Vitaly Lunkin Wins 2nd WSOP Bracelet

Perhaps it’s a bit premature to ask Alex Kravchenko or Alexander Kostritsyn to step aside and make way for Vitaly Lunkin, or is it? This Russian poker player made his first trip to the Rio last year and picked up a WSOP bracelet winning Event 27 (a $1500 buy-in NLHE event). This year he followed that performance up with a second gold bracelet.

As if winning bracelets in back to back years isn’t enough, this year his bracelet win came in the $40,000 buy-in NLHE event which attracted 200 entrants: many of which are considered to be the best poker players in the world.

Where does this put him in terms of poker greatness: Well at least for now many have to consider him Russia’s biggest star.

Normally we’d post the tournament results in the end of an article, but to show how strong this field was here is an entire list of all players who cashed:

1st Vitaly Lunkin – $1,891,012
2nd Isaac Haxton – $1,168,566
3rd Greg Raymer – $774,927
4th Dani Stern – $548,315
5th Justin Bonomo – $413,166
6th Alec Torelli – $329,730
7th Alex Veldhuis – $277,940
8th Noah Schwartz – $246,834
9th Ted Forrest – $230,317
10th Tony (TonyG) Guoga – $172,120
11th Keith Charles Lehr – $172,120
12th Matt Marafioti – $172,120
13th Brian Townsend – $128,665
14th Brian Rast – $128,665
15th David Baker – $128,665
16th Suresh Doshi – $96,171
17th Clark Hamagami – $96,171
18th Matt Glantz – $96,171
19th Andrew Black – $71,858
20th Neil Channing – $71,858
21st David Chiu – $71,858
22nd Frank Kassela – $71,858
23rd Andrew Robl – $71,858
24th David “Dragon” Pham – $71,858
25th Sorel Mizzi – $71,858
26th Justin Tran – $71,858
27th Vanessa Rousso – $71,858

Final Table Coverage:

The Lizard King, Issac Haxton had the chip lead heading into final table play, but with the stacks deep and what would soon to be a ten hour marathon yet to be played it was anyone game. After a noticeably slow start, Ted Forrest was the first player to lean it wouldn’t be his night and he’d need to look to one of the 50 remaining events this year if he wants to win his 6th bracelet.

Next to go was Schwartz when he was all in with AK to Greg Raymers pocket Aces. Schwartz picked up $246,834 for his eighth-place finish. This hand marked some momentum for Raymer, shortly later he sent another player to the rail (Lex Veldhuis in seventh place for $277,940). On this hand Raymer raised preflop, then called when Veldhuis moved all in over the top. This time Raymer had kings and was up against Veldhuis’ Ad7d. The board ran Jh 6c 2c Qc 10s and we were down to six players.

Alec Torelli whose been benefiting recently from some time off, made an impressive return to the game picking up $329,730 for a sixth place finish, unfortunate for him he couldn’t suck out with A2 against Haxton’s AT as the board ran Qh Jc 8d Qs 5s, getting play down to five handed.

Justin Bonomo found himself in the mix for a second year in a row in a WSOP event, but this year fifth was as far as he could make it. He still managed to pick up $413,166 for his performance. On this particular hand Bonomo raised preflop, and both Haxton and Raymer both called. When the flop came 10d 9h 3h. Haxton bet Raymer folded Bonomo moved all in with JdJc, and Haxton snap-called with AdAc. The turn and river came 2d and As, and Bonomo headed to the rail.

With four to go play slowed considerably, breaking the halt in action was Dani Stern making a stand with QhTc only to get called preflop by Haxton who held AsKh. The board ran Jd 5h 2s 2d 2c Haxton’s Ace kicker was good enough to win the pot and send Stern to the rail to collect $548,315 for his 4th place finish.

The former WSOP Main Event Champion Greg Raymer made his final stand a few minute later. On this hand he raised preflop with pocket fives, Haxton 3-bet with pocket nines, Raymer moved all in and Haxton called. The board ran Kc Qd 10s 3h 3d and Fossil Man picked up $774,927 for his 3rd place finish.

Going into Heads up play Haxton had a 2 to 1 chip lead over Lunkin. However, this heads up match would take over 2 hours to complete with each opponent trading double ups and chips leads like day traders buying stock. On the final hand Haxton raised preflop and Lunkin called. The flop came down Qd10d8d, and Haxton led out holding 3d8c for bottom pair. Lunkin moved all in over the top and Haxton called, only to see Lunkin table AsAh. Haxton was unable to catch any of the outs he needed and was eliminated as the runner up receiving $1,168,566.

Here’s a video of a post match interview with 2009 WSOP $40K event bracelet winner Vitaly Lunkin.

Editor’s note: If you’d like an opportunity to play with these stars and see if you have what it takes to become poker’s next multi millionaire, why not head over to PokerStars.com where 24/7 from now untill late June there are chances to win your $10,000 buy-in to the 2009 WSOP Main Event.