Saturday, June 27, 2009
WSOP event 40: Graham completes another amazing heads-up comeback; Marcus places third

2009 World Series of Poker Event 40: $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship (295 entries; 27 players paid; USD  $2,773,000 prize pool)



In a year of remarkable stories at the 2009 WSOP, Matt Graham’s story of triumph amid almost impossible odds stands up along side the best. Trailling chip leader Vitaly Lunkin 9:1 when heads-up play started, the 25-year-old pro clawed back to capture his second gold bracelet and the first prize of $679,402.

Graham’s first WSOP gold bracelet came in last year’s $1500 Limit Shootout event when he overcame an 8 to 1 chip disadvantage against Jean-Robert Bellande. With this victory, Graham became the 128th player in WSOP to earn in more than USD $1 million in WSOP winnings.

“I was never too far behind before heads-up play started. I was not really in a rush. I am perfectly okay with someone else throwing in a few raises and busting a few people. I’m just going to sit there and wait. Wait until we get short-handed and then pick up the pace a little,” he said.

“I was thinking I was just going to continue playing my best. No matter how good you play, it was a long shot in that situation. So, you just have to do all that you can to come back and hope the cards cooperate.”

The final table featured five former WSOP gold bracelet winners Josh Arieh, Graham, Lunkin, Richard Austin and Barry Greenstein, along side Australia’s Van Marcus, celebrating his second final table for the 2009 WSOP.

The chip distribution was one of the most even of any finale played this year. It took nearly three hours to bust out the first player. Furthermore, during the first five hours of play, players were separated by small margins. Lunkin’s elimination of Barry Greenstein gave him the chip lead, which he held during the majority of play.

The heads-up match between Vitaly Lunkin and Matt Graham was as entertaining as any finale played at this year’s WSOP. Lunkin had his opponent on the ropes several times, but was never quite able to put Graham.

The American managed to overcome the feisty Russian’s huge chip lead and staged a dramatic comeback. In the midst of doubling up three times and taking a slight chip lead, Graham won every hand of consequence during the final 45 minutes of play. The key hand of the match took place on the final hand of the tournament when Graham’s flopped set of 10s held up against Lunkin, who missed a flush draw with two cards to be dealt.

Lunkin came extremely close to winning his third WSOP gold bracelet.  He has an amazing record in WSOP play – with three final table appearances, ending with two firsts and a second. At the 2008 WSOP, Lunkin won a $1500 No-Limit Hold’em event and pocketed $628,417. Earlier this year, he won the special anniversary $40,000 No Limit Hold’em championship, worth $1,891,012.

Van Marcus finished third, again underlining his status as the best young player on the Australian poker scene.

The fourth-place finisher was Robin Keston, from England.  He made it to the final table of last year’s WSOP Europe championship, taking seventh place.