It's no big secret that Jason Mercier and Allen Bari are good friends. It's also no big secret that Bari is in Mercier's stable, but in this tournament the two are going to have to butt heads as they're seated at the same table right now. Bari is in Seat 3 and Mercier in Seat 8 at a table that also contains Richard Ashby (Seat 4) and Matt Hawrilenko (Seat 6).
On this hand, Hawrilenko had to bring-in with a showing. Mercier made the call with a up and then action folded to Bari with a up. He completed and Hawrilenko folded. Mercier called.
Bari: / /
Mercier: / /
Mercier picked up the better low hand on fourth street and led the betting. He also led on fifth and sixth with Bari calling all the way to seventh street. On seventh, Mercier bet again. Bari held some chips in his hand, ruffled them and snapped them together a few times while thinking. He eventually folded and Mercier won the pot.
We checked with the tournament staff and they confirmed that we lost our first player way back at the start of Level 2. We're not sure who it was, but we're guessing they'd rather their name be left out of it. Since then we've lost about four more players.
Another pass through the Orange Section have turned up some previously unrecognized players in the field including Josh Arieh, David Williams, Gary Benson, Cliff Josephy and John Racener.
Allen Bari bet with a showing and was called by his good friend Jason Mercier, who was showing a . The latter took the lead on the turn after Bari paired and promptly bet. Bari made the call and Mercier proceeded to check-call a bet on fifth street before doing the same on both sixth and seventh.
Mercier: (x-x) / / (x)
Bari: (x) /
Bari's ninety-four proved to be the winner as Mercier simply mucked.
Just before the break, Mickey Doft bet third and then called bets on the turn and fifth street after his opponent took the lead and fired out. Doft retook the lead on sixth and put out a bet, which his opponent called before both players checked seventh.
We caught the action on sixth street when an unknown player and 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Greg Raymer both checked to Scott Fischman, who bet. Two calls ensued and action once again went check-check to Fischman on seventh. He put out another bet, the unknown player folded and Raymer made the call.
showing. Mercier made the call with a 
up and then action folded to Bari with a 
up. He completed and Hawrilenko folded. Mercier called.
/ 
. The latter took the lead on the turn after Bari paired and promptly bet. Bari made the call and Mercier proceeded to check-call a bet on fifth street before doing the same on both sixth and seventh.
/ (x)
