When heads-up play began in the 2009 World Series of Poker Event #40- the $10,000 World Championship Pot-Limit Omaha, the media was abuzz with thoughts of yet another two-time bracelet winner during this year's Series. 

Vitaly Lunkin, the winner of Event #2, was dangerously close to joining an impressive list that includes Phil Ivey, Jeff Lisandro and John Brock Parker by earning his second 2009 WSOP bracelet, but first he had to get through fellow WSOP bracelet winner Matt Graham, a challenge that turned out to be far easier said than done.

Although Lunkin had already lasted longer than 293 of his fellow Event #40 competitors, and thrived throughout a final day that included Nenad Medic (18th), David WIlliams (16th), Howard Lederer (12th), Chau Giang (11th) and PokerRoad's Barry Greenstein (9th), Vitaly was unable to finish off Graham and was eventually forced to settle for the runner-up position.

For the first place finish Matt Graham earned his second bracelet and $679,402 in cash.  Vitaly earned $419,832 and another 75 WSOP Player of the Year points, putting him currently in seventh place in that hotly contested race.

The final table finish positions for Event #40- the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, were as follows:

1st.  Matthew Graham- $679,402
   
2nd.  Vitaly Lunkin- $419,832
   
3rd.  Van Marcus- $278,409
   
4th.  Robin Keston- $196,993
   
5th.  Ferit Gabriellson- $148,438
   
6th.  Stefan Mattson- $118,462
   
7th.  Josh Arieh- $99,855

8th.  Richard Austin- $88,680
   
9th.  Barry Greenstein- $82,746

For further details visit www.worldseriesofpoker.com, powered by PokerNews.

Story by Mark Anderson

Sweet Tweets* from the 10K PL Omaha

Down to 27 in the 10k PLO event. Made the money. I'm pretty short. Time for a heater.
-David Williams

Done for the night. Average is 370k. I have 465k. This means I can't play the seniors event tomorrow, not that I ever would!
-Barry Greenstein

19 players left. Average is 465k. I am the shortest stack with 100k.
-Barry Greenstein

Gambled with 4567 double suited for a reraise. Flopped 19 outs, got all in against AA and hit on river. Sweet.
-Howard Lederer

18th :(
-Nenad Medic

sweating @barrygreenstein in #wsop40. easily the most boring final table in history. :)
-Joe Sebok

I went out ninth losing a pot for 1/3 of the chips where I had a wrap and a flush draw against dry aces. Sick call on his part.
-Barry Greenstein

After being down 9 to 1, Matt Graham has won his first bracelet, becoming the World Champion in Pot Limit Omaha for 2009.
-John MacLeod

*A sampling of Twitter posts from Event #40, courtesy of the PokerRoad Nation.