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Mercier wins second WSOP title, $619,57523 June 2011Jason Mercier won the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six-Handed event at the World Series of Poker, adding another notch to his lustrous list of poker accomplishments and $619,575 to his poker bankroll. The professional poker player from Davie, Fla., overcame a strong field totaling 507 entrants. He also solidified his reputation as one of the world’s top pot-limit Omaha tournament players. Mercier won his first gold bracelet two years ago in a $1,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha tournament. Throughout the three-day tournament, Mercier looked like a player who expected to win. He gradually built several tall towers of chips, which became increasingly more intimidating as the tournament went on and played down to few players. By the time the final table was reached on the third day, Mercier enjoyed the chip lead and was never in serious danger of being eliminated. “I had a monster stack since day two," said Mercier. "But as they color up, I had to keep trying to build it back up….it’s just a superstitious thing. If I keep accumulating the small chips, I can start building up something nice. I like to make it fun and draw some attention.” With this victory, Mercier shattered the $1 million mark in career WSOP earnings. He now has more than $1.5 million in lifetime earnings – which includes 18 cashes. In worldwide tournaments, Mercier now has more than $6 million in live earnings. He reportedly has accomplished online results that are just as impressive. “It’s important to me for people to think I am one of the best," said Mercier. "I think I am getting to that level, if I am not already there. Obviously, winning tournaments and winning WSOP bracelets just adds to that. I feel like if I win a third one, it will do even more for me. I’m ready to play in as many World Series of Poker events as I can to get as many gold bracelets as I can.” Mercier was cheered on to victory by his high school basketball coach, who was in the gallery. His coach was also present when Mercier won his first gold bracelet two years ago. His first major victory took place at the European Poker Tour’s stop in San Remo (Italy), in 2008. The runner up was Hans Winzeler, from Managua, Nicaragua. His second-place finish was the highest in history by any player from Nicaragua. Winzeler also resides in Florida when inside the United States. Winzeler is a 25-year-old poker pro. Second place paid $383,075. Steven Merrifield, a 26-year-old poker pro from Fairmont, W.V., finished third for $239,100. Four-time gold bracelet winner David Chiu, from Las Vegas, was fourth, winning $156,628. Joseph Ressler, a 23-year-old poker pro from North Potomac, Md., was fifth for $105,967, while 21-year-old Michael McDonald, from Waterloo, Ontario, was sixth. The top 48 finishers collected prize money. Former gold bracelet winners who cashed in this tournament in addition to Mercier and Chiu, included: David “Devilfish” Ulliott (13th), Erick Lindgren (17th), Vanessa Selbst (18th), Jeff Lisandro (26th), John Kabbaj (30th), Layne Flack (31st) and Jesper Hougaard (44th). This was the first time a Six-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha tournament had ever been held at the WSOP. Tournament summary provided by Nolan Dalla, WSOP Media Director, reprinted by permission. |