Vitaly Lunkin Takes Down Event #2, The 40th Annual $40k Event and Wins $1,891,012

Posted by pokerguru on June 2, 2009

In one of the more entertaining final tables we have seen in quite some time, Vitaly Lunkin outlasted Isaac Haxton in a marathon 3 hour and 20 minute heads up match. With only 2 big name pros making it through to the final table, the odds were that we would see a new poker millionaire, and Vitaly Lunkin is it.

Play on the final table was pretty tight the entire night and it took much longer than anticipated for the champion to be decided. Our pick for the championship, Greg Raymer, played exceptionally well, but went out in third place trying to make a huge move. With the way he had been playing, I am still baffled at why he chose the hand that he did to get all of his chips in the middle. It just goes to show that one wrong move can end an otherwise perfect day.



Raymer was on the button and made a pre-flop raise to 400,000. Lunkin got out of the way and the Haxton came over the top to make it 1,250,000. Raymer then made a very questionable move by pushing all in for 8,105,000 and Haxton immediately called. Raymer and his 55 were way behind Haxton and his 99. The play comes into question as Raymer had to know that his best possible scenario only had him at about 60-40% to win the hand and he was very likely up against a better pair. The board never improved either player and Raymer was sent to the rail with a standing ovation from the room.

The moment everyone had been waiting for all night was about to take place. The first major event of the 40th WSOP was about to go into heads up. The money was brought out to the table and Haxton and Lunkin settled in with Haxton holding a better than 2:1 chip edge.

The first big h and of heads up play happened about a half hour in. Lunkin ended up pushing all in on the river and Haxton gave up the hand. The pot improved Lunkin to 13,900,000 in chips. The players traded small hands back and forth and while Lunkin had captured the lead for a bit, the bulk of the small hands were going Haxton’s way. Over the next hour and a half, he would regain his 2:1 edge. Unfortunately, his house of cards was about to blown down.

Haxton took a devastating blow to his stack on hand #154 of the night. Haxton made a pre-flop raise to 400,000 and Lunkin came over the top for 1,400,000. Haxton then pushed with his K3c. Again, a foolish move after playing strong poker all night long. Lunkin immediately called and flipped over 1010. With a flop of 10-4-2 and no clubs, Lunkin doubled up and was now holding the huge chip lead.

Haxton came right back at him 7 hands later on a horrible beat. With a flop of K53, Lunkin check-raised a bet of 525,000 and made it 1,450,000. Haxton made the call and watched the turn show a 6s. Lunkin fired another 1,500,000 at the pot and Lunkin made the call. Lunkin was sitting on AA to Haxton’s K10. Lunkin was absolutely shattered when a 10c hit the river and cheated him from snagging the championship. However, this was only a prelude of things to come as both of these players now appeared to be ready to mix it up. Haxton – 13,970,000, Lunkin – 10,125,000.

Just two hands later, all of the chips would be back in the middle of the table, and Lunkin would once again have a huge chip lead. Haxton called Lunkin’s preflop raise of 1,400,00 and aw a flop of A54c hit the board. Lunkin fired out with 2,000,000 and Haxton pushed his stack in the middle. Lunkin called and the players flipped their cards. Lunkin turned over Qc10s and Haxton had Qs8c. Haxton hit a miracle 8 on the turn, but a river 2c brought him back down to earth. At his point, Haxton was left with only 5,505,000 in chips and had to be mentally devastated.

It all came to an end about 3 hours and 20 minutes after they started playing heads up and was a part of this massive flurry of action that came out of nowhere. The final hand of the tournament started with Lunkin on the button and making the call from the SB. The board hit Q-10-8, all diamonds. Haxton took a shot at the pot for 1,200,00 and Lunkin them moved all in and was called. The cards where flipped and Haxton showed 3d8c to Lunkin’s AsAh. Amazingly, all Haxton needed to crack his AA was a diamond. However, none of his 14 outs would show up and Lunkin had finally taken down what will be one of the most important titles of the season. Both players are now millionaire’s, but Lunkin gets the jewelry and the honor of having his national anthem played at the second bracelet ceremony of the year.