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

06-03-2009 12:10 UTC-12

Jacks Are Good Again for Mercier

[user25067]

Jason Mercier raised to 44,000 from UTG and Kevin Iacofano made the call from the small blind. Both players checked the {Q-Diamonds}

, but Iacofano led out for 60,000 on the {Q-Hearts}

turn. Mercier called and they went to the river, which fell the {2-Hearts}

. Both players checked.

Mercier turned up {A-Hearts}

to take down the pot with queens and jacks.

06-03-2009 12:13 UTC-12

Chris Biondino Eliminated in 5th Place ($48,533)

[user25067]

Chris Biondino opened for 56,000 from UTG, Jason Mercier reraised enough to set him all in and Biondino made the call.

Biondino {5-Hearts}

Mercier

The board ran out {9-?}

, Mercier making two pair nines and eights to take Biondino out in fifth place. He'll take home $48,533 for his finish.

Level: 21

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 0

06-03-2009 12:23 UTC-12

Matt Giannetti Eliminated in 4th Place ($66,544)

[user25067]

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 {A-Clubs}

Mercier

The board ran out {7-Spades}

, 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.

06-03-2009 12:32 UTC-12

Kevin Iacofano Eliminated in 3rd Place ($96,128)

[user25067]

Steven Burkholder opened for 60,000 from the button, and Kevin Iacofano made the call from the big blind.

The flop came down {Q-Hearts}

. 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 {K-Spades}

Burkholder {Q-Clubs}

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 {6-Clubs}

and the river the {8-Spades}

to send him to the rail in third place. He'll take home $96,128 for his performance.

06-03-2009 12:33 UTC-12

Heads-Up Chip Counts

[user25067]

Steven Burkholder 1,992,000
Jason Mercier 1,650,000

06-03-2009 12:43 UTC-12

Heads-Up: The First Five

[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 {Q-Clubs}

and Burkholder check-called 85,000 from Mercier. The turn was the {5-Spades}

. 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 {7-Diamonds}

and Burkholder check-folded to Mercier's flop bet.

Mercier- 1,795,000
Burkholder 1,847,000

06-03-2009 12:46 UTC-12

Burkholder Picks One Up With a Reraise

[user25067]

Steven Burkholder raised to 60,000 from the button and Jason Mercier called from the big blind. The flop came down {10-Diamonds}

. Mercier checked, Burkholder bet 90,000 and Mercier raised to 280,000. Burkholder came back over the top with a re-pot and Mercier folded.

Burkholder is now up to 2.2 million.

06-03-2009 12:58 UTC-12

Back Where They Started

[user25067]

Though Steven Burkholder carved out a decent lead against Jason Mercier in the first few hands of heads-up play, their chip counts have evened back out and returned to nearly where they started, Burkholder with 1.9 million and Mercier just short of 1.7 million.

06-03-2009 13:04 UTC-12

Heads-Up: The Last Five

[user25067]

Both armed with massive stacks relative to the blinds, Mercier and Burkholder are thus far playing a rather careful, deliberate match, neither player willing to get too out of line yet. Here's a look at the last five hands they played.

1. Burkholder gave Mercier a walk in the big blind.

2. Mercier raised to 55,000 on the button and Burkholder called. Burkholder checked the {A-Hearts}

flop and Mercier bet 80,000. Burkholder called. Both players checked the {10-Spades}

on the turn. The river was the {5-Diamonds}

and Burkholder led out for 130,000. Mercier folded.

3. Burkholder limped in on the button, Mercier made a pot-sized raise and Burkholder folded.

4. Mercier opened for a pot-sized raise from the button and picked up the blinds.

5. Burkholder made it 55,000 to go from the button and Mercier called. Mercier check-folded to Burkholder's bet on the {K-Spades}

flop.