After calling an 8,000 pre-flop raise from Katchalov, Mercier check-raised all-in on a 9♣8♣7♠ flop. Katchalov called, finding himself ahead with 7♥8♠ for 2 pair while Mercier turned over 9♠T♦ for high pair and a straight draw.
Mercier missed his outs at the turn when the 3♠ fell, however the T♥ at the river made him a greater two pair, tens and nines, sealing up one more remarkable repeat win here in Connecticut.
Mercier's BSO haul totaled $246,600-- the $142,600 winner-take-all prize, $40,000 for winning his first-round table, $14,000 for the seven $2,000 Day 1 bounties he claimed (six knockouts plus his own bounty), $30,000 in final table bounties (also including his own $10,000 bounty), and the $20,000 bonus for winning essentially the most bounties. For his runner-up finish, Katchalov collected $66,000.
In the time it took to type this post, I HAVE BEEN informed those odds are 27,000 to one. And that that is Mercier's tenth live tournament win in just three years. My God.
We'll have a whole wrap-up shortly. --KB
8.35pm: Trip acesThe early, small-ball, heads up encounters have tended to favour Eugene Katchalov. He flopped trip aces in a single of the early hands and got Mercier to name him the entire method to the river, but it surely was a comparatively small pot.
The two of them--seasoned campaigners both--are deep-stacked and in no hurry to get this over with. This might finally end up being a protracted and interesting heads-up battle. -- HS
8:26pm: Heads-up play beginsJason Mercier and Eugene Katchalov are back of their seats to come to a decision who walks away with the title. --BW
LEVEL UP. BLINDS 2,000-4,000-500
7.10pm: Dinner timeAhead of the heads-up duel, we're now going for a one-hour dinner break. Join us the opposite side of 8.10pm.
7:03pm: Katchalov eliminates Pesek; Gates freaks everybody outMichael Pesek open-shoved for around 69,000 and Eugene Katchalov made the decision. Pesek held A♣6♣. Katchalov had A♥5♥.
Just about that time, VIP Player Host Garry Gates wandered up and said, "Five a diamonds. Third card at the right."
The dealer laid out A♠Q♣5♦.
While we were busy freaking out over Gates' prediction, the dealer out out the turn and river 7♣, and K♦. Pesekwas gone along with his $68,000 in earnings from yesterday.
Jason Mercier (269,600) and Eugene Katchalov (180,400) at the moment are on dinner break. We'll be back in an hour. --BW
6:34pm: Mercier eliminates Jaffe, locks up a minimum of a tie in bounty raceFollowing Eugene Katchalov's 6,000 opening raise, Jonathan Jaffe moved all-in for 71,500, Jason Mercier moved all-in behind him, and Katchalov folded. Mercier had him covered, leaving Jaffe's tournament life in peril.
Jaffe A♥9♠ Mercier A♣Q♠
Jaffe found no assistance on the K♠8♠6♥8♦5♠ board and was eliminated in fourth place. His cash haul totaled $52,000 from his preliminary table win, the $2,000 bounty he collected within the first round, and the $10,000 bounty he earned today for eliminating Micah Raskin.
With this KO, Jason Mercier will a minimum of tie the bounty race with seven total. (If Eugene Katchalov knocks out everyone else, he too would have seven.) Don't forget, the winner of the bounty race gets a $20,000 bonus in addition to a free entry to the following Bounty Shootout, wherever it can be.
Mercier now also has the chip lead with about 180,000 as we move into three-handed play.--KB
LEVEL UP. BLINDS 1,500-3,000-400
6:13pm: Jaffe drops back-to-back potsJonathan Jaffe opened for 4,800 and Eugene Katchalov was the lone caller. Both players checked the Q♦6♣K♦ flop. Katchalov led out for 7,600 when the J♦ fell at the turn, Jaffe coming together with a decision. The river was the K♣, but Jaffe couldn't continue, folding to Katchalov's 10,400 bet.
Jaffe raised the following hand, opening again for 4,800. Jason Mercier made the decision they usually saw a Q♦Q♣7♥ flop. Mercier checked and Jaffe checked behind. Mercier did the similar when the 2♥ came at the turn and Jaffe took a stab on the pot, betting 6,600. Mercier called they usually checked down the 7♣ at the river. Mercier showed king-jack and it was good.
