Chris “SLOPPYKLOD” Klodnicki’s time at the ESPN featured table didn’t last long. Not even an hour after being moved from the secondary table, Klodnicki and Scott “r_a_y” Montgomery banged heads for a pot worth 9 million chips.

With the blinds at 80K/160K and a 20K ante, Dennis Phillips limped from early position and Montgomery rasied to 600K. Klodnicki called from the big blind, Phillips folded, and the two players saw a flop of AQQ. Klodnicki checked, Montgomery led out for 1 million, and Klodnicki moved all in for his last 4 million. Scott called and the entire room waited in angst for the players to turn up their cards:

Klodnicki: JT
Montgomery: QJ

Klodnicki flopped a royal flush draw but trailed the trip queens of Montgomery. The turn brought the J, leaving Klodnicki with just one out in the deck. The miracle didn’t come, however, as the 4 came on the river and Klodnicki was eliminated in 12th place for $591,869. Despite being by far the biggest payday Klodnicki’s ever won, he felt more like he missed out on nine million than won 591k in the wake of his Main Event exit.

“I had such a good shot at it,” Klodnicki lamented minutes after his bustout. “I’m not really up to celebrate right now, maybe tomorrow night.”

Given Klodnicki’s online and live tournament results, Klodnicki stood to benefit even more than just the jump in money as players advance to the final table. If he could have made it to the final nine, Klodnicki could have been the top player that companies and online poker rooms would have enticed with endorsement offers considering his impressive resume.

Now he’s only left to wonder what would have been.

The players have gone on a 20 minute break. Montgomery has catapulted to fifth overall in chips with 12.8 million. The chip leader is Dennis Phillips with 23 million.

• July 14, 2008 -- Montgomery Making Moves, Crowe Flies Away
• July 14, 2008 -- A Little Less Estrogen in the Room…
• July 14, 2008 -- Railbirds Getting a Little Rambunctious
• July 14, 2008 -- Two Tables Remain…