Back in 2011, Brian Rast won this very event for his second bracelet that summer. Rast was one of several former champs returning to action today, but like Matthew Ashton, Scotty Nguyen and two-time champ Michael Mizrachi, he finds himself watching from the rail.
In what would be his final hand, Jason Mercier opened for 4,800 and Rast three-bet to 15,000. Mercier responded with a pot-sized four bet to 48,600, Rast called, and the flop came down . Mercier, who had the big stack, simply bet pot and Rast called off for his last 82,000.
Mercier:
Rast:
Rast had a pair of sixes with a straight draw, while Mercier held aces. The turn gave Rast an added flush draw, but the red eight on the river failed to help him. Mercier's aces held and he sent Rast to the rail, which leaves 2009 $50,000 Poker Players' Champion David Bach as the last former winner remaining in the field.
From early position, Phil Ivey raised. Keith Lehr called out of the big blind, and the flop produced the . After Lehr checked, Ivey bet, and then Lehr check-raised. Ivey called.
The turn was the , and bother players checked to see the land on the river. Both players checked again.
After Lehr showed a pair of tens with the , Ivey tabled the for a rivered pair of aces and he won the pot.
Jason Mercier limped the small blind telling Brian Rast in the big that the most he can make it is 7,000.
"I know," said Rast. "I'm going to make it sixty-nine."
"I didn't know it was going to be that kind of party," joked Mercier, making the call as the rest of the table chuckled. The flop fell and after Mercier checked, Rast made it 9,000.
David Steicke raised to 5,600 from under the gun, and four players called; Bryce Yockey (early position), Scott Clements (cutoff), Keith Lehr (button), and Phil Ivey (big blind).
The flop fell , the action checked to Yockey, and he bet 9,600. Clements and Lehr folded, Ivey bet the pot (60,000), and Steicke folded. Yockey considered the bet for bit, and then he folded as well.
We caught the end of a hand with Andrey Zaichenko all against Brock Parker and sweating seventh street. He rose from his chair, slammed the card on the table and walked away having paired up.