Jason Mercier wins 2009 WSOP Event 5The poker world “might?” forgive you if you haven’t heard the name Jason Mercier before. However, in a 14 month career on the circuit he has picked up quite the resume winning close to $3 million much of which came during a 6 month run where he captured an EPT title in San Remo, a High Rollers event in London and a final table in Barcelona. Today Mercier’s success came on US soil as he took down WSOP Event #5, $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO).

In his post match interview Mercier commented:

Winning always feels good! Especially after last year. I played in 22 events. I went deep in just one of them. I finished 13th and that made me sick. I cashed three times and all three times I busted out with the worst (starting) hand, in marginal spots. I was really upset with how I played last year. Now, it feels great to win a gold bracelet, especially so early in the Series.”

This year’s $1,500 PLO event attracted 809 entrants, believed to be the largest PLO field in poker tournament history. After two days of play the Final Table was reached and nine players returned to the Rio to battle it out for the coveted Gold Bracelet.

The day started kind of slow with very few players seeing the flop. The first significant pot of the day occurred when four players limped and seen a flop of 4c 3c 2s. An Tran was interested and led out with a 56K bet. Jason Mercier folded, Chris Biondino went all in for 165K, Jonathan Tare folded, and Tran made the call. Tran revealed the nut straight with Ks6c6d5s and Biondino a flush draw with JsJc5c4s. He hit his flush when the 8d came on the turn to double up to 415K chips while Tran was down to just 240K.

The first elimination occurred when Vic Park raised to 240K from mid position, and Matt Giannetti called from the small blind. The flop came Jh 10d 6d and Giannetti bet enough to put Park all in. Park called and tabled Ad Kd 3d 2c for a flush draw with a gutshot straight draw, and Giannetti tabled KhKsQsQc for an overpair with up and down straight draw. The turn and river came 2h 4c and Park was to the rail to collect $22,053 for his ninth-place finish.

Next to the rail was An Tran who collected $25,122 for her eight place finish. This was a tough beat as in another four way limped pot the flop came Kh 5s 2d. After three checks Jason Mercier bet 36K. Chris Biondino folded, Steven Burkholder check-raised to 111K, and Tran went all in for 298K on top. Mercier folded, but Burkholder made the call and showed Ah10h5h5s for a flopped set of fives and Tran showed Jc6d2h2c revealing his set of deuces were well behind.

Next to go was Dario Alioto who collected $29,822 for his seventh place finish after he and Kevin Iacofano raised back and forth till Alioto had all his chips at risk. Iacofano showed AsQsJs10c which held up against Alioto’s Kh Jd 9h 7d.

Six handed play lasted for an hour, but once Jonathan Tare finished in sixth place ($37,192) it was only another 30 minutes before play was heads up. Tare went out when he led for 46K in a 4 way limped pot that brought a flop of Js 6c 5d. Two players folded but Mercier bet enough to put him all in. After a bit in the tank Tare called with Ac As 6d 5c for two pair, and Mercier revealed Jh Jc 8s 4h for a flopped set of jacks.

The table’s short stack Chris Biondino hung around long enough to get fifth place worth $48,533 finally putting his money in with a 5 high wrap against Mercier’s Ac9s6s6c. Next to go was Matt Giannetti who tossed in his final 80K chips with Ac 10h 2s 2s against Mercier’s Kc10c 8d 6h. Mercier ended up making a ten high straight.

Three handed play lasted only a few minutes as internet star Steven “PiKappRaider” Burkholder and Kevin Iacofano collided on a flop of Qh 10s 5c. Burkholder had Qc Qd 9d 4c for a set of queens and Iacofano Ks Kd Jh 3s for an over pair and open-ended straight draw. After a brick on the turn and river Iacofano finished in third place collecting $96,128.

In the end it was an online Holdem mega star Steven Burkholder, an admitted pot-limit Omaha novice, against Jason Mercier. The experienced player won the match as the final hand saw Mercier limp on the button and then call Burkholder’s raise to 48K more. The flop came down Jh Js 6d. Burkholder led for 110K, Mercier raised to 285K, Burkholder bet the pot, Mercier moved all in and Burkholder called. Both players showed trip jacks and Burkholder’s AcAhJc7d outkicked Mercier’s QcJd8d2s, however when the turn came a Qd Mercier had a full house which ended up being enough for the tournament win. Burkholder received $146,748 for his runner-up finish and Mercier collected the $237,415 first place prize money and the coveted gold bracelet.

Final Table Results:

1st Place: Jason Mercier – $237,462
2nd Place: Steven Burkholder – $146,748
3rd Place: Kevin Iacofano – $96,128
4th Place: Matthew Giannetti – $66,544
5th Place: Christopher Biondino – $48,533
6th Place: Jonathan Tare – $37,192
7th Place: Dario Alioto – $29,881
8th Place: An Van Tran – $25,122
9th Place: Vic Park – $22,052

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