Russian Vitaly Lunkin has earned over $750,000 in tournament winnings since making his first small cashes in tournaments in his native Moscow earlier this decade. Lunkin has since made several final tables at other events in Europe. In the World Series of Poker, Lunkin cashed in the Main Event in 2006, earning $14,597 for his 829th place finish. Then last year Lunkin broke through and won his first WSOP bracelet, taking one of the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tourneys (Event No. 27). In that one, Lunkin was the last one standing of the whopping 2,706 entrants, thereby earning himself a $628,417 payday.