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.
