Just three years ago Jason Mercier was a complete unknown in the poker world now he is a househould name who has more than $6,300,000 in live tournament winnings to his name and someone who has just won their second World Series of Poker bracelet.
According to the Hendon Mob database, Mercier’s first live tournament cash was for a staggering €869,000 which he was awarded for winning the San Remo leg of the European Poker Tour in April 2008. Later that year he also cashed three times at the WSOP, reached the final table of EPT Barcelona (€227,800) the final table of the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event at the WSOPE and won the £20,000 European Poker Championships (£516,000) meaning in his first year he won more than £2,750,000.
He followed up his amazing year with a string of great results, including a win in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event at the 2009 WSOP, his first bracelet. Now he has one for each wrist after winning Event #35 of this year’s series, the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Six-handed tournament, a result that also netted him $619,575.
A whole host of big named stars came out to take part in this event, the first of its kind in a short-handed format, including recent Triple Crown winner Bertrand “ElkY” Grsopellier, Daniel Negreanu, Sammy Farha and Tom Dwan. On every table there was at least two well known players and this trend continued into Day 3 where 15 players returned to the Pavilion Room at The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino to play out for the title.
Two of these so-called names were eliminated relatively early into the day, both Peter Jetten and Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott busting out during the same hand thanks to Mercier making a straight on the turn to crack Jetten’s aces and Ulliott’s set of jacks. Chris Moorman followed suit around half an hour later but even when Gregory Brooks, the 2010 WPT Legends of Poker Main Event winner was sent to the rail in seventh place there were still some big hitters present.
One of those, Mike “Times” McDonald busted out early into proceedings on the final table after the 2008 EPT Dortmund champion was unable to crack David Chiu’s aces and he was followed to the cashier’s cage by Joseph Ressler in fifth place. Chiu’s hopes of a sixth WSOP bracelet ended when he fell foul of Mercier to bust out in fourth and when Steven Merrifield was sent packing in third place, it was left to Hans Winzeler to try and prevent Mercier from storming to his second WSOP title.
Winzeler started with a 4,125,000 to 3,490,000 chip lead over Mercier but the latter regained the lead almost at the start of the one-on-one encounter and never looked back afterwards. Then after 90 minutes of play, the final hand took place. Winzeler committed his stack with Ac-Kc-Kd-Js on a 9d-4s-3d flop and was called by Mercier with his Qc-6c-5d-3s. The ten of hearts on the turn meant Winzeler still had the best hand but the seven of hearts on the river completed Mercier’s straight, which eliminated Winzeler.
Congratulations to Jason Mercier on his latest victory.
Final table payouts:
1st: Jason Mercier: $619,575
2nd: Hans Winzeler: $383,075
3rd: Steven Merrifield: $239,100
4th: David Chiu: $156,628
5th: Joseph Ressler $105,967
6th: Mike McDonald: $73,965
