PokerTableRatings

Eunjong Byun Hits the Jackpot

Sometimes it feels like you can grind for days, weeks, or even months waiting for that one big session to push you over the edge. All that effort occasionally leads to an epic session when the stars align, but the emotional toll of logging hour after hour and never seeing that game-changer can crush even the most optimistic individuals. As players, we hope (and sometimes expect) the former to come without too much pain and suffering. Most of the time, however, you have to go through some heartache to get to the heartland.

This is especially true for a relatively unknown member of the poker community who finally felt what it was like to have his lucky day. A true grinder of mid-stakes NLHE cash-games known as Eunjong Byun, who has played almost 3.5 million ~break even hands at FullTilt, finally decided to really ante up at PokerStars on Tuesday and test his skills at $50/100 HU NLHE. Stars regular venced0r had the unfortunate "pleasure" of sitting across from Eunjong, and he undoubtedly wishes he had pulled a Rip Van Winkle until Wednesday.

Here are some of the biggest hands from their encounter:

Eunjong Byun gets some help on the turn and takes down a 25k pot.

A set on the flop withstands a runner-runner of sorts.

Venced0r gets blindsided on the river in a 24k pot.

A river fit for a Greenstein is music to Venced0r's ears.

An interesting turn gives reason for both players to put it all-in.

Venced0r's good read betrays him on the river.

A very courageous call with king high holds up for a 22k pot.

After all was said and done, Eunjong Byun's $103,500 Tuesday triumph trumped his previous best by more than tenfold. The monster session also lifted his win rate to $3 per hand at PokerStars - quite a bit heftier than the $(-0.0029)/hand rate he has earned from millions of hands and thousands of hours at Full Tilt.

Just another day at the office. When is your day coming?