Event 5 - $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | 2009 World Series of Poker

06-03-2009 12:43 UTC-12

Heads-Up: The First Five

[user25067]

Here's a look at the first five hands Mercier and Burkholder played heads-up:

1. Burkholder got a walk in the big blind.

2. Mercier got a walk in the big blind.

3. Mercier raised to 60,000 and Burkholder called. The flop was {Q-Clubs}

and Burkholder check-called 85,000 from Mercier. The turn was the {5-Spades}

. Burkholder checked a second time, Mercier bet 200,000 and Burkholder folded.

4. Burkholder made a pot-sized raise before the flop and won the blinds.

5. Mercier limped on the button and Burkholder checked his option. The flop came down {7-Diamonds}

and Burkholder check-folded to Mercier's flop bet.

Mercier- 1,795,000
Burkholder 1,847,000

06-03-2009 12:33 UTC-12

Heads-Up Chip Counts

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[user25067]

Steven Burkholder 1,992,000
Jason Mercier 1,650,000

06-03-2009 12:32 UTC-12

Kevin Iacofano Eliminated in 3rd Place ($96,128)

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[user25067]

Steven Burkholder opened for 60,000 from the button, and Kevin Iacofano made the call from the big blind.

The flop came down {Q-Hearts}

. Iacofano checked, Burkholder bet 80,000, and Iacofano re-potted. The two got the rest of their chips in the middle after a series of raises.

Iacofano {K-Spades}

Burkholder {Q-Clubs}

Though Iacofano had the pre-flop advantage, Burkholder flopped a set of queens. Iacofano, though had a straight re-draw he could fill should a nine or an ace fall on the turn or river. It wasn't to be, though, the turn coming the {6-Clubs}

and the river the {8-Spades}

to send him to the rail in third place. He'll take home $96,128 for his performance.

06-03-2009 12:23 UTC-12

Matt Giannetti Eliminated in 4th Place ($66,544)

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[user25067]

Down to only 80,000 in chips, Matt Giannetti got his stack in the middle before the flop and Jason Mercier looked him up.

Giannetti {A-Clubs}

Mercier

The board ran out {7-Spades}

, Mercier making a ten-high straight to send Giannetti home in fourth place. The $66,544 he'll take home is a career-high tournament score for Giannetti, who is primarily a cash game player.

Mercier is now the dominant chip leader with over 1.6 million.

Level: 21

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 0

06-03-2009 12:13 UTC-12

Chris Biondino Eliminated in 5th Place ($48,533)

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[user25067]

Chris Biondino opened for 56,000 from UTG, Jason Mercier reraised enough to set him all in and Biondino made the call.

Biondino {5-Hearts}

Mercier

The board ran out {9-?}

, Mercier making two pair nines and eights to take Biondino out in fifth place. He'll take home $48,533 for his finish.

06-03-2009 12:10 UTC-12

Jacks Are Good Again for Mercier

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[user25067]

Jason Mercier raised to 44,000 from UTG and Kevin Iacofano made the call from the small blind. Both players checked the {Q-Diamonds}

, but Iacofano led out for 60,000 on the {Q-Hearts}

turn. Mercier called and they went to the river, which fell the {2-Hearts}

. Both players checked.

Mercier turned up {A-Hearts}

to take down the pot with queens and jacks.

06-03-2009 12:03 UTC-12

Jonathan Tare Eliminated in 6th Place ($37,192)

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Four players limped in and saw a flop of {J-Spades}

. Everyone checked over to Jason Mercier in the cutoff, who bet 46,000. The action folded back to Jonathan Tare in the big blind, who raised pot. Mercier moved all in and after quite a long tank, Tare made the call.

Tare {A-Clubs}

Mercier

Though Tare had flopped two pair, sixes and fives, Mercier was well ahead with his set of jacks. The turn was the {Q-Hearts}

, the river was the {9-Hearts}

and Mercier took down the massive pot, sending Tare to the rail in sixth place. He'll take home $37,192 for his finish.

After the hand, Mercier took the chip lead with 1,225,000.

06-03-2009 11:57 UTC-12