2011 World Series of Poker

Event #35: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha / Six Handed
Day: 3
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q653
Prize
$619,575
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$2,382,900
Entries
507
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
0

Mercier Going for Bracelet #2

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante

For those who may not know, Jason Mercier is no stranger to Pot-Limit Omaha. Back in 2009, Mercier won his first and only bracelet in Event #5 $1,500 PLO after outlasting a field of 809 players. Mercier earned $237,462 for that victory while overcoming a final table that included Steven Burkholder (2nd place), Kevin Iacofano (3rd place), Matt Giannetti (4th place), Dario Alito (7th place), and An Tran (8th place).

If Mercier can dispatch Winzeler here today, he'll become a two-time bracelet winner.

Tags: Jason Mercier

Level: 28

Blinds: 30,000/60,000

Ante: 0

Steven Merrifield Eliminated in 3rd Place ($239,100)

Steven Merrifield (3rd Place- $239,100)
Steven Merrifield (3rd Place- $239,100)

Jason Mercier raised to 100,000 on the button and was called by Hans Winzeler in the small blind. Steven Merrifield then raised pot from the big blind. Mercier immediately folded while Winzeler opted to make the call. It was heads up to the {10-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}{K-Diamonds} flop, which Winzeler checked. Merrifield put the pressure on with a 400,000 bet and Winzeler hit the tank.

After about a minute, Winzeler came out with two stacks of green T25,000 chips, totaling 1,000,000. Merrifield, who only had 550,000 behind, shook his head as he slowly folded his cards.

Two hands later, Merrifield raised to 175,000 on the button and again received a call from Winzeler, who checked the {K-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{J-Spades} flop. Merrifield grabbed his remaining 350,000 chips and committed them to the pot. Winzeler snap-called and flipped {A-Hearts}{Q-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{5-Clubs} for the nut flush.

Merrifield was behind, but he had outs with his {K-Clubs}{J-Hearts}{A-Clubs}{4-Spades}. Any king or jacks would give him the win, while a queen would grant him a chop. Merrifield's supporters leaned in as the {3-Diamonds} blanked on the turn, leaving just one card to come. The atmosphere was tense as the dealer burned and put out the {3-Clubs}.

It was a swing and a miss for the man known as "Ball Game," and with that he was out in third place ($239,100).

Player Chips Progress
Hans Winzeler us
Hans Winzeler
4,125,000
1,375,000
1,375,000
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
3,490,000
45,000
45,000
Steven Merrifield us
Steven Merrifield
Busted

Tags: Steven MerrifieldHans WinzelerJason Mercier

"Just Quads!"

Jason Mercier has hit quad tens (the second time at this final table tonight) to move back into the chip lead with more than 3.4 million now in his ever-growing stack.

Hans Winzeler raised from the button to 100,000 pre-flop; Steven Merrifield folded from the small blind and Jason Mercier called from the big blind before before both players checked after the flop of {K-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{7-Clubs}.

Mercier then led out for 160,000 on the turn of the {4-Spades} and Winzeler called before doing the same after Mercier's bet of 285,000 on the river of the {10-Spades}. Mercier flipped up {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{2-Hearts}{2-Clubs} for quad tens and took the pot down, much to Merrifield's disbelief.

"Holy cow," Merrifield exclaimed. "That was the same board that came out when I had quads!" Close, but it did come out the same way!

Player Chips Progress
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
3,445,000
445,000
445,000
Hans Winzeler us
Hans Winzeler
2,750,000
-250,000
-250,000
Steven Merrifield us
Steven Merrifield
1,205,000
-295,000
-295,000

Tags: Steven MerrifieldHans WinzelerJason Mercier

Mercier Climbing

With around 180,000 in the pot and a board reading {A-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}{3-Spades}{9-Diamonds}{K-Spades}, Hans Winzeler bet 115,000 only to hear Jason Mercier say, "Raise." The Team PokerStars Pro (USA) then slid out a total of 355,000. Winzeler hit the tank for a solid minute before making the call.

Mercier revealed {J-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}{7-Spades} for a flush and Winzeler simply mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Hans Winzeler us
Hans Winzeler
3,000,000
-250,000
-250,000
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
3,000,000
700,000
700,000
Steven Merrifield us
Steven Merrifield
1,500,000
-155,000
-155,000

Tags: Hans WinzelerJason MercierSteven Merrifield

Small One for Merrifield

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante

Hans Winzeler limped from the small blind and Steven Merrifield checked his option from the big. The {Q-Diamonds}{J-Spades}{2-Clubs} flop saw Winzeler check-call a bet of 75,000. Winzeler then check-called another bet, this time 175,000, fon the {4-Clubs} turn.

Both player quickly checked the {10-Diamonds} river and Merrifield rolled over {Q-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{9-Spades}{5-Diamonds} for two pair. Winzeler shook his head as if to say, "It's good," and then flung his cards to the muck.

Tags: Hans WinzelerSteven Merrifield

Merrifield Mauled

Steven Merrifield - could he be taken out of this ball game?
Steven Merrifield - could he be taken out of this ball game?

Steven Merrifield has had chunks taken out of him by both Jason Mercier and Hans Winzeler and as a result is down to less than 1.7 million as the final table of WSOP #35 continues.

Earlier, all three players limped in to see a flop of {6-Clubs}{5-Clubs}{K-Diamonds}; which they all checked before Merrifield fired out 175,000 after the turn of the {J-Hearts}. Mercier folded and Winzeler called from the button before Merrifield led out for 225,000 on the river of the {4-Hearts}.

Winzeler quickly raised to 525,000 and Merrifield called, showing down {K-Hearts}{K-Clubs}{x-}{x-} but mucked his hand after Winzeler tabled {K-Spades}{8-Hearts}{7-Spades}{4-Spades} for the nut straight.

Then in the very next hand, Merrifield raised to 125,000 from the button and only Mercier called from the small blind before both players checked the flop of {6-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}. Mercier then opened for 80,000 on the turn of the {6-Spades}; Merrifield reraised to 200,000 and Mercier called before both players checked down the river of the {Q-Spades}.

Mercier showed {Q-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{2-Diamonds} for queens full and scooped the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Hans Winzeler us
Hans Winzeler
3,250,000
750,000
750,000
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
2,300,000
Steven Merrifield us
Steven Merrifield
1,655,000
-1,245,000
-1,245,000

Tags: Hans WinzelerJason MercierSteven Merrifield

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante

Steven Merrifield, who has come to be called "Ball Game" here at the feature table, raised to 120,000 from the button and was called by Hans Winzeler in the big blind. It went check-bet 175,000-call on the {9-Spades}{7-Diamonds}{5-Hearts} flop, which was followed by a check-bet 390,000-fold on the {K-Clubs} turn. Ship the pot to Winzeler.

So far the action three-handed has been exceptionally lackluster. As always, it's only a matter of time before things pick up.

Tags: Hans WinzelerSteven Merrifield