Poker Tournaments

2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker

Pot-Limit Omaha (Event 5)

Date:

Monday, June 01, 2009 to Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Buy-In:

$1,500

Prize Pool:

$1,104,285

Entrants:

809

RESULTS

CHIP COUNTS

UPDATES

POKER TWEETS

DAY:
3
2
1
PAGE:
1
2
3

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:03:23

Congratulations to Jason Mercier, Event #5 Champion! ($237,415)

Jason Mercier jumped out to a massive chip lead on Day 1 of this tournament and never had to look back. Buoyed by a rail full of friends, the 22-year old Floridian took down his first WSOP bracelet this afternoon, a shiny addition to a mantle that is already home to two EPT trophies. Mercier was calm and in control for the duration of the final table. While some of his opponents ended up spewing off chips when they grew short-stacked, Mercier remained patient and battled back. When heads-up play commenced, Mercier took control about 30 minutes into the match, his experience and skill truly shining through. Kudos are also due to Steven "PiKappRaider" Burkholder, who turned in a runner-up performance despite his own self-admitted status as a PLO novice. Congratulations to Jason Mercier, one of the good guys of poker, on his bracelet-winning performance. Drinks are on him tonight!

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:54:52

Jason Mercier Wins Event #5 ($1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha), Steven Burkholder Eliminated in 2nd Place ($146,748)

Jason Mercier limped in on the button and Steven Burkholder made it an additional 48,000 to go from the big blind. Mercier called and they saw a flop of

. Burkholder led out for 110,000, Mercier raised to 285,000, Burkholder re-potted, Mercier moved all in and Burkholder called. Burkholder

Mercier

Both players held a jack for trips, but Burkholder had Mercier out-kicked. The

however, hit the turn, making Mercier a full house, which he celebrated with the smallest of fist-pumps. The river was the

and it was all over. Jason Mercier is our champion, taking down his first WSOP bracelet and $237,415. Burkholder earned $146,748 for his runner-up finish.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:46:33

Mercier Maintains Lead

Jason Mercier limped in on the button and Steven Burkholder checked his option. The flop was

and Burkholder check-called Mercier's 32,000 bet. Both players checked the

on the turn. The river was the

and Burkholder check-called another 90,000 from Mercier. Mercier turned up

for the wheel and Burkholder mucked. Mercier now has a nearly 2-1 chip lead with 2,372,000 to Burkholder's 1,270,000.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:26:59

Mercier's Boat Floats

Jason Mercier raised to 60,000 on the button and Steven Burkholder called from the big blind. Both players checked the

flop. The turn fell the

and Burkholder checked to Mercier, who bet 85,000. Burkholder came in with a raise to 215,000 and Mercier called. The river was the

and Burkholder bet 400,000. Mercier made the call. Mercier turned up

for tens full of aces and Burkholder mucked. He's down to 1.35 million while Mercier is up to nearly 2.3 million.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:13:35

Burkholder Can't Call

Steven Burkholder opened for 60,000 from the button and Jason Mercier called from the big blind. The flop was

and Mercier check-called a 75,000 bet from Burkholder. Both players checked the

on the turn. When the river fell the

, Mercier made his move, betting a hefty 215,000. Burkholder couldn't pull the trigger and he folded, conceding the pot to Mercier. The two are still very close in chips, with Burkholder up about 150,000 on Mercier.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:04:38

Heads-Up: The Last Five

Both armed with massive stacks relative to the blinds, Mercier and Burkholder are thus far playing a rather careful, deliberate match, neither player willing to get too out of line yet. Here's a look at the last five hands they played. 1. Burkholder gave Mercier a walk in the big blind. 2. Mercier raised to 55,000 on the button and Burkholder called. Burkholder checked the

flop and Mercier bet 80,000. Burkholder called. Both players checked the

on the turn. The river was the

and Burkholder led out for 130,000. Mercier folded. 3. Burkholder limped in on the button, Mercier made a pot-sized raise and Burkholder folded. 4. Mercier opened for a pot-sized raise from the button and picked up the blinds. 5. Burkholder made it 55,000 to go from the button and Mercier called. Mercier check-folded to Burkholder's bet on the

flop.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:58:47

Back Where They Started

Though Steven Burkholder carved out a decent lead against Jason Mercier in the first few hands of heads-up play, their chip counts have evened back out and returned to nearly where they started, Burkholder with 1.9 million and Mercier just short of 1.7 million.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:46:06

