[user25067]
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.
[user25067]
Kevin Iacofano - 3rd Place
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.
[user25067]
Matt Giannetii - 4th Place
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.
[user25067]
Chris Biondino - 5th Place
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.
[user25067]
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.
[user25067]
Jonathan Tare - 6th Place
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.
[user25067]
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.
![[user25067]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and Burkholder check-called 85,000 from Mercier. The turn was the 
. Burkholder checked a second time, Mercier bet 200,000 and Burkholder folded. 
and Burkholder check-folded to Mercier's flop bet. 
. 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. 
and the river the 
to send him to the rail in third place. He'll take home $96,128 for his performance.
, 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 making two pair nines and eights to take Biondino out in fifth place. He'll take home $48,533 for his finish.
. 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. 
and Mercier took down the massive pot, sending Tare to the rail in sixth place. He'll take home $37,192 for his finish. 
and Tare check-called another 120,000 from Burkholder. 
for an eight-high straight and Tare mucked.