Bradley Mercer Becomes Two-Time Ring Winner with Another Big Score at Harrah's Cherokee
PokerNews is in town to live report the Main Event here at the World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee, but that is just one of the gold ring events that will have played out by the end of the series.
In Event #4: $600 NLH, 393 runners created a $202,395 prize pool that was paid out to the top 59 spots. Among those to get a piece of the pie were Sergio Nagit (10th - $3,024), Eric Sutton (16th - $2,059), Eddie Shade (23rd - $1,500), David Bradshaw (34th - $984), Maurice Hawkins (39th - $928), and Andrew Brinkley (50th - $892).
In the end, 47-year-old salesman Bradley Mercer from Elon, North Carolina denied Michael Lech an eighth gold ring by winning the heads-up battle. Mercer claimed a $42,907 first-place prize and his second gold ring.
“It feels excellent!” Mercer said after the win. “I just appreciate everybody supporting me.”
He added: “Obviously the Chris Moneymaker effect - just watching it (poker), and just the competition and all. Just playing a bunch and watching a bunch,”
It was the fourth-biggest WSOP cash for Mercer, all of which have come at Harrah’s Cherokee. Back in August, he placed third in Event #2: $400 NLH for $59,063, and a year before that fourth in the $1,700 Main Event for $102,230. He nearly defended his title as in August 2017 he won the WSOPC Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event for $121,495.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradley Mercer | Elon, North Carolina | $42,907 |
| 2 | Michael Lech | Alma, Arkansas | $26,518 |
| 3 | Andrew Robinson | Georgetown, Texas | $19,174 |
| 4 | Michael Wilklow | Minneapolis, Minnesota | $14,068 |
| 5 | Ross Ward | Gainesville, Georgia | $10,477 |
| 6 | Kenneth Taffaro | Mooresville, North Carolina | $7,921 |
| 7 | Shawn McClanahan | Abingdon, Virginia | $6,081 |
| 8 | Dell Taylor | Canton, Georgia | $4,742 |
| 9 | William Carruth | Dallas, Georgia | $3,757 |