WSOP Day 13 Recap: Jason Mercier Wins 4th Bracelet, Milly Maker Down to 15

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Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier was confident he was going to win (another) gold bracelet this summer.

He even put his money where his mouth is: he placed numerous bets on himself that it would happen. While specifics are sketchy, rumor has it that by topping a field of 100 players to win Event #16, the $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship, the 29-year-old poker pro from Hollywood, Florida won much more than the $273,335 first-place prize.

Jason Mercier 4th WSOP gold bracelet 2016
Family affair: Jason Mercier and his railers celebrate Bracelet #4 after Event #16, the $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship. (Image: pokerphotoarchive.com)

“If I can win another [gold bracelet] really quick, it would be a sick sweat the rest of the series. . .now, I’m freerolling the next year,” said Mercier, who revealed he also has bets at 18 or 19-1 that he’ll win two bracelets, and one for $10,000 at 180-1 against Vanessa Selbst that he’ll win three.

Now that’s confidence.

Mercier became just the 39th player in history to win four WSOP titles, which put him in the same category as Puggy Pearson, Amarillo Slim Preston, and Mike Matusow, just to name a few.

“I’d say this was the second best of the four,” Mercier told WSOP.com of his latest bracelet win after the event. “The first one you get is always the most special. But I have been wanting to win this event for a long time and to get here against this kind of field was really nice. It also helps that I had lots of side action riding on winning a bracelet this year.”

Mercier defeated Mike Watson (who took 2nd for $168,936) in heads-up play to capture the title. Others to cash at the final table were Lamar Wilkinson (3rd for $120,025), David Grey (5th for $62,810), and Stephen Chidwick (6th for $46,277).

Millionaire Maker Plays Down to 15

What began with 7,190 entrants in Event #14, the $1,500 Millionaire Maker, is now down to the final 15. Today, Tuesday, was supposed to start as a final table, so there will be some time to make up there.

Among those to survive Day Three were chip leader Alessio Dicesare (7.2 million), Garrett Greer (4.875 million), Sofia Lövgren (3.375 million), and Craig Gold (1.34 million).

Some players who were sent to the rail included Norman Michalek (16th/$45,909), Simon Deadman (27th/$37,485), Loni Harwood (34th/$32,631), and Mohsin Charania (35th/$32,631). Charania had begun yesterday as the event’s chip leader.

Day Four will begin at 11 am PT on Tuesday with the plan of playing down to a winner, which will make two lucky players millionaires, as the event name promises.

Wong Leads Final 24 in Event #17

Just 24 of the original 2,242 players remain in Event #17, the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em, with poker pro Danny Wong and his stack of 1.058 million leading the way. Roberto Romanello, who was just revealed to be representing partypoker at the 2016 WSOP, sits second with 885,000.

Among the 215 players to fall on Day Two were Daniel Wienman (28th/$8,312), Stacey Nutini (39th/$6,802), Carl Carodenuto (78th/$3,380), Adrian Buckley (143rd/$2,234), and Ryan Laplante (155th/$1,988), who was fresh off winning his first WSOP gold bracelet only two days back.

The winner of this event will take home $316,920. Players will return at noon PT on Tuesday for Day Three action.

Talarico Tops Last 16 in $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.

A field of 400 runners is down to the final 16 in Event #18, the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship. Leading the pack after Day Two is Jared Talarico with 825,000 in chips. Other well-knowns still vying for the $259,730 first-place prize are Chino Rheem (620,000), Frankie O’Dell (286,000), and Eli Elezra (199,000).

Some of those to cash the event were Chris Bjorin (17th/$7,239), Brock Parker (24th/$7,239), Justin Bonomo (40th/$5,571), Phil Hellmuth (45th/$5,081), Robert Mizrachi (54th/$4,760), and Shannon Shorr (59th/$4,584).

Play resumes at 2 pm PT on Tuesday, with the plan of playing down to a winner.

$1k PLO Down to the Money

Event #19, the $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, was one of two events to kick off on Monday. The tournament attracted 1,106 players and created a $995,400 prize pool.

By the end of the night, the field was whittled down to the final 136, with a few dozen players locking up cashes, including Jonathan Duhamel (152nd/$1,554), Roland Israelashvili (146th/$1,554), and Dermot Blain (138th/$1,554).

Remaining to push through for the $185,317 first-place prize are Jared Bleznick (98,800), Darryll Fish (73,200), and J.C. Tran (61,300). Those players will return for Day Two action, along with 133 others, at noon PT on Tuesday.

Benyamine Leads After Day One of Razz

The other event to start on Monday was Event #20, the $10,000 Seven Card Razz Championship, which drew just 100 players. After 10 levels of play, only 45 remained, with David Benyamine and his stack of 353,500 leading the way.

Others who will join him for Day Two action at 2 pm PT on Tuesday are Phil Hellmuth (319,000), Brian Hastings (251,000), and Dzmitry Urbanovich (166,500).

Of course not everyone was lucky enough to bag up chips. Among those to fall on Day One were Daniel Negreanu, Rep Porter, Todd Brunson, and Jeff Lisandro. Just 15 players are slated to earn a portion of the $940,000 prize pool, with the eventual winner taking home $273,338.

Events Starting Today

New championships kicking off on Tuesday will be Event #21, the $3K Six-Handed NLH, and Event #22, the $1,500 Limit Hold’em. Those will get cards in the air at 11 am and 3 pm respectively, Pacific time.



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