Between the 2 hands, Jaffe shed about 24,000 chips and is all the way down to around 70,000. --KB
6:00pm: Pesek sends Von Kriegenbergh packingMichael Pesek came in for a raise to 5,300. Taylor von Kriegenbergh pushed in his previous couple of blinds. Pesek made the decision with A♦J♣. Von Kriegenbergh needed help with K♦J♦.
He didn't get it. The board ran out 7♠6♠9♦6♣Q♥, and Von Kriegenbergh was eliminated. He earned a complete of $42,000 for winning his first flight table and one preliminary round bounty.
After entering the day with just one bounty, Pesek now has four sitting in front of him. Jason Mercier still leads the bounty race with six. --BW
5:51pm: One two-outer deserves anotherAt last, somewhat drama!
Jason Mercier led off the action with a raise to 4,800, Taylor von Kriegenbergh moved all-in for 59,400 and Eugene Katchalov called from the large blind. Mercier folded and the cards went on their backs.
Von Kriegenbergh 5♦5♣Katchalov A♠A♥
The flop fell an innocuous 9♣7♦3♥, however the 5♥ fell from the heavens at the turn, sending Von Kriegenbergh's railbirds into an apoplectic fit of ecstasy. Their celebration, however, was short-lived as Katchalov spiked the A♦ at the river to double up, leaving Von Kriegenbergh on lower than 15,000 in chips.
"Did that truly just happen?" probably the most aforementioned railbirds mumbled aloud. --KB
LEVEL UP. BLINDS 1,200-2,400-4,00
5:43pm: Jaffe doubles through Von KriegenberghTaylor von Kriegenbergh raised to 5,100 and got a choice from Jonathan Jaffe within the blinds. Both players checked the K♣Q♥5♥ flop to the 7♥ turn. Jaffe elf out for 6,400 and Von Kriegenbergh called. When the 8♠ came at the river, Jaffe moved all in for 45,500. Von Kriegenbergh took his time but eventually made the decision to peer Jaffe's K♥4♥ flush. --BW5:35pm: A COUPLE OF words from Eugene KatchalovOur video blogging team caught up with Eugene Katchalov on the break. Here is what he needed to say. --BW
5:27pm: Von Kriegenbergh quads up, doubles upJonathan Jaffe came in for a raise and got the decision from Taylor von Kriegenbergh. On a flop of T♦9♦9♣, Von Kriegenbergh led out for 6,500. Jaffe raised him to 14,800. Von Kriegenbergh moved all-in and Jaffe called.
Jaffe: A♦4♦Von Kriegenbergh: J♣9♠
The 9♥ came at the turn and feature Von Kriegenbergh the double. --BW
5:21pm: Mercier doubles through JaffeOn a flop of 3♥7♥A♦, Mercier moved all-in for around 40,000 and Jonathan Jaffe called. The hands:
Jaffe: K♦Q♦Mercier: 7♦8♦
The 5♦ came at the turn, and the 9♥ at the river. Mercier doubled up and is now back in contention to copy. --BW
5:17pm: Pesek gets GuintherFollowing a gap raise to 4,800 from Michael Pesek, Jimmie Guinther moved his short stack all-in and Pesek quickly called.
Guinther K♥8♠Pesek 2♥2♣
The 9♥6♥6♦ flop favored Pesek and although Guinther picked up a slew of outs at the turn when the 7♣ fell, the river was the 3♦, sealing his elimination in sixth place. Guinther's winnings totaled $36,000 from his first-round win plus the 2 bounties he collected within the process.
We're right down to five. --KB
5:14pm: Guinther doubles, must achieve this several times moreJason Mercier open-shoved for 47,200 with K♥7♠, and play folded around to the couple of blinds in Jimmie Guinther's stack. Guinther squeezed his J♣4♣ and got his last chip within the middle. The board ran out 2♦9♠4♦Q♣T♠ and Guinther doubled...which still does not imply much. --BW
5pm: CountsHere are the counts as we begin level seven.
