PokerStars.net NAPT Los Angeles Day 3: Jason Mercier Third in Chips with 19 Players Remaining
At the start of the Day 3, 81 players returned for the 2010 PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour Los Angeles Main Event at the Bicycle Casino. All players were in the money but looking to navigate the field and make the last final table of NAPT Season 1. By night’s end only 19 players remained, with Christopher DeMaci emerging as the Day 3 chip leader with 3.783 million.
DeMaci’s chips seemed to steadily rise throughout the day in a number of big confrontations. In one hand, Jimmie Guinther raised to 30,000 from middle position and DeMaci reraised to 84,000 from the cutoff. Paul Kuzmich then moved all-in for a little over 400,000 on the button. Guinther got out of the way and DeMaci made the quick call.
DeMaci: A♥A♠
Kuzmich: 9♠9♦
The board ran out 10♠8♠3♣J♥K♦ and DeMaci won the pot to move up to 1.325 million. Later in the day, another big hand developed when Al Grimes raised to 50,000 from middle position, Mike Leah reraised to 116,000 from the hijack and DeMaci four-bet to 225,000 on the button. Grimes folded and then Leah tanked for a little bit before moving all-in for over 500,000. DeMaci quickly called.
Leah: Q♠Q♦
DeMaci: A♣A♠
The A♦6♦5♣4♥3♣ board sent Leah packing in 20th place while DeMaci improved to 3.7 million in chips at the close of the day.
The next closest competitor to the chip leader is Micah Raskin with 2.356 million. In addition, Jason Mercier (2.15 million), Anh Van Nguyen (834,000), and George Lind III (538,000) are all still alive and looking to represent Team PokerStars. Matt Affleck (447,000), Joe Tehan (1.25 million) and Michael Binger also made it through to Day 4.
In one of the more decisive hands of the day, Binger four-bet shoved all-in against James Casement who called off for a total of 700,000! Casement was the one at risk in a pot worth 1.5 million but was in a great position to double with his A♥K♦ against Binger's K♥J♣. If he lost, Binger would have been severely crippled and essentially out of the tournament, but luckily for him, the flop fell 3♣2♠J♥, thrusting him into the lead. The K♠ on the turn gave Casement a pair of kings but also gave Binger two pair. Casement needed an ace on the river but instead the 2♣ hit. Binger came from behind to take the huge pot, increasing his stack to 1.75 million. He eventually ended the day with 2.026 million.
Also doing well was PokerStars Team Pro (USA) member Mercier who began Day 3 with just 158,000. He managed to chip up early but put his tournament life on the line when the following hand came up. Action had folded to Mercier, so he put in a raise to 25,000. Jacob Toole then decided to reraise 55,000, and Mercier responded by moving all-in for 325,000. Toole snap-called and suddenly Mercier’s tournament life was at stake.
Mercier: K♦J♣
Toole: 10♥10♦
The A♣3♠4♦ flop was no help to Mercier and neither was the Q♥ on the turn, although it did give him some straight outs. Mercier was one card from elimination but the J♦ on the river gave him renewed life and a stack of 700,000. Mercier would go on to finish the day with an astounding 2,150,000.
Unfortunately, not everyone was as lucky as Mercier and Binger. Some big names to hit the rail throughout the day included NAPT Venetian winner Thomas Marchese, Phil “The Unabomber” Laak, Gavin Griffin, Eric “Sheets” Haber, Josh Brikis, Bryn Kenney, Chris Klodnicki and Christina Lindley.
Day 4 of the NAPT is set to kick off at 1 p.m. local time tomorrow when the 19-player field will be reduced to the final table of eight. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be there to cover all the action, eliminations, and chip counts!
Over on PokerStars, Club PokerNews are pleased to announce we have several exclusive $15,000 Sunday Million & $2,000 PCA Freerolls that you cannot find anywhere else.
