Mike Kim Eliminated in 2nd Place ($384,999); Dermot Blain Wins 2009 APPT Macau Main Event!

[user75032]

The first three hands of heads-up play did not have a flop. On the fourth hand, Dermot Blain opened all in from the small blind. Mike Kim, who had only 11 big blinds in his stack and knew he would need to gamble to get back in the tournament, said, "OK," and called all in. He turned out to be dominated:

Kim: {10-Diamonds}

Blain:

Blain stood up from his seat and took several steps away from the table. He pressed his fingers together in front of his mouth, visibly aware of the fact that just five cards separated him from the championship. Kim seemed dejected but not yet ready to give up the ghost. On a cue from TD Danny McDonagh, the dealer produced the flop.

{3-Clubs}

Each player made a pair of tens, but Blain was still in the lead by virtue of his kicker. When the turn fell {J-Spades}

, a card that was completely unhelpful to both players, Kim was down to his last chance. He needed a nine, and only a nine, to win the pot and a jack or a three to chop and avoid elimination.

For his part, Blain turned away from the table, then spun around as if he had decided he wanted to watch after all. It was a good card for him. The river came {8-Spades}