Burkholder Picks One Up With a Reraise

Steven Burkholder raised to 60,000 from the button and Jason Mercier called from the big blind. The flop came down

. Mercier checked, Burkholder bet 90,000 and Mercier raised to 280,000. Burkholder came back over the top with a re-pot and Mercier folded. Burkholder is now up to 2.2 million.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:43:33

Heads-Up: The First Five

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

and Burkholder check-called 85,000 from Mercier. The turn was the

. 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

and Burkholder check-folded to Mercier's flop bet. Mercier- 1,795,000 Burkholder 1,847,000

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:33:15

Heads-Up Chip Counts

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

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:32:30

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

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

. 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

Burkholder

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

and the river the

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

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:23:48

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

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

Mercier

The board ran out

, 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.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:13:49

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

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

Mercier

The board ran out

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

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:10:58

Jacks Are Good Again for Mercier

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

, but Iacofano led out for 60,000 on the

turn. Mercier called and they went to the river, which fell the

. Both players checked. Mercier turned up

to take down the pot with queens and jacks.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:03:35

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

Four players limped in and saw a flop of

. 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

Mercier

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

, the river was the

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.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:57:47

Updated Chip Counts

Kevin Iacofano 983,000 Steven Burkholder 857,000 Jason Mercier 680,000 Jonathan Tare 515,000 Matt Giannetti 168,000 Chris Biondino 103,000

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:52:53

Burkholder Tare-ing it Up

In a blind vs. blind battle, Jonathan Tare (SB) and Steven Burkholder (BB) saw a flop of

. Both players checked and they went to the turn, the

. Tare checked, Burkholder bet 60,000 and Tare called. The river was the

and Tare check-called another 120,000 from Burkholder. Burkholder revealed

for an eight-high straight and Tare mucked. Tare = 600,000 Burkholder 1,067,000

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:47:40

Mercier Movin' on Up

Jason Mericer opened for 44,000 from middle position and Matt Giannetti called from the button. Mercier led out for 60,000 on the

flop, Giannetti announced a pot-sized raise, and Mercier immediately moved all in. After a bit of a think, Giannetti gave up his hand and Mercier raked in the pot, taking his chip count up to 590,000. Giannetti was left with 195,000.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:41:03

Action Slowing

There hasn't been a ton of action to speak of since Alioto's elimination and Biondino's timely double-up. Here's a look at the last five hands played at the final table: 1. Chris Biondino raised pot from the button and got no action. 2. Matt Giannetti limped from the button and Jonathan Tare checked his option from the big blind. Tare checked the

flop over to Giannetti, who bet 30,000. Tare made a pot-sized raise and Giannetti folded. 3. Kevin Iacofano made it 40,000 to go from the cutoff and picked up the blinds. 4. Jason Mercier got a walk in the big blind. 5. Jonathan Tare raised to 40,000 from the cutoff and Chris Biondino called from the big blind. Biondino check-folded to Tare's 80,000 bet on the

flop.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:33:13

Chris Biondino Doubles Through Jason Mercier

Chris Biondino raised pot from UTG and Jason Mercier made the call. Mercier bet 30,000 on the

flop, enough to set Biondino all-in. He made the call, turning up

for jacks full of queens. The turn was the

, the river was the

and Biondino earned the double-up, increasing his stack to 134,000. Mercier was left with 340,000.

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:29:35

Dario Alioto Eliminated in 7th Place ($29,882)

Chip leader Kevin Iacofano opened for 45,000, Dario Alioto made a pot-sized reraise to 151,000 from the small blind and Iacofano re-potted, setting Alioto all in. Alioto called off the 80,000 he had behind and the cards went on their backs. Alioto

Iacofino

The board ran out

, Iacofino hitting a pair of queens on the turn. Though Alioto flopped a flush draw, he couldn't fill it and he hit the rail in 7th place, earning $29,882 for his performance. With that pot, Iacofano vaulted past the 1,000,000 mark.