WSOP Event #5 Recap – Jason Mercier Wins Pot Limit Omaha Bracelet

Event #5 of the World Series of Poker was the Pot Limit Omaha Event. This is the first event directly affected by the new policy of no rebuys at the WSOP. Instead of rebuys, each player started with a starting stack of 1,500 and had the option of taking two add-ons at anytime during the first four levels of play. If they did not use their add-ons by the end of four levels, they would be forced to take them.

Day 1 saw a flurry of eliminations, including a few in the “add-on” period that we would not have seen had this been a rebuy tournament. Daniel Negreanu was on of the first players to go. It was sort of poetic justice that the man that fought against rebuys so vehemently was knocked out early in an event that would normally have been a rebuy event.

Play was very fast during the first day of play. Many pros came and went during that time. Among those that played were Phil Ivey, David Ulliott, Gavin Smith, Bryan Devonshire, Clonie Gowen, Allen Cunningham, Robert Williamson III, Scott Clements, and Erik Seidel.

Play went at such a rapid pace during Day 1 that we reached the money bubble right at the end of the day. There was a double elimination at the end of the day and the returning 81 players were all in the money.

Jason Mercier would finish Day 1 as the chip leader and took a huge lead into Day 2. Day 2 started with a flurry of eliminations. Matt Stout, Alexander Kostritsyn, Robert Mizrachi, and Josh Arieh were among those eliminated during Day 2. Mercier dropped out of the chip lead and both Jonathan Tare and Dario Alioto took turns as chip leader.

Finally, the final table was reached after Alex Michaels was eliminated in 10th place when he ran into a flopped straight of Chris Biondino. This is how the final 9 players started the final table:

Seat 1 – An Tran (445,000)
Seat 2 – Jason Mercier (384,400)
Seat 3 – Chris Biondino (182,000)
Seat 4 – Matt Giannetti (311,000)
Seat 5 – Kevin Iacofano (770,000)
Seat 6 – Jonathan Tare (639,000)
Seat 7 – Dario Alioto (315,000)
Seat 8 – Vic Park (341,000)
Seat 9 – Steven Burkholder (263,000)

Vic Park was the first player eliminated from the final table when he called a raise on a flop of Jh-10d-6d that put him all-in. Park held A-K-3-2 with nut three diamonds for the nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. His opponent, Matt Giannetti held K-K-Q-Q for an open ended straight draw. The board would fill out non-diamond baby cards, and Park was eliminated.

An Tran was eliminated in a set over set confrontation. He had flopped a set of deuces but ran into a set of fives from Steven Burkholder. The case did not arrive and Tran headed for the exits.

Dario Alioto was eliminated in 7th by Kevin Iacofano. Alioto’s K-J-9-7 double suited in hearts and diamonds could not outdraw the A-Q-J-10 of Iacofano. A turn queen gave Iacofano a pair of queens and they were good enough to eliminated Alioto.

Jonathan Tare would be sent packing by Jason Mercier. On a flop of J-6-5, Mercier three-bet Tare all-in and Tare would eventually make the call with A-A-6-5 for bottom two pair. Mercier held J-J-8-4 for top set. The turn and river failed to produce an ace and Tare was eliminated in 6th. At this point, Mercier held the chip lead with 1.225 Million in chips.

Mercier would eliminate another when he sent Chris Biondino to the rail in 5th. Biondino moved in with 5-4-3-2 and Mercier called with A-9-6-6. The board ran all high cards and nines were good enough to eliminated Biondino.

Mercier would eliminate his third opponent in a row when he put an end to Matt Giannetti’s run. Giannetti moved all-in preflop and was called by Mercier. Giannetti held A-10-2-2 and Mercier K-10-8-6. Giannetti led after the 7-3-3 flop. The turn of a 6d put mercier in the lead with a pair of sixes and gave him a straight draw. The river 9s would complete Mercier’s straight and Giannetti headed home in 4th.

A raising war occurred on a flop of Qh-10s-5c between Steven Burkholder and Kevin Iacofano. By the time the smoke cleared, Iacofano was all-in holding K-K-J-3 for an open ended straight draw. Burkholder held Q-Q-9-4 for top set. The turn and river failed to complete Iacofano’s draw and he headed out in 3rd place and took home $96,128 for his troubles.

Heads-up play saw Steven Burkholder hold a slight edge in chips over Jason Mercier. He led 1.992 Million to 1.65 Million. The two would be very active in pots, but Burkholder would retain the advantage until a big hand between the two swung momentum into Mercier’s favor. Mercier took a pot of nearly 1.3 Million in chips when he would turn a full house against Burkholder. At showdown, Burkholder mucked and Mercier held a 2.3 to 1.35 Million chip lead.

The final hand of the tournament saw all of the chips go in on the flop. The flop fell Jh-Js-6d. Mercier raised a bet from Burkholder to 285,000 to go. Burkholder re-potted and Mercier decided to move all-in. Burkholder made the call with A-A-J-7. Mercier showed Q-J-8-2. Burkholder was in a commanding lead and looked to double through Mercier. However, one card can change everything, as was the case here. The turn fell a queen to give Mercier a full house and left Burkholder needing an ace to win the hand. The river fell a king and Jason Mercier became the Event #5 Champion.

Jason Mercier played a masterful game to take down his first bracelet. First place paid $237,415 and awarded a championship gold bracelet. This is Mercier’s first bracelet, but it is unlikely to be his last.

Congratulations to Jason Mercier, Event #5 Champion.

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