Event 5 - $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | 2009 World Series of Poker

06-03-2009 11:03 UTC-12

Chip Counts at the Break

[user25067]

Kevin Iacofano 905,000
Steven Burkholder 886,000
Jonathan Tare 773,000
Matt Giannetti 358,000
Jason Mercier 285,000
Dario Alioto 216,000
Chris Biondino 84,000

06-03-2009 11:17 UTC-12

Players Return from Break

[user25067]

Cards are back in the air.

Level: 20

Blinds: 8,000/16,000

Ante: 0

06-03-2009 11:29 UTC-12

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

[user25067]

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 {K-Hearts}

Iacofino

The board ran out {8-Hearts}

, 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.

06-03-2009 11:33 UTC-12

Chris Biondino Doubles Through Jason Mercier

[user25067]

Chris Biondino raised pot from UTG and Jason Mercier made the call. Mercier bet 30,000 on the {J-Spades}

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

for jacks full of queens. The turn was the {9-Clubs}

, the river was the {8-Diamonds}

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

06-03-2009 11:41 UTC-12

Action Slowing

[user25067]

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 {J-Hearts}

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 {10-Spades}

flop.

06-03-2009 11:47 UTC-12

Mercier Movin' on Up

[user25067]

Jason Mericer opened for 44,000 from middle position and Matt Giannetti called from the button. Mercier led out for 60,000 on the {4-Spades}

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.

06-03-2009 11:52 UTC-12

Burkholder Tare-ing it Up

[user25067]

In a blind vs. blind battle, Jonathan Tare (SB) and Steven Burkholder (BB) saw a flop of {A-Clubs}

. Both players checked and they went to the turn, the {4-Diamonds}

. Tare checked, Burkholder bet 60,000 and Tare called. The river was the {Q-Spades}

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

Burkholder revealed {J-?}

for an eight-high straight and Tare mucked.

Tare = 600,000
Burkholder 1,067,000

06-03-2009 11:57 UTC-12

Updated Chip Counts

[user25067]

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

06-03-2009 12:03 UTC-12

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

[user25067]

Four players limped in and saw a flop of {J-Spades}

. 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 {A-Clubs}

Mercier

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

, the river was the {9-Hearts}

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.