Dennis' Remarkable Run Ends


Congratulations to my friend Dennis Phillips, who just ended his remarkable run at the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, finishing in 45th place (out of 6,494 players). On the final hand, just minutes ago, it was Ace-King against Ace-King, and the other guy hit four to his flush on the board to knock Dennis out.

Here's how they described it on PokerNews.com:

Phillips raised preflop to 450,000 from the button after Antoine Saout opened for 165,000 and Francois Balmigere called. Phillips' re-raise folded Saout but got the opposite reaction from Balmigere, who moved all in. Phillips called all in for less. Hands please, gentlemen!

Balmigere:
{A-Spades} {k-Spades}
Phillips:
{A-Diamonds} {K-Diamonds}

Each player had suited Big Slick, which was a problem for Phillips on a flop of
{4-Spades} {K-Clubs} {6-Spades}. The turn {10-Hearts} was a safe card; Phillips just needed to fade spades one more time to remain in the tournament. Alas, the river was the {5-Spades}, filling Balmigere's spade flush and knocking Phillips out of the tournament in spectacularly cruel fashion.

Considering that Dennis was 3rd last year, he now has the best two-year span of any player in Main Event history, besting 13,290 entrants combined. He also made it further than any of the other members of the 2008 November Nine, or any of the other Team PokerStars Pros. He's sure to be spotlighted in ESPN's coverage of the Main Event, which kicks off in September.

All of us who are part of Team Dennis are very proud of him. He'll have lots of stories to share when we return to the Final Table, our poker radio show, next Tuesday night.

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