Vitaly Lunkin Bio

Russian player Vitaly Lunkin bested a field of 2,706 players in a 2008 World Series of Poker $1,500 buy-in no-limit hold'em event to win his first bracelet. It was only his second major tournament cash. He made just over $628,000.

Lunkin followed up that success with two major wins in 2009. He won the inaugural PokerStars Russian Poker Tour main event in Moscow in May to take home $433,741. At his first event of the 2009 WSOP, Lunkin won the 40th annual no-limit hold'em tournament to take home $1,891,012. He beat a field of 201 of the top professionals in the world to secure his spot as a world-respected professional.