Home / Poker News June 2009 / Lunkin Wins $40,000 in WSOP Event #2
Lunkin Wins $40,000 in WSOP Event #2
Posted by: James Carter. - Mon, 2009-06-01 17:25
Lunkin Wins $40,000 NLH WSOP Event #2
It was no easy feat but Vitaly Lunkin has done it, making him the biggest winner so far in the 2009 World Series of Poker, and bracelet winner of event #2, the biggest buy-in of the series. The $40,000 No-Limit Hold'em tournamnet attracted 201 entrants generating a prize-pool of $7,718,400 of which Lunkin won $1,891,012.
As final table play got off to a quiet start it was Isaac Haxton who was looking the strongest as chip leader. Noah Schwartz facilitated the first removal of the day, that was Ted Forrest who went in 9th with $240,317, but whilst the elimination helped Schwartz a little, it didn't help him stay in too long as he was next to go when he went up against Greg Raymer and some pocket Aces. Raymer then became the man that everyone was watching when he sent Lex Veldhuis to the rail in 7th, but it was Haxton who sent sixth place finalist Alec Torelli to the rail, followed by Justin Bonomo. With four left in play Dani Stern made a bold pre-flop all-in that did him no favours; off he went in fourth.
With three strong players left it lasted a surprisingly short time, as it was just a few hands before Raymer went to the rail and that left Haxton and Lunkin with the former boasting a 2-1 chip lead. Heads-up play was a test of endurance in and of itself; lasting more than 2 hours, the chip leader position went back and forth more times than anyone cares to count, until Haxton initiated what would be the final hand. a Haxton preflop raise led to a Lunkin all in over the top which was called – Lunkin holding a pair of Aces and Haxton a pair of 8s; the turn and the river bought no solace for Haxton, and victory belonged to a very happy Vitaly Lunkin – Congratulations!
