2009 WSOP Update: Events #2 and #3

Event #2: $40,000 No-Limit Hold'em

A collection of 201 of the world's best players came together for the first-ever $40,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em event. This event was added to the schedule on the 40th year of the WSOP to accommodate demand for an ultra high buy-in no-limit hold'em event. Not surprisingly, the final table was a who's-who of figures in the poker world.

Isaac Haxton (2nd - $1.1 million), Greg Raymer (3rd - $775,000), and Justin Bonomo (5th - $413,000) were no match for Russian Vitaly Lunkin who captured the $1.9 million top prize. This was Lunkin's second WSOP bracelet. Last year, he triumphed over a field of 2,706 in a $1,500 no-limit event.

Event #3: $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo 8-or-better

Event three at this year's WSOP proved that poker is alive and well. A record was set for most players ever in an Omaha Hi/Lo tournament with 918. In what is surely one of the most incredible accomplishments in poker history, Thang Luu won this tournament for the second year in a row. If there was any doubt left that Luu is the best Omaha Hi/Lo tournament player in the world, or at least the one who runs the hottest, one need only find out that two years ago, he also had a 2nd place finish in an event similar to this one.

WSOP Champions Invitational

All players who have won a WSOP Main Event were invited to participate in a unique tournament this year in which the winner would receive a vintage Corvette and their name being the first one engraved on the Binion's Cup trophy. This honor and a set of keys went to 1983 Main Event winner Tom McEvoy. 2002 Champion Robert Varkonyi came up just short in second place.

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