Taylor Von Kriegenbergh - 59,000Michael Pesek - 99,125Eugene Katchalov - 76,600Jimmie Guinther - 5,700Jonathan Jaffe - 160,875Jason Mercier - 47,800
LEVEL UP. BLINDS 1,000-2,000-300 IN LEVEL 7
4.45pm: BreakPlayers will take a 15-minute break.
4:42pm: Scott Blackman eliminated in three-way all-inJimmie Guinther raised to 3,600, Scott Blackman three-bet to 29,400, and Michael Pesek moved all-in for 31,225 from the massive blind. Both opponents called, Guinther having both Blackman and Pesek called.
Pesek A♣K♣Blackman A♦Q♥Guinther Q♣9♠
Although Guinther hit top pair at the 9♥7♥3♠ flop and remained safe when the J♠ hit the turn, Pesek scooped both the primary and side pots with the K♥ at the river to triple his stack to 99,000. Guinther was left with only 5,700 and Blackman exited in seventh place, earning a complete of $36,000 for his first-round win together with three $2,000 bounties. --KB
4.25pm: End of the street for RaskinMicah Raskin is our eighth placed finisher, popping out at the wrong side of a couple against pair pre-flop shove-fest. Jonathan Jaffe opened the pot, making it 3,600 to move. Raskin raised to 13,600 after which Jaffe shoved, covering Raskin.
Raskin called for all his chips and for the primary time at this Bounty Shootout final, we saw two big hands.
Raskin: T♣T♥Jaffe: Q♠Q♣
"We got this far, we ain't gonna quit now!" shouted Dwyte Pilgrim, supporting Raskin. But his confidence turned to despair on a flop of 9♣K♥J♣. The 5♠ turned and the 4♣ rivered, which meant it was in every single place for Raskin.
He earned $40,000 for winning his heat and an additional $4,000 for 2 first-round bounties. But that is the end of the street for Raskin. -- HS
4:20pm: Mercier ahead! Mercier behind! Mercier wins!/On the hand immediately following his loss to Jonathan Jaffe, Jason Mercier open-shoved for 24,600. Play folded to Michael Pesek within the big blind. He thought for several minutes before calling with J♠9♦.
Mercier had K♣9♣, which was all well and good until the flop came J♥qh]6♠. The turn, 3♣, was no help. That left Mercier with only some options, certainly one of which, the T♦ hit at the river to double him as much as around his starting stack.
Color commentary's Dwyte Pilgrim asked all who would listen, "YOU'RE THINKING THAT Jason's gonna miss six outs? You're thinking that Jason is gonna miss that? Not on this decade!" --BW
4:15pm: Jonathan Jaffe doubles through Jason MercierEugene Katchalov opened for 3,800 and Jonathan Jaffe reraised to 6,000 within the cutoff before Jason Mercier made a chilly four-bet to 11,700 at the button. Katchalov folded, Jaffe moved all-in for 43,500 and Mercier called.
Jaffe K♠J♥Mercier 9♥ 9d]
Mercier's nines hung on the T♦T♥3♥ flop, but Jaffe hit top pair at the turn when the J♦ fell. The river was the A♣ and Jaffe moved as much as second in chips with 90,000, leaving Mercier on only 25,000. --KB
LEVEL UP. BLINDS 800-1,600-200
3:56pm: Katchalov flops nuts, Sweeney just flopsEugene Katchalov came in for a raise to 2,400 and Joe Sweeney called out of the blinds. When the flop fell K♦5♦9♦, Sweeny moved all in for 28,300. He picked the inaccurate time to do this. Katchalov had flopped the nuts with A♦2♦. Sweeney was dead to runners and stayed that way. Joe Sweeney still made a complete of $50,000, $40,000 of which he earned for winning his heat, and $10,000 for 5 first-round bounties. --BW
3:46pm: Jonathan Jaffe doubles through Micah RaskinMicah Raskin opened for a 2,700 raise, Jonathan Jaffe three-bet all in for 17,200 and Raskin quickly called.
Jaffe A♥K♥Raskin A♠9♥
The board ran out 4♠6♦T♣6♠J♠, Jaffe's ace-king holding as much as double his stack to 38,000. --KB
3:36pm: Five pots, two showdownsThere was little notable action or significant chip movement within the last five hands, but simply to come up with a slice of life from our vantage point on media row, here is a have a look at how they played out.
