Russian Poker Star to take WSOP 40th

Russian Poker Star to take…

Russian professional player, Vitaly Lunkin, defeated Isaac Haxton in a dramatic heads-up match to claim $1,891,018 in the eagerly anticipated WSOP $40,000 No-Limit Hold'em event.

The 2009 World Series of Poker Special 40th Anniversary Championship turned out to be one of the toughest No-Limit Hold'em tournaments in history. 201 of the best poker players in world, including Greg Raymer, Tony G, Sorel Mizzi, Neil Channing, Andy Black, Justin Bonomo and Vanessa Rousso paid the staggering $40,000 buy-in to enter - but it was Russian star, Lunkin, who managed to come out on top.
"This was the most difficult tournament of my life," Lunkin said amongst the excitement afterwards.

The heads-up match for the title against Isaac Haxton was especially dramatic. The chip lead shifted back and forth and at one point Haxton cracked Lunkin's pocket aces to stay alive. Lunkin fought his way back, however, and the next time he had pocket rockets they held up all the way and the 38-year old poker professional/business manager from Moscow had won the prestigious tournament.

This was Lunkin's second WSOP bracelet. Last year he won a $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event with 2,706 entrants and took home $628,417. A couple of weeks ago the in form Lunkin won the opening Russian Poker Tour event in his home town, Moscow. Who said poker was a game of luck?

Publish Date : 05/06/2009

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