With his runner up finish in the 2009 WSOP, Ivan Demidov may have cemented Russia’s place among the best pokering nations of the world, but Vitaly Lunkin is providing some staunch support to even further that claim. Getting his start in strategic games such as backgammon and Renju, Lunkin was introduced to poker by a friend and has never looked back. After dominating the competition on his home soil, Vitaly took his act on the road in 2006, cashing in the World Series of Poker Main Event for $15K. In 2008, Lunkin won his first bracelet in the $1500 No Limit Hold’em event for $630K.
By 2009, Vitaly Lunkin was already a respected poker professional, but just in case anybody doubted him, he won his second WSOP event, taking down the $40K 40th Annual No Limit Hold’em for a staggering $1.8 million. With the win, Lunkin pushed his career live poker earnings up over $3 million, good for third place on the Russian All Time Money List.
Vitaly Lunkin currently resides in Moscow where he works as a professional poker trainer and coach.
