No joy for Parkinson as Lunkin narrowly misses 3rd bracelet.

Paul Sandells
Tuesday 23rd June 2009

padraigparkinson1Padraig Parkinson narrowly missed a final table in the $10,000 WSOP Championship PLO, finishing 14th. This event was one of the main hopes for an Irish bracelet considering the popularity of Omaha in Ireland and Marty Smyth’s win in 2008.

Unfortunately for Parky he never got going on the final day. Nursing a short-stack from three tables out, he finally busted at the hands of Vitaly Lunkin who is fast becoming a man to be feared in Vegas.

Lunkin, already had two bracelets in the bag – one in a $1,500 NLHE event in 2008, and a huge win for almost $1.9 million in this years $40,000 NLHE event – showed he is well adapt at the plying his trade in the four card game.



After a gruelingly long heads up battle with American Matt Graham, the Russian was unlucky to miss out on his 3rd WSOP title.

Vitaly had Graham all-in preflop and covered holding Ad-Ah-9c-6d against Graham’s 9h-8c-7s-5c making him better than a 6/4 favourite.

The flop came 9s-6s-4d giving Lunkin top two but a big wrap for Graham. The Qh came on the turn but the 3s popped up on the river to give Graham the straight. With the Russian now on the ropes he decided to gamble on a gut shot and weak flush draw but ran into Graham’s top set which held up giving the American the title. This was Graham’s second bracelet win having won a Limit Holdem shoot-out in 2008 for his first.