Bloggers / Dave Allan / 08 November 2009 / Leave a comment

He came, he battled away, he fell just short of glory. We are talking about Frenchman Antoine Saout, the man who qualified for this amazing event for a fraction of the cost through an online satellite.

Saout had fought all day long to overturn his big chip deficit and to try and defy the long odds all bookmakers had assigned to him.

A big turning point happened during hand 272, the first hand back from the break. Joseph Cada came out firing, raising to 2,550,000, a bet that Saout three-bet to 7,300,000. Cada paused and moved all-in and Saout instantly called.

It looked as if Cada would be heading to the rail as his 2c2s were well behind Saout's QhQs but poker can be a funny old game and this was proven when the flop fell 7s2d9s, leaving Saout drawing to running spades or one of the two remaining queens. A 3h on the turn failed to improve either player, nor did the 6s on the river and Cada not only survived but doubled up.

Just four hands later and play was stopped as heads-up had been reached. Again Cada open-raised to 2,500,000 causing Saout to move all-in and Cada to quickly call. Cada held AdKc and was up against 8s8h of Saout, a classic coinflip situation for millions of dollars.

The dealer burned a card and dealt the 5h4s5c flop, meaning Saout was still ahead. Shouts for an ace went unanswered as the Td came out on the river but the Kc reared its head on the river to send Cada's fans into a frenzy and Saout to the rail.

If today's performance is anything to go by this will not be the last time we see Antoine Saout at a final table, especially as he is now armed with a $3,479,670 bankroll.

The final table has been paused and will resume at 2200 Las Vegas time on Monday with Joseph Cada leading Darvin moon 136,925,000 chips to 58,875,000