2024 Fall Super Stack – Event #13: $340 PLO Bounty

Damien Zillig wasn’t even sure he’d make in time for the game tonight. He and partner Alyssa Webber arrived in town tonight from BC and barely made it. Their flight was delayed and they weren’t even at the Calgary airport when the tournament began tonight.

They both made it in time for late registration and while Webber wasn’t able to run up a stack, Zillig found his way to the winners’ circle. Zillig was actually one of the shorter stacks when they got to the final table, with runner-up Mike Malm leading the way, but once play was in the money, he found a new gear.

His rungood ramped up and he was the big leader by the time they were five-handed. He then proceeded to send Mal Hagan and Hasan Al Ghunaim (who was the runner-up in January’s Main Event) to the rail to build an even bigger stack.

Malm then took out Gerry Edwards in 3rd to send the match heads up with the stacks close to even. They played a few smaller pots, most of which went to Zillig and when the final big confrontation happened Zillig was back in the command chair.

The final hand was pretty uneventful until the turn when Zillig put Malm in a tough spot, potting his open to force him into a fold/shove decision. Malm tanked for more than five minutes agonizing over the decision until they finally got it all in with Malm on two-pair and Zillig technically behind on top pair, but holding all the draws in the universe.

It was his straight draw that hit on the river, but that was just one of many possible outs for him. It seems like a good bet that we’ll see Zillig in the Main Event Day 1b tomorrow. He and Webber are in town for the poker, but also for the upcoming birthday of their son on Monday so the win tonight is just a bit of a bonus before the big prize of quality birthday time.

Heads up didn’t take very long. When they got two ways they were close to even, but Damien Zillig was running hot tonight at the end, and he quickly rebuilt the lead.

The final hand really got crazy on the turn. It started off pretty tame as Zillig limped his button and Mike Malm smooth-called to the 4♥7♣2♦ flop. They both checked it to the 9♣ turn, and that’s when the fireworks started.

Malm bet 100k only to see Zillig pot it to 420k and Malm hit the tank.There were still about 5 minutes left in the level before the break, and Malm took all of it, plus a bit of time into the break. During the tank, Zillig confirmed that with play heads up, they could show some cards before the action was complete, then showed Malm a 9♠.

Malm returned the favour, showing a 5♣ before heading back into the tank. About 2 minutes later, Zillig offered another hint at his hand, showing the 10♣. Malm didn’t show a second card, but he said that had “changed his decision”.

Finally, he decided to shove all-in and Zillig called it off. Zillig had top pair and a wrap with the club draw as well holding J♦10♣9♠3♣. Malm was on two-pair with a ten-four-deuce but the 8♥ river straightened it out for Zillig to take down the win.

This was Malm’s second fourth cash in the series and his second runner-up finish. He chopped the Mystery Bounty with Josh Berry for second place after he was seventh in the opening $340 Deepstack. He then went on to win Event #9 yesterday after a three-way ICM chop and followed it up here tonight with 2nd place for $3,498 plus an extra $1,000 in bounties.

He told me after the win last night that it was his birthday, so it’s safe to say he’s having a pretty good birthday week here at Deerfoot.

They are heads up now after Gerry Edwards busted in 3rd place. He ran into the flopped quad jacks for Michael Malm to end his run in 3rd place.

Mike Malm and Damien Zillig are now heads up with close-to-even stacks.

They are down to three as Level 2 ends. Hasan Al Ghunaim was the 4th place finisher tonight. I missed the action, but chip leader Damien Zillig is the leader right now.

They are down to 4 left now in the PLO Bounty after chip leader Damien Zillig hit a straight to send Hagan to the rail.

They are down to 5 now after Rick Kosterman hit the cage for 6th place. He had jack-ten-ten-three against seven-six-sic-four for Hasan Al Ghunaim.

Al Ghunaim limped in from the middle before Kosterman shoved for 24k from the small blind. Big blind Gerry Edwards called to see 8♦2♠4♣ on the flop. Both players checked to the 7♣ turn where Edwards check-folded to a bet of 55k from Al Ghunaim.

With the cards on their backs, Al Ghunaim was ahead with two pair and the 4♦ gave him the boat for the win. Damien Zillig is the big stack at the moment – I’ll get complete chip counts when they go on break in 5 minutes.

Mal Hagan raised under the gun to 42k leaving just 18k behind. Brody Mickelson shoved all-in for less from the button before small blind Rick Kosterman flatted Hagan’s bet.

That built a side pot of 12k in addition to the main pot. Hagan was on A♠K♣Q♠6♣ against [invalid notations] for Mickelson and eight-eight-six-five for Kosterman. Hagan flopped a king and rivered another one for trips to win both pots and send Mickelson to the cage for 7th Place.

Rick Kosterman shoved for 28k second to act, and Hasan Al Ghunaim isolated with a raise to 75k. Kosterman was ahead with A♥A♠10♣9♥ against [AdKdKcQh[/pcn] for al Ghunaim. The aces held on a board that missed both players and Kosterman is up to about 70k now.

They are down to 7 left now after Duane Wong hit the rail in 8th place for the first payout tonight. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to the pictures in time to get him in.

They are in the money now after KJ hit the rail for 9th place tonight. He went out when Hasan Al Ghunaim rivered a set of jacks to crack his queens.

Aaron Duvzyk just hit the rail in 10th place to put the PLO Bounty game on the bubble to the money with 9 players left.

Below is a look at how the final table stacks up with Mike Malm the leader going into Level 16.

They are down to 10 players left and they are breaking down to the final table. Michael Malm just sent Juss Viet to the rail in 11th place to set up the final table, but they are still 2 off the money.

Michael Malm, who chopped for the win in Event #9 yesterday, is the chip leader here tonight with close to 500k and a stack of bounty chips in front of him. They are heading out for the break now with Level 16 set to start in about 15 minutes.

The prizes are in and the winner tonight will pocket $4,550 with a total of 8 players getting a piece of the prizes.

The field is confirmed at 82 entries for $23,370 in total prizes. That means 8 players will get a piece of $15,170 in prizes with $8,200 in bounties out there in total.

They are down to 17 players left in the action now with 15 minutes to play in Level 12.

Entries are closed for the PLO Bounty game with 82 entries on the board. That is still unofficial awaiting the final payouts, but there are still 25 players left alive and they’ll likely be playing for 8 paid spots at the end of the night.

There are about 30 minutes left to enter the PLO Bounty game now with action in Level 9. The field is up to 78 entries with 46 players still at the felt.

They are up to 66 entries with 45 players still alive in the PLO Bounty now with Level 6 just underway. That puts the prizes at almost $19k with $6,600 of that in the bounty pool.

Level 2 is nearly complete with 43 entries on the board. There are a bit less than 3 hours left to get into the game tonight with entries set to close around 10:30 PM.