Merciless Mercier
There was a straight on board -- 
-- and about 12,000 in the middle.
Jason Mercier sat with his familiar backwards cap, head lowered, and 11,800 chips spilled in front of him. His opponent sat brooding for a couple of minutes as the other players watched, and a cameraman recorded all.
Finally with some anguish Mercier's opponent made the call. Mercier quickly tabled his cards. "Seven-high straight," said the dealer at the sight of his 
. Mercier gathered the chips. He's now moved up to 115,000.