As if Vanessa Selbst going back-to-back in the $5,000 Main Event yesterday at the North American Poker Tour Mohegan Sun wasn't enough, Jason Mercier has matched her and successfully defended his High Roller Bounty Shootout title. Not only did Mercier win the tournament, but he also won the prize for the most bounties, which earned him another $20,000 and an entry into the next NAPT Bounty Shootout.
For winning his first table, Mercier scored $40,000 and pocketed $12,000 for six bounties, plus another $2,000 for his own. He then went on to bust three more players at the final table where the bounties were increased to $10,000 apiece. When you combine that with the $20,000 bounty prize and the $142,600 in first-place prize money, Mercier's grand total comes out to $246,600. Of course, it's not as much as the $475,000 he won last year in this event, but it's still one heck of a payday as he adds his tenth trophy to his collection (according to him).
Katchalov finished runner-up and what a performance it is for him. Just three weeks ago, on March 23, Katchalov was announced as the latest addition to Team PokerStars Pro. Putting on such an amazing performance here in this event prove further that he deserves to wear the patch and will go on to do nothing but great things to represent PokerStars. To many, Katchalov is considered one of the best all-around players in the world.
Final Table Results
Place
Player
Prize
1
Jason Mercier
$246,600
2
Eugene Katchalov
$68,000
3
Michael Pesek
$70,000
4
Jonathan Jaffe
$54,000
5
Taylor von Kriegenbergh
$44,000
6
Jimmie Guinther
$42,000
7
Scott Blackman
$44,000
8
Micah Raskin
$46,000
9
Joe Sweeney
$52,000
That wraps up our coverage from the 2011 NAPT Mohegan Sun. Congratulations to all the winners and especially to Vanessa Selbst and Jason Mercier for absolutely amazing back-to-back feats! Truly two of the best poker players in the world today.
Until next time, take care and thanks for following along.
Eugene Katchalov min-raised the button to 8,000. Jason Mercier made the call from the big blind and the flop came down , very draw-heavy. Mercier checked and Katchalov bet 12,000. Mercier shoved and Katchalov called off the last of his chips holding bottom two pair with the . Mercier held top pair and a straight draw with the .
The turn brought the and now Mercier needed a jack, ten, nine, six or three to win the hand. Katchalov just needed to dodge.
The river completed the board with the and smacked Mercier a better two pair than Katchalov. He had Katchalov covered and just like that it was all over with Mercier successfully defending his title.
Jason Mercier raised to 8,000 from the button, and Eugene Katchalov made the first three-bet of this duel, reraising to 20,500 total. Mercier quickly passed.
On the next hand, Katchalov opened with the same minimum raise from his button, and Mercier flatted to see a flop. It came , and Mercier check-called a bet of 6,000. He check-called another 16,500 on the turn, and the river drew checks from both players. Mercier showed up , and his aces up were good.
Jason Mercier was loitering in his chair for about five or ten minutes, shooting the breeze with the television staff and the dealer as if he were playing a home game.
He's not playing a home game, though, and his challenger Eugene Katchalov has returned to the ring for this duel for a reminder that it's a serious competition here. He's trying to play the role of spoiler her, while Mercier is looking to go back-to-back like Selbst.
With three minutes left in the level, the cards are in the air. It's Team PokerStars Pro versus Team PokerStars Pro, and it's heads-up for the title!
The two Team PokerStars Pros who are left standing have stepped away for a dinner break. It'll be "about an hour", and they'll return to these stacks sometime around 8:15 P.M.:
When Jason Mercier folded his button, Michael Pesek moved all in for 75,000 from the small blind. In the big, Eugene Katchalov took just a minute to make sure before he made the call for almost all of his own chips too. Cards up, gents.
Showdown
Pesek:
Katchalov:
There was a muted nervousness in the sparsely populated studio as everyone inched toward the edges of the stage to catch a glimpse of the flop.
It came , a disaster for Pesek's ace. He was now in a big hole with two cards to come, needing some help to stay alive.
The turn opened the door a bit as the gave him another set of outs to try and chase down. He was now looking for any club (except the five) or any six to double up, and a queen or seven for the chop. The river was the blank , though, and that's a miss.
That's all she wrote for Pesek, relegated to the rail in third place. He'll take home $70,000.
After Michael Pesek raised to 6,000, Jason Mercier reraised from the big blind to 15,800. Pesek made the call and the flop came down . Mercier continued with a flop bet of 11,800. Pesek called.
The turn brought the and Mercier checked. Pesek took his time and then bet 17,000. Mercier check-raised all in and Pesek gave it up.
From the button, Jason Mercier made his minimum raise to 6,000, and both Michael Pesek and Eugene Katchalov called from their respective blinds.
Family pot! The flop came , and the blinds let Mercier continue out with 9,300 more chips. Pesek folded, Katchalov called, and it was heads up to the turn. Mercier bet 22,300 this time, and Katchalov gave it up.