Home / Poker News June 2009 / Jason Mercier wins first bracelet in event #5, the $1,500 PLO one
Jason Mercier wins first bracelet in event #5, the $1,500 PLO one
Posted by: James Carter. - Thu, 2009-06-04 13:24
Jason Mercier was one of the players better known on the European live circuit than on the US one. The $1,500 PLO event of the 2009 WSOP though gave him the possibility to prove himself on this side of the pond too. And prove himself he did: in style. Victory in the above mentioned event didn’t just mean a $237,415 prize for the Frenchman, it meant his first ever WSOP gold bracelet too.
The final table action started out cautiously, players picking their spots and reluctant to commit. Hands were folded before the flop and there was only one significant pot played before the first elimination of the day.
The first elimination was that of Vic Park who was sent to the rail by Matt Giannetti. Giannetti’s overpair held up against Park’s flush and straight draws to score the first elimination of the day.
An Tran was the next victim, as his flopped set of Deuces was no match for the set of 5s Steve Burkholder had flopped.
Dario Alioto tangled with chip leader Kevin Iacofano next, with dire consequences for the shorter stacked player. He picked up $29,882 for his 7th place.
Alioto’s elimination signaled the beginning of another period of calm. After about an hour of back and forth, play exploded once again, and within 30 minutes, the heads-up stage was reached.
Jason Mercier went on a rampage and disposed of Tare first, then he took out Chris Biondino. Matt Giannetti was Mercier’s next victim. Giannetti had taken a few severe hits before the two of them tangled in what would become Giannetti’s final hand of the tournament.
Mercier made a 10-high straight on the river to get Giannetti out of the way.
Kevin Iacofano left next, sent to the rail by Steven Burkholder. Thanks to this elimination, Burkholder was able to begin the heads-up action with a slight chip lead over Mercier. Burkholder first jumped out to a 3-2 chip lead, but then got reeled in by Mercier. Slowly but surely, Mercier took control of the action and began hammering home his advantage. The final hand of the event saw Mercier make a boat on the turn to defeat Burkholder’s set of Jacks and it was all over.
