Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:21 AM Local Time
Vitaly Lunkin is the champion of Event #27 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em. This is his first WSOP gold bracelet. He was all smiles as the tournament staff presented him with the bracelet. He even mugged for the cameras, holding the bracelet with both hands over his head.
Lunkin played a cagey final table, and but for some bad luck on two occasions when a board flush overcoated his hand to give an opponent second life, this final table would have been over much sooner than it was.
Lunkin not only earned a WSOP gold bracelet, but he also walks away from this tournament with a cash prize of $628,417. That's pretty good for three days in the Amazon Room. PokerNews offers its most heartfelt congratulations to Lunkin.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:17 AM Local Time
Brett Kimes completed the small blind on the button, then called a raise to 600,000 from Vitaly Lunkin.
Lunkin checked a flop of
over to Kimes, who checked behind. The turn came
. As Lunkin was getting ready to bet, Kimes glanced from Lunkin's chips to his own, and clearly seemed ready to make a big all in raise. Lunkin bet 1,000,000, and sure enough, Kimes quickly came over the top all in. Lunkin made a snap call.
"Do you have a jack?" asked Kimes. Lunkin nodded yes. "Sh*t," said a dejected Kimes. He turned over
and was behind Lunkin's
. Lunkin needed to dodge the river, which he successfully did when the river fell
.
Lunkin is the winner. Kimes collects $387,837 for his second place finish.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:04 AM Local Time
We can't be certain, but it appears that Brett Kimes may be a bit nervous about playing big pots against Vitaly Lunkin after his near-disaster 25 minutes ago. He seems to be trying to keep pots small, is playing passively, and has not been calling many preflop raises. Lunkin continues to chip away at Kimes' stack and recently took the chip lead.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:03 AM Local Time
Vitaly Lunkin - 4,600,000
Brett Kimes - 3,600,000
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:50 PM Local Time
Chips have been passing between the two players the last few hands. A lot of limped flops have been seen but few have gone beyond that stage. Lunkin has had the edge, just, edging his way nearer to an even split in chips
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:40 PM Local Time
Oh, to be inside Vitaly Lunkin's head right now. He completed the small blind on the button, only to see Brett Kimes raise to 620,000. Lunkin made the call.
The flop came
, and Kimes led out for 1.1 million. Lunkin quickly announced he was all in, a total of 2.876 million. Kimes had him covered.
"I think my gut's right," said Kimes, after tanking for a minute. Thirty seconds later, he made the call.
Lunkin:
Kimes:
A complete catastrophe for Kimes - Lunkin flopped the nut straight against Kimes' middle pair. The turn brought the
to put four diamonds on board. Kimes needed a diamond for a chop, and he got it when the river filled
. For the second time tonight, Lunkin had an opponent crushed, only to see the board flush and overcoat his hand.
Meanwhile, Kimes lets out a huge sigh of relief, and play goes on as if that hand never happened.
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:33 PM Local Time
Kimes took around nearly 600,000 chips back off Lunkin after check calling a flop and turn bet before the river was checked through.
The board was
.
Kimes turned over
for the pot.
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:27 PM Local Time
After a series of limped pots, we finally saw Vitaly Lunkin and Brett Kimes engage in a big pot. Kimes limped in on the button, but called after Lunkin raised to 375,000. The flop came
, and Lunkin led out for 350,000. After a brief pause, Kimes raised to 700,000. Without missing a beat, Lunkin announced he was all in. Kimes quickly folded.
Kimes took a hit of over 1 million chips on that hand. Lunkin is now the chip leader.
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:21 PM Local Time
Brett Kimes 4,700,000
Vitaly Lunkin 3,500,000
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:13 PM Local Time
Yet again Vitaly Lunkin limps from the small blind and Bobby Firestone checks his option.
The flop comes
Lunkin checks to face a 200,000 bet from Firestone. His answer is to go all in and Firestone calls!
Firestone reveals
for top pair.
Lunkin reveals
for an opened ended straight draw.
The turn comes
opening up a ton more outs for Lunkin.
The river comes
making the straight and eliminating Firestone and getting us heads up for the bracelet.
Monday, June 16, 2008 11:03 PM Local Time
It was another limped pot, this one between Vitaly Lunkin in the small blind and Bobby Firestone in the big blind. The flop came down
. Lunkin checked it to Firestone, who bet 200,000. Lunkin immediately check-raised all in, sending Firestone deep into the tank.
"You have a jack?" he asked. "A deuce?" He tanked for two minutes, before making the call. Lunkin tapped the felt "good call" but when the cards were exposed, he was slightly in the lead:
Lunkin:
Firestone:
The word "chop" was murmured by several spectators in the gallery, but we still needed to run out the board. The turn and river came running queens, and it was indeed a chop. Firestone remains in the tournament.
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:51 PM Local Time
Brett Kimes - 4,325,000
Vitaly Lunkin - 2,100,000
Bobby Firestone - 1,695,000
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:47 PM Local Time
Bobby Firestone raises to 250,000 from the button before Brett Kimes reraises to 750,000 from the small blind. Vitaly moves out of the way before Firestone moves all in and Kimes calls creating a four million plus pot.
Kimes tables
.
Firestone tables
.
All the way to the river we go
.
The full house easily good enough to send the pot Kimes' way, along with half the chips in play and the chip lead.
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:46 PM Local Time
Since we've come back from the break and the limits have gone up to 50,000 and 100,000, most pots have been limped. That was the case in a recent hand between Bobby Firestone in the small blind and Brett Kimes in the big blind. Both players checked the
flop. When the
hit the turn, Firestone fired 150,000 and was called by Kimes. On the river
, Firestone checked to Kimes, who bet 275,000.
Firestone went into the tank, then laid down his hand after about a minute. He flashed a queen, prompting Kimes to remark, "Lays down a queen there. How does he lay down a queen? I had a big blind special."
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:39 PM Local Time
Bobby Firestone raised to 250,000 from the button and found a caller from Vitaly Lunkin.
The flop came
Lunkin check to Firestone who bet 300,000 before raising it up to 800,000. Firestone was not put off and made the call.
They both checked the
turn, seemingly wary of the damage they could do to each other.
The river came
. Lunkin checked to Firestone who fired out a 700,000 bet. Lunkin didn't seem to like the paired board or the third heart and folded, sending the big pot and the chip lead the way of Firestone.
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:32 PM Local Time
Bobby Firestone completed the small blind for 100,000, and Brett Kimes took the opportunity to move all in for about 1.5 million.
"God! I knew you were gonna do that!" said Firestone. "It's too much to call, but I knew you were gonna do that."
This may set up an interesting play later. Time will tell.
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:25 PM Local Time
Cards are in the air. Three players remain. The average chip stacks is about 2.7 million.
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:12 PM Local Time
Vitaly Lunkin - 3,220,000
Bobby Firestone - 3,165,000
Brett Kimes - 1,735,000
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:06 PM Local Time
Play will resume in twenty minutes.
Monday, June 16, 2008 10:06 PM Local Time
Vitaly Lunkin completed and and Bobby Firestone checked from the big blind.
The flop came
where Lunkin led out for a 150,000 bet that Firestone called.
The turn came
and this time Lunkin checked and then called a 250,000 bet from Firestone.
The final card came
and once again Lunkin checked. The bet from Firestone was a bit bigger this time, being 550,000. Lunkin thought for a little while and came out calling.
Firestone flipped over
for the turned straight. Lunkin nodded his head at Firestone and mucked.