2009 World Series of Poker

Day 3 completed

Posted 06-22-2009 23:39 GMT-12

Matt Graham Wins $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship ($679,379)

Well it was a long, grueling day of poker and we expected nothing less when we started out today with 25 of the finest pot-limit Omaha players in the world, as they came together to battle it out for the coveted gold.

They fell away fast in the early stages, but once the final table was set, it was a tough battle that took enormous amounts of concentration, focus, and stamina.

By 4:30am the two most aggressive players remained, but in the end, only one could be crowned champion. A spirited heads-up battle started dead even, saw Graham crippled and then recover through a series of double-ups to get himself back into the contest and ultimately in front when the cards finally fell his way.

Well done to Vitaly Lunkin on yet another impressive WSOP performance and congratulations to Matt Graham our $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Champion!

Vitaly Lunkin Eliminated In 2nd Place ($419,832)

On a limped flop of , Graham check-raised pot against Lunkin's 120,000 bet, making it 480,000 more. Lunkin made the call and there was 1.2 million in the pot.

The turn was the and Graham led out for 1.1 million. Lunkin moved all in and Graham called.

Graham:
Lunkin:

Lunkin had a gutshot and a flush draw against Graham's set of tens, which were in the lead. The river was the and after a quick countdown it was confirmed that Lunkin had fewer chips and was out in second place.

Lunkin quietly went over and shook Graham's hand with a smile, graceful in defeat.

Graham Doubles and Regains the Chip Lead

Lunkin raises to 300,000 and Graham pots it. Lunkin sets him in and Graham calls.

Lunkin shows and Graham has .

"This was the hand we were waiting for," shouts one of Matt's friends, "wait until Vitaly has aces and trap him!"

The flop comes giving Lunkin top two and Graham top pair and a full wrap. The turn is the and Graham now has the straight. The river is the and Graham doubles up to about 4.5 million once more...retaking the chip lead.

Graham Continues to Fight

Matt Graham limped into the pot from the button and Vitaly Lunkin checked his option in the big blind.

The flop landed and Lunkin checked to Graham, who fired 175,000. Lunkin made the call.

The turn was the and Lunkin checked again to Graham, who continued the aggression with a bet of 450,000 to take it down.

Graham Doubles...Again

Pot and repot, Graham gets it all in against Lunkin once more.

Graham:
Lunkin:

The board comes , Graham's queens and fours winning over Lunkin's tens and nines for another double-up.

Graham Stays Alive

Matt Graham raised the pot from the button, Vitaly Lunkin announced he was all in and Graham called off the last of his chips.

Graham:
Lunkin:

The board ran out and Graham found a double-up to stay alive. He's back to 1.2 million but still has a long road ahead.

Lunkin Doubles

Vitaly Lunkin raises to 300,000 and Graham repots it and Lunkin moves all in. Graham calls and it's the classic A-K vs. queens race, erm...sort of.

Graham:
Lunkin:

The flop is an absolute action killer: . Lunkin flops the nuts with the nut-flush draw, and Graham needs runner-runner. The turn is the giving him a shot but the river is the and Lunkin has 8.25 million and Graham has just 600,000.

Small One for Graham

Vitaly Lunkin raised to 300,000 from the button and Matt Graham called in the big blind.

The flop fell and both players checked. The turn brought the and Graham led at the pot with a bet of 450,000 to take it down.

Hate the Player, Not the Waiter

Oops. Before I thought it was the waiter who had thrown a bag of beef jerky into Scott Seiver's eye. It wasn't, it was actually one of the players at the final table.