaPierda     Spain     $540.54
181     adam_mc     Canada     $540.54
182     JayPez     United Kingdom     $540.54
183     TILTkason     Sweden     $540.54
184     mberg777     Finland     $540.54
185     gsmalls30     United States     $540.54
186     IveGotToejam     United States     $540.54
187     Twisted22     Netherlands     $491.40
188     55lucky55     United States     $491.40
189     Avi011     United States     $491.40
190     Nibbling     Finland     $491.40
191     wasylekk     Poland     $491.40
192     smalljaws     United States     $491.40
193     humphreyIN     United States     $491.40
194     GetDowAndGo     United States     $491.40
195     CheapThieves     United States     $491.40
196     johnny1430     United States     $491.40
197     mandrake5     France     $491.40
198     ide1     Finland     $491.40
199     Jonnybegoode     United States     $466.83
200     steflr     France     $466.83
201     grphn     Finland     $466.83
202     frenchsnake     France     $466.83
203     lord8080     Finland     $466.83
204     Darinox     Sweden     $466.83
205     windy & me     United States     $466.83
206     doidovarrido     Norway     $466.83
207     vikings92     France     $466.83
208     al_lamp23     United States     $466.83
209     marle1     Canada     $466.83
210     gfair     United States     $466.83
211     DocStrngeluv     United States     $442.26
212     Kepper111     Canada     $442.26
213     Allingomes     Brazil     $442.26
214     Joakim6633     Sweden     $442.26
215     acehole67     United States     $442.26
216     Dr.Montelban     United States     $442.26
217     Hedgehog2     United States     $442.26
218     Csernyin     Hungary     $442.26
219     brighteyes5     United States     $442.26
220     txhammer     United States     $442.26
221     JasonGray     United States     $442.26
222     MrLynX     United States     $442.26
223     callmegeee     United Kingdom     $417.69
224     lucasino     United Kingdom     $417.69
225     gamb!or     Australia     $417.69
226     Anikke     Norway     $417.69
227     sick_rådi     Sweden     $417.69
228     whatabadplay     Netherlands     $417.69
229     Sötétlófia     Hungary     $417.69
230     fishlover     Netherlands     $417.69
231     chessyjames     Germany     $417.69
232     bbbbb33     United States     $417.69
233     joachin68     Italy     $417.69
234     CRossiter     United Kingdom     $417.69
235     chokdee11     Reunion     $393.12
236     RIKE14     Finland     $393.12
237     Grande Joe     Italy     $393.12
238     CartmanLSK     Norway     $393.12
239     checker03     Austria     $393.12
240     geirto     Norway     $393.12
241     Master Thief     Sweden     $393.12
242     mmkaywhat     United States     $393.12
243     Rutanen     Finland     $393.12
244     Ecky_Z     United Kingdom     $393.12
245     amdmyers     Germany     $393.12
246     Perun     Ukraine     $393.12
247     Frosty1Jack     United Kingdom     $393.12
248     MartinK1979     Germany     $393.12
249     8TylerDurden     United States     $393.12
250     uloseAA     United Kingdom     $393.12
251     bolito     Germany     $393.12
252     Durindal     United States     $393.12
253     antline     United States     $368.55
254     sh060480     United Kingdom     $368.55
255     tonyspain     Spain     $368.55
256     William     Sweden     $368.55
257     barnsey     United Kingdom     $368.55
258     playitsafe     Norway     $368.55
259     Spanish_Jack     Germany     $368.55
260     hartwith     United Kingdom     $368.55
261     Fortino     France     $368.55
262     EineGrosse     Sweden     $368.55
263     P0KERFACE88     Netherlands     $368.55
264     Edakaeh     United States     $368.55
265     Anima Mundi     United States     $368.55
266     Hasse     Finland     $368.55
267     oiltrader     United States     $368.55
268     Little Kraut     United States     $368.55
269     Wear     United States     $368.55
