Mercier Skyrockets To the Top

Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier has had quite an amazing last ten minutes that saw him shoot up to the top of the leader board. First, Mercier doubled through Justin Bonomo. Then, he won a big pot off Viktor Blom on the very next hand.

On the first hand of the two, Scott Seiver opened with a raise from the hijack seat to 7,000. Paul Newey flatted on the button, Bonomo called from the small blind, and Mercier called from the big blind.

The flop came down , and Bonomo checked. Mercier bet 14,300, Seiver and Newey folded, then Bonomo called.

The turn was the , and Bonomo check-called another bet from Mercier — this time for 37,500. Then, the river completed the board with the . Bonomo checked, and Mercier fired 81,000 with 260,000 behind. Bonomo check-raised all in, having Mercier covered, and Mercier went into the tank. He eventually called, and his was best against Bonomo's .

On the very next hand, Bonomo opened to 6,500 from the button, Mercier reraised from the small blind to 18,200, and Blom reraised from the big blind to 46,800. Bonomo folded, and Mercier made the call.

The flop came down , and Mercier check-called a bet of 36,200 to see a on the turn. Mercier checked, and Blom fired 74,800. Mercier tanked, then called.

Another hit the board on the river, and Mercier checked. Blom quickly checked behind and showed offsuit. Mercier tabled for a full house and scooped in the pot.

Thanks to these two big hands, Mercier shot up to the top of the counts with 965,000 in chips. Bonomo was left with 310,000 and Blom slipped back to 730,000.