Deeb and Mercier Tangling
Whether it's real or virtual felt, poker or prop betting, few players like to get their money in against each other as much as Shaun Deeb and Jason Mercier. Deeb finished fourth in the $2,500 10-Game event over the weekend, and Mercier was on hand at the final table to anti-sweat since he has a bracelet bet with Deeb. Mercier was spared, but not before enduring some Miami Heat ribbing from Deeb's rail.
Today their anti-sweating is focused on the board. We caught one recent pot on the turn. The board read , and Deeb had a stack of 20,000 in front of him. Mercier called. The river brought the , and both players checked. "Kings up," said Mercier, tabling for top two. "You have diamonds to go with it," Deeb asked as he mucked his cards. But no, Mercier's other two cards were the and for a flopped straight draw instead.
Deeb started the day third in chips but was down to half his starting stack with around 97,000 after the hand. Mercier was up to 270,000, but true to form, shipped 13,000 back across the felt to Deeb the very next hand.