270     carrigeen     Ireland     $368.55
271     Bertron     Canada     $368.55
272     kingsofcards     United States     $368.55
273     Minkolle     Sweden     $368.55
274     bindernutnut     Canada     $368.55
275     Don Funghi     Netherlands     $368.55
276     thematheus     France     $368.55
277     yara777     Ukraine     $368.55
278     jeffdamack     United States     $368.55
279     Razzle11     United States     $368.55
280     phallos74     Sweden     $368.55
281     J9 of clubs     United States     $368.55
282     bodark stump     United States     $368.55
283     J-C AA     Denmark     $368.55
284     zakharp     Hungary     $368.55
285     kingetje     Netherlands     $368.55
286     Ryland Block     Canada     $368.55
287     Afval     Netherlands     $368.55
288     iecavniex     Latvia     $368.55
289     A_Ivanovich     United States     $343.98
290     balleklorin1     Norway     $343.98
291     caprioli     Brazil     $343.98
292     GrovSnus     Sweden     $343.98
293     Deucesboy     United States     $343.98
294     Rizen     United States     $343.98
295     Raakile     Finland     $343.98
296     GoldChicken     Finland     $343.98
297     DJRiccoLaw     Ireland     $343.98
298     amatos     Spain     $343.98
299     JoeBundy     United States     $343.98
300     exposabre     Canada     $343.98
301     Mangeelf     Sweden     $343.98
302     flrico     United States     $343.98
303     SharpNut     Canada     $343.98
304     Mr.D83     Sweden     $343.98
305     nut-nuthin     United States     $343.98
306     flugster     United Kingdom     $343.98
307     ZuperDP     Sweden     $343.98
308     TigerFM     Germany     $343.98
309     lifang     United States     $343.98
310     Tomte123     Sweden     $343.98
311     micha88     Germany     $343.98
312     bottsky     United States     $343.98
313     zoltan00     Netherlands     $343.98
314     Hiatus32     United States     $343.98
315     stortv     Norway     $343.98
316     Idolatrous     Canada     $343.98
317     yucca 48     Finland     $343.98
318     thakilla     United States     $343.98
319     opec1     Norway     $343.98
320     TimeToPress     United Kingdom     $343.98
321     jeanlouis1a     France     $343.98
322     MrSmokey1     United States     $343.98
323     Rivalen     Sweden     $343.98
324     tinki     Norway     $343.98
325     TweetDreams     United States     $343.98
326     kito555     Italy     $343.98
327     GoPhish     United States     $343.98
328     Stammdogg     United States     $343.98
329     olivebranch     United States     $343.98
330     SticKnee     Canada     $343.98
331     the_schmenx     United States     $343.98
332     Fedwin     Israel     $343.98
333     ladna     Sweden     $343.98
334     mrLando     Germany     $343.98
335     hotmark777     Lebanon     $343.98
336     pes4fans     Germany     $343.98
337     Sulzi     Germany     $343.98
338     NDGrinder59     United States     $343.98
339     Joern P     Germany     $343.98
340     Grey fox 33     Costa Rica     $343.98
341     thebulk2     United States     $343.98
342     Akademnuk     Russian Federation     $343.98
343     TT_KING     Sweden     $343.98
344     jokermsg     Russian Federation     $343.98
345     gconedog     United States     $343.98
346     gde246     United States     $343.98
347     Axzile     Sweden     $343.98
348     BLACK REIGN6     United States     $343.98
349     MasterChecho     United States     $343.98
350     hatchi     Denmark     $343.98
351     ChugsMcGee     United States     $343.98
352     AdenDean     United Kingdom     $343.98
353     vesty88     Ireland     $343.98
354     farfromfear     United States     $343.98
355     KarinMR     Norway     $343.98
356     am2ashi     Romania     $343.98
357     nickd1983     United States     $343.98
358     FossilMan     United States     $343.98
359     lnitmo     United States     $343.98
360     Power 1111     United States     $343.98