Jason Mercier won his second gold bracelet of the summer
Every single one of the thousands of players who turn up at the WSOP each year dreams of being the one who hits that perfect run of form and cards that will allow them to create their own slice of history. While many write themselves a footnote on the page of the World Series by winning a bracelet, few accomplish the sort of extraordinary things which ensure that they are the headline.
Those few can now count Jason Mercier among their number, after he won a bracelet in the $10K 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship, before finishing 2nd in the very next $10K event, which was the Seven Card Razz Championship. He then went and added further glory to those two great results, when he won the very next $10K event; the $10K HORSE Championship. Jason Mercier defeated Australia’s James Obst for the title and took home $422,874. It takes a very special player to get heads up in three $10K Championship events in a row, bagging two bracelets along the way.
Side bets keep the cash rolling in for Mercier
Mercier picked up prize money totalling $867,000 for those three results combined, but his side bets on bracelet wins are reported to have netted him an even higher figure. Mercier is said to have action spread out with numerous players, including Fedor Holz, who claims to have lost $200,000 when Mercier took his first bracelet of the year. The total won in side bets for that first bracelet was hinted at being in the mid to high six figure range by Mercier, but it is unknown how much extra the second bracelet has added to his profits.
What we do know, thanks to a public Twitter argument, is that Vanessa Selbst had to pay Mercier $1.8 million if he completes the unlikely feat of taking three bracelets at this year’s series. She attempted to buy out of the bet after his first bracelet win, and Mercier refused but she managed to hedge for a part of the bet (Not with Mercier). Selbst still has what is almost certainly the biggest sweat of her life as she watches on and prays that Mercier doesn’t strike gold again.
For those wondering, I hedged for a lot of it (not w Jason) but still have a decent sweat. Gave a bunch of others something to sweat w me.
— Vanessa Selbst (@VanessaSelbst) June 18, 2016
Holz hangs on to his newly earned GPI crown
With Mercier magic unfolding at the WSOP, the GPI number 1 spot which Fedor Holz finally claimed just a couple of days ago appeared to be in serious jeopardy. It may have even been claimed by Mercier if not for the fact that Fedor Holz has not been sat around relaxing in Vegas; he has also been busy.
Might look like a repost, but it’s not. #backtobacktoback pic.twitter.com/IOE4oqEhsU
— Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) June 18, 2016
The Aria Casino, was the venue for Holz’s two big results this month, when he took 1st in the $50,000 Super High Roller, before taking another 1st place in the $25,000 High Roller just seven days later. He has now added another $25,000 High Roller title to his name, in what has been an amazing month for both Holz, and Mercier.
Simple goal for the summer: just win more money than Jason costs me.
— Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) June 18, 2016
Other news
The $3,000 6 Handed event saw excitement build for Indian pro Raghav Bansal, as he accumulated a big stack in the late stages. Unfortunately for Bansal, a preflop raising war laid the foundations of his eventual 11th place bustout. 10 players still remain in the $1,500 Omaha hi/lo Split event, with Japanese player Motohiro Kondo still in contention.
Louis Hartwell
Graduated in Media Communication at the University of Lausanne, Louis Hartman is a co-founder of somuchpoker.com. He began his career in Cambodia as freelance journalist. In same time he was making his living by playing poker every night at that time. Intense learner, he read dozens of poker strategy books to improve his skills during many years. With a strong interest about poker "behind the scene" in Asia and his communication skills, Louis launched Somuchpoker in 2014.
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