1. Jimmie Guinther raised to 2,900, Jason Mercier three-bet to 7,650 and Guinther folded.
2. Michael Pesek opened for 2,900, Eugene Katchalov called, Scott Blackman called, and Joe Sweeney called. The action checked around to Blackman at the T♦6♥3♣ flop and he bet 5,000, enough to push back all three opponents.
3. Eugene Katchalov made it 2,700 to move and Joe Sweeney was the lone caller. Both players checked the Q♠9♦T♦ flop in addition to the 5♣ at the turn. The river was the 8♠ and Sweeney led out for 6,000. Katchalov called and turned over A♣J♦ for a jack-high straight, besting Sweeney's A♠7♠.
4. Jimmie Guinther opened for 3,000 and both Taylor von Kriegenbergh and Joe Sweeney came along. The action checked around at the T♦4♣3♥ flop. The turn was the 8♥ and Guinther led out for 6,500. Von Kreigenbergh called and Sweeney folded. Both players checked the J♥ at the river. Guinther showed the winner with J♣T♣ for 2 pair and took it down.
5. Jonathan Jaffe raised to 2,800, Jason Mercier reraised to 6,600 and Jaffe folded. --KB
3:23pm: Jason Mercier knows the best way to play pokerWe'll be honest. We watched the taping of this actual segment. It offered Jason Mercier a pop quiz on poker math, etc. The truth that we knew the answers to the questions meant something: this was like Jason Mercier showing up for final exams in a kindergarten class. Nonetheless...here it's. --BW
3.20pm: StructurePlenty of players were surprised by the steepness of the structure within the opening heats, where they started with a 25,000 stack and played 30 minute levels. But this 50,000 stack and 40-minute levels has offered a lot more opportunity for measured play. Otherwise of putting it: we're still nine handed entering level five.
BLINDS UP. PLAYING 600-1,200-200 IN LEVEL FIVE
3.10pm: From the cutting room floorTaylor von Kriegenbergh raised to 1,600 from mid-position and attracted Eugene Katchalov, within the small blind, to a flop. It came 4♦8♥2♥. Check, check. The 8♠ turned and Katchalov checked again, encouraging a 3,000 bet from Von Kriegenbergh. Katchalov folded.
My guess is that that one won't make the television edit. -- HS
2:58pm: After all he had...the six of diamondsTaylor von Kriegenbergh raised it to 1,600 and got calls from Scott Blackman and Jonathan Jaffe. On a flop of 3♠8♥Q♠. Jaffe led out of the blinds for 2,600 and Von Kriegenbergh raised him to 5,800. Blackman mucked his hand, and Jaffe did the similar. Only for fun, Von Kriegenbergh showed the 6♦. --BW
2.45pm: Mercier movingJason Mercier, sixth in chips on the break, has quickly set about moving up the leaderboard, winning a pot against Joe Sweeney. Mercier opened to 1,600 and Sweeney, a few seats to his left, called. The flop came 2♣7♠J♠ and Mercier bet 2,450. Sweeney called that too, taking them to a 4♦ turn.
Sweeney was finally shaken off by a gamble of 5,600 from Mercier. --HS
2:36pm: Action resumesAlthough the primary few levels lacked what we would normally define as action, under the loosest of definitions of the word, we're back in it. --BW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 400-800-100
2:25pm: First break chip counts
Eugene Katchalov 69,350Taylor von Kriegenbergh 69,000Micah Raskin 65,675Joe Sweeney 63,450Michael Pesek 53,325Jason Mercier 41,400Jimmie Guinther 34,525Scott Blackman 28,875Jonathan Jaffe 24,400
2:15pm: Players take a 15-minute break
2:02pm: Blackman folds to Raskin's four-betAfter opening for a 1,500 raise, Scott Blackman got two callers in Micah Raskin and Eugene Katchalov before all hell broke loose at the 9♠9♥6♣ flop. Katchalov checked, Blackman bet 2,200, Raskin raised to 6,000, and after Katchalov got out of the way, Blackman came back excessive for 12,000. It wasn't enough for Raskin who four-bet to 25,000 straight and after an extended tank, Blackman surrendered. --KB
2pm: Blind on blindJoe Sweeney and Micah Raskin have renewed their acquaintance within the blinds, and this time Joe Sweeney took a small pot. Sweeney raised to 1,200 from the small blind and Raskin called from the big.
