Hand #44 - James Akenhead All In and Dominated | 2009 WSOP Main Event - The Final Table

Antoine Saout has the button. For the second consecutive hand, James Akenhead open-shoves all in from early position, this time for 4,015,000 total. Steve Begleiter considers carefully for a couple minutes before announcing a call, Akenhead now at risk for his tournament life. The dealer confirms as she nods and says, "Call," and everyone in the crowd rises to their feet.

But the action isn't over yet. Eric Buchman seems to be toying with a big decision in the next seat over as he eyes up Begleiter's remaining stack. After another minute or so of tank time, Buchman announces a big re-raise to 12,000,000 total! The dealer pulls in the already-committed chips to show Begs what he's up against. With a shake of the head, Begleiter eventually elects to let his hand (and 4 million of his chips) go, and it is now heads up for Akenhead's tournament life.

Showdown
Akenhead: {K-Clubs}

Buchman:

The crowd breaks into a frenzy as Akenhead's fans plead with the dealer for some help. Their cries initially fall on deaf ears as she spreads out a useless flop of {2-Spades}

. The

on the turn changes nothing, and Akenhead is one card away from a ninth-place exit.

A crowd of 30 or 40 supporters on stage lean in toward the table yelling for a queen at the top of their voices. This time, the dealer obliges; The {Q-Spades}

rips off the deck, improving Akenhead to the winning two pair as the entire crowd explodes in a deafening frenzy.

Akenhead has dodged the biggest bullet of his life, coming from way behind to earn himself a monstrous triple up. He's back in contention with 12,855,000 now. Buchman has slipped to 35,175,000.

Tags: Eric Buchman James Akenhead