Event 2 - $40,000 No Limit Hold'em | 2009 World Series of Poker

05-31-2009 20:04 UTC-12

Hand #160 - Isaac Haxton Doubles Through Vitaly Lunkin

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Isaac Haxton has the button. He opens for 400,000 and Lunkin calls.

The flop is {K-Clubs}

and Lunkin check-raises Haxton's 525,000 bet to 1.45 million. Haxton calls and they go to the turn, which falls the {6-Spades}

. Lunkin leads out with a 1.5 million bet, Haxton moves all in and Lunkin calls.

Haxton {K-Spades}

Lunkin

Haxton needs a king or a ten to survive.

"This would be a good time to use my 'one time'" he says, echoed by a chorus from his railbirds.

One time indeed-- the river is the {10-Clubs}

and Haxton thrusts his fists into the air.

"ONE TIME! ONE TIME!" screams Haxton's half of the audience.

With that hand, Haxton doubles to 13,970,000 while Lunkin is down to 10,125,000.

05-31-2009 20:02 UTC-12

Slim Takes a Seat

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After busting in 17th in the Champions Invitational event earlier this evening, Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston has made his way over to watch some of this heads up battle.

Play has concluded in that event, with the top ten finishers slated to return tomorrow at 3 p.m. Vegas time to play out the final table. You'll once again be able to follow the action in that one here on PokerNews.

05-31-2009 19:56 UTC-12

Hand #159 - Isaac Haxton

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Vitaly Lunkin has the button. He gives Haxton a walk in the big blind.

05-31-2009 19:55 UTC-12

Hand #158 - Isaac Haxton

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Isaac Haxton has the button. He raises to 400,000 and picks up the blinds and antes.

05-31-2009 19:54 UTC-12

Let's Turn This Around

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There was a dealer change after that last hand. "He's my man," said Isaac Haxton with a smile, hopeful to retake the momentum once again.

05-31-2009 19:53 UTC-12

Hand #157 - Vitaly Lunkin

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Vitaly Lunkin has the button. He raises to 400,000, Haxton three-bets to 1.4 million and Lunkin moves all in. Haxton folds and Lunkin takes the pot.

Lunkin is now up to 17,470,000.

05-31-2009 19:51 UTC-12

Hand #156 - Isaac Haxton

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Isaac Haxton has the button. He raises to 400,000 and Lunkin calls.

The flop is {J-Diamonds}

and Lunkin check-folds to Haxton's 600,000 bet.

05-31-2009 19:49 UTC-12

Hand #155 - Vitaly Lunkin

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Vitaly Lunkin has the button. He raises to 500,000 and Isaac Haxton calls.

The flop is {8-Hearts}

and Haxton check-folds to Lunkin's 500,000 bet.

05-31-2009 19:46 UTC-12

Hand #154 - Vitaly Lunkin Doubles Through Isaac Haxton

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Isaac Haxton has the button. He raises to 400,000 and Lunkin comes in with a three-bet to 1.4 million. Haxton moves all in and Lunkin calls all in for 7,940,000. Haxton has him well covered.

Lunkin {10-Hearts}

Haxton

The flop is {10-Spades}

and the Russian contingent explodes on one side of the room as Lunkin flops top set. The turn is the {J-Hearts}

, leaving Haxton drawing dead. The river is the meaningless {Q-Hearts}

and Lunkin earns a huge double-up, completely reversing the chip counts.

Lunkin is currently up to 15,940,000 while Haxton is left with 8,155,000.

05-31-2009 19:44 UTC-12

The Battle Continues

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It has been over two hours since Greg Raymer's sudden elimination and the start of heads up play.

Isaac Haxton held a little better than a 2-to-1 chip lead over Vitaly Lunkin at that point, but it only took Lunkin seven hands to take the lead away. But after a lengthy bit of back-and-forthing, Haxton has now retaken the momentum and has built his way close to that 2-to-1 chip advantage once again.

Neither player appears to be in any huge hurry to gamble it up. And the stacks are still deep -- Haxton has about 75 big blinds to Lunkin's 45.

But wait... something big is brewing...