They both checked the J♦4♣9♣ flop, after which Sweeney check-called Raskin's 2,200 bet at the T♥ turn. The river was 5♥, which they both checked, and Sweeney's T♣7♠ was good. Raskin mucked.
It's still very quiet here. -- HS
1:54pm: Three-bet-failJonathan Jaffe surrendered a fair chunk of his stack in back-to-back hands where he was forced out of the pot after three-betting preflop. Within the first, Micah Raskin opened for 1,500 and Jaffe reraised to 4,000, only to be met with a four-bet to 12,000. Jaffe folded and Raskin took it down. At the next deal Eugene Katchalov got things started with a 1,500 raise and again Jaffe three-bet to 4,000. This time Taylor von Kriegenbergh was the spoiler, cold four-betting to 10,500, a move that folded out both his opponents.
Undeterred, Jaffe opened the following pot and took it down with out a fight. --KB
LEVEL UP. PLAYING 300-600-75 IN LEVEL 3
1.35pm: Level overIn common with the heats, the early levels haven't seen any eliminations from the general table. But the steep structure meant that players started flying out the door from about level three onwards. I'm predicting a minimum of one elimination within the coming 40-minute level.
1:25pm: Katchalov raises out Jaffe's dark betJoe Sweeney led off the action with a raise to 1,200 and Eugene Katchalov called before Jonathan Jaffe installed a three-bet to 3,800. Both players called. Jaffe led out for 4,800 at the J♣5♣2♥ flop, Sweeney folded and Katchalov made the decision.
Jaffe bet 7,000 in the dead of night before the 9♣ fell at the turn, a move that was met with a raise to 20,000 by Katchalov. Jaffe tanked for several minutes before conceding the pot. --KB
1pm: Maybe he is that goodOn Tuesday night, as Joe Sweeney was stacking up five bounties and winning his heat, a pal and supporter arrived to the rail and said (with an even degree of admiration): "IT'S A MUST TO have gotten some help from the person upstairs since you ain't that good."
Sweeney, an amateur player, had just beaten a table stacked with the superior professional poker talent within the game and had not checked out all out of place.
That same friend is back today to support Sweeney on the final table, and he was probably the most vocal in his admiration for this recent hand too.
Sweeney made a regular opening raise pre-flop after which called Micah Raskin's three bet. "No one's pushing us around Joe!" shouted Sweeney's supporter. So it proved.
The flop came 6♦4♠8♥ and Raskin bet 4,000. Sweeney raised to 13,000 and Raskin called. Both players checked the 4♦ turn, but then when Sweeney led for 15,000 at the T♣ river, Raskin folded.
Big--and deserved--cheers from Sweeney's rail. -- HS
LEVEL UP. PLAYING 200-400-50 IN LEVEL TWO
12:51pm: Raskin the early chip leaderMicah Raskin just moved into the chip lead after taking down two consecutive pots. Within the first, he opened for 600, earning calls from Eugene Katchalov and Jimmie Guinther. Guinther checked to the raiser at the T♣9♦3♥ flop and Raskin bet 1,200. Katchalov called and Guinther folded. The turn came the 7♠ and Raskin bogged down and checked, leaving the door open for Katchalov to bet 3,000. Raskin called and the K♣ hit the river. Raskin rotated and led out for 6,000, of venture too rich for Katchalov as he pursed his lips and folded.
On the following hand, Raskin and Guinther went heads-as much as a 7♣7♦2♥ flop. Guinther led out for 800, Raskin raised to 2,500 and Guinther gave it up as Raskin moved up to 60,000 in chips. --KB
12.50pm: PortentsThis week is all about repeats, and superstition's Joe Giron has just noticed that Jason Mercier, seeking to repeat his Bounty Shootout triumph of last year, is today occupying the nine seat, the similar chair that Vanessa Selbst occupied yesterday as she completed her back-to-back main event triumph. Oooooh. What could it mean? -- HS
12:41pm: Von Kriegenbergh does just a little advertisingOpening his fourth pot out of five, Eugene Katchalov made it 600 to go, Jason Mercier called from the cutoff and Taylor von Kriegenbergh three-bet to 2,000 at the button. Katchalov folded and Mercier called. The flop fell K♥5♣5♦ and Mercier check-called von Kriegenbergh's 4,100 bet. However, when the turn fell the 6♠, Mercier couldn't continue, folding to von Kriegenbergh's 8,000 bet.
