The ninth annual European Poker Awards turned out to be a very special occasion for Vitaly Lunkin since he won the 2009 European Poker Player of the Year award. The Russian player now joins previous winners such as Marcel Luske (2001, 2004), Garry Bush (2002), Dave Colclough (2003), Rob Hollink (2005), Roland De Wolfe (2006), Alexander Kravchenko (2007), and Bertrand Grospellier (2008).
Lunkin really stepped his game up this year after earning $2,743,441 and a second World Series of Poker bracelet. The Russian player cashed a total of six times in the 2009 WSOP, and highlighted his incredible performance with a win in the $40,000 No-Limit Hold’em 40th Anniversary event. Before 2009, Vitaly’s previous best year was in 08’ when he won his first WSOP bracelet and earned $629,714 in live winnings. He wasn’t as involved before 2008 since he was primarily known as a backgammon and Renju player.
Other awards given out at the 2009 European Poker Awards included Internet Player of the Year (Patrik Antonius), Rookie of the Year (Antoine Saout), Europe’s Leading Lady (Sandra Naujoks), Poker Staff Person of the Year (Edgar Stuchly), and Outstanding Tournament Performance of the Year (Jeff Lisandro).
Lisandro figured to be Lunkin’s closest competition to see who would be named the European Poker Player of the Year after he captured 3 different WSOP bracelets and won the WSOP Player of the Year. Lisandro also became the first person to win a WSOP bracelet in all 3 Stud variations at the same Series. However, Lunkin’s all-around finishes, which included a couple of high EPT cashes, helped him to earn the title in 2009.