Von Kriegenbergh showed the bluff, showing the 2♣4♣ as he raked within the pot. --KB
12.35pm: Raskin involvedMichah Raskin, who always loves to be involved, have been playing true to form within the early stages today. After Jason Mercier raised to 400 from late position, Joe Sweeney called within the small blind. Raskin, within the big blind, raised to 1,800 and the squeeze removed Mercier. Sweeney called.
The flop was 3♣J♥2♦ and after Sweeney checked, Raskin bet 2,100 which was enough to take it down. -- HS
12:30pm: Presto!Eugene Katchalov opened his third pot in a row with a raise to 600, Jason Mercier looking him up from the small blind. Mercier checked over to Katchalov at the 6♥8♥6♦ flop, then raised his fellow Team Pro's 800 continuation bet to 1,600. Katchalov called and both players checked down the A♦ at the turn and the Q♠ at the river.
Mercier showed pocket fives they usually were good. --KB
12:27pm: Early analysisFor a snappy pre-game chat between a nice-looking woman and bloated old man, take a look at the video below. --BW
12:20pm: Jaffe scores first bloodTaylor von Kriegenbergh came in for a raise and set the stage for a three-bet to 1,900 form Joe Sweeney. Jonathan Jaffe was having none of that and made it 4,200 to play. Von Kriegenbergh got out of the way, but Sweeney called. On a flop of J♠3♥9♥, Sweeney checked and Jaffe bet 5,800. Sweeney got out of the way, and Jaffe picked up the primary pot of the day. --BW
12:15pm: Away we goCards are within the air with blinds starting at 100-200-25. Levels are 40 minutes long and players start with 50,000 in chips. Here is what all of them seem like. --KB
11.45am: Mercier also leads bounty raceIn addition to the primary prize of $142,600 for winning this tournament, there also are plenty of alternative ways players can pick up additional money.
Each table winner has already taken either $36,000 or $40,000 for besting their eight- or nine-handed opening tables, and they're going to have also taken $2,000 for each player they've eliminated. That is the "bounty" a part of the bounty shooutout, and the tally of bounty winners from the primary flight is over at the results page.
The value of the bounties now increases. They're worth $10,000 each. On the end of all the tournament, the player who has picked up essentially the most bounties may even get an advantage $20,000 in cash, plus a buy in into the following NAPT Bounty Shooutout.
Currently leading that charge is, you guessed it, Jason Mercier. He has six bounties from his opening heat. Joe Sweeney picked up five and the nearest others, Katchalov and Blackman, have three.
It's still possible for everybody to win that race, however.-- HS
11.40am: Mercier aims to emulate SelbstAt almost another tournament in world poker, Jason Mercier's achievement of constructing the overall table ONE YEAR after he won the similar event can be enough to have commentators purring. The issue for Mercier, who will take a seat today on the final of the $10,000 NAPT Bounty Shootout final and try to defend his own crown, is known as Vanessa Selbst.
Last night, Selbst completed a remarkable back-to-back triumph in NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Events. Today, anything lower than back-to-back victories for Mercier will somehow feel like a disappointment, even if his may be already a spectacular achievement.
Mercier railed Selbst to triumph yesterday. Today Selbst is back in school at law school, so Mercier should go it alone. He's going to even have to overcome a field including his Team PokerStars Pro colleague Eugene Katchalov, in addition to seven other players who emerged victorious from a stacked field of talent on Tuesday.
The full line up, in seat order, is:
1. TAYLOR VON KRIEGENBERGH2. JOE SWEENEY3. MICAH RASKIN4. MICHAEL PESEK5. EUGENE KATCHALOV6. JIMMIE GUINTHER7. SCOTT BLACKMAN 8. JONATHAN JAFFE9. JASON MERCIER
Play is because of begin at noon.
Reporting team: Kristin Bihr, Howard Swains and Brad Willis. Photography: Joe Giron.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: North American Poker Tour]
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