Event #60: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw | 2023 World Series of Poker

06-29-2023 15:55 UTC-7

Watson Continues to Win with Paired Nines

Ryan Gray

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Mike Watson raised 350,000 from the button and Brad Ruben called from the big blind.

Each player drew one, Ruben drawing 10x6x5x4x to and Watson to 9x8x3x2x. Ruben caught a jack and Watson again pairing his nine.

Ruben checked his jack-ten and Watson turned his nines into a bluff one more time, making a nearly pot-sized bet of 900,000. Ruben couldn't find the call and Watson took it down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Watson	5,970,000 50,000	50,000

Brad Ruben	3,485,000 615,000	615,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Mike Watson

06-29-2023 16:06 UTC-7

Ruben Pays Off Mercier

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Yori Epskamp

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Brad Ruben raised to 180,000 on the button with QxJx6x5x3x and Jason Mercier defended the big blind with Kx9x8x4x3x. Mercier drew one while Ruben patted the queen-jack.

Mercier improved with a Jx and decided to lead with a bet of 190,000. Ruben reluctantly paid it off.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	6,140,000 1,250,000	1,250,000

Brad Ruben	2,280,000 1,205,000	1,205,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Jason Mercier

06-29-2023 16:10 UTC-7

Ruben Doubles Through Watson

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Yori Epskamp

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Mike Watson raised to 350,000 on the button, Brad Ruben three-bet shoved 1,845,000 from the small blind and Watson called after about a minute. Both players decided to draw one card.

Brad Ruben: 8x4x3x2x
Mike Watson: 10x7x6x2x

Watson flipped a Kx and Ruben turned over a 5x for the double-up.

"Let's go!" Ruben shouted, echoed by even louder fans on the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	6,060,000 80,000	80,000

Brad Ruben	4,010,000 1,730,000	1,730,000

Mike Watson	3,645,000 2,325,000	2,325,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Mike Watson

06-29-2023 16:22 UTC-7

Watson Doubles Through Ruben, Ruben Triples Through Watson and Mercier

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Ryan Gray

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Jason Mercier kicked off the action by raising 320,000 from the button. Brad Ruben called from the small blind, but then Mike Watson shoved all in for 3,405,000, with 9x7x4x4x3x.

Mercier immediately folded, but Ruben gave careful consideration, holding 9x6x4x2x2x. After asking Watson for a count, he put in the calling chips.

Ruben discarded one of his deuces, and Watson one of his fours. Watson caught a queen, and Ruben paired the four, decimating his stack and giving Watson the huge double up.

On the next hand, on the button, Ruben stuck his remaining 605,000 into the middle, Watson called from the small blind, and Mercier from the big.

Ruben drew one to KxJx9x5x4x, Watson two to AxJx8x7x2x, and Mercier two to KxQx8x7x5x. Watson paired an eight, Mercier made jack-ten, and Ruben jack-nine, and bounced back with the triple up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Watson	6,765,000 3,120,000	3,120,000

Jason Mercier	4,895,000 1,165,000	1,165,000

Brad Ruben	2,055,000 1,955,000	1,955,000

Tags: Brad Ruben Jason Mercier Mike Watson

06-29-2023 16:32 UTC-7

Brad Ruben Eliminated in 3rd Place ($63,505)

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Yori Epskamp

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Brad Ruben shoved all in for 655,000 on the button and Mike Watson called from the small blind. Jason Mercier called as well from the big blind.

Watson elected to draw one, Mercier stood pat, and Ruben drew one. Both Watson and Mercier checked after the draw.

Mercier showed his pat Jx6x4x3x2x, good enough to beat Watson's Kx10x9x7x3x. Ruben ended up with Qx8x7x6x4x and saw his attempt to win his fifth bracelet come up just short.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	7,010,000 2,115,000	2,115,000

Mike Watson	6,705,000 60,000	60,000

Brad Ruben	Busted

Tags: Brad Ruben Jason Mercier Mike Watson

06-29-2023 16:36 UTC-7

Jason Mercier - Mike Watson Heads Up

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Danny Maxwell

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Tags: Jason Mercier Mike Watson

06-29-2023 16:45 UTC-7

Better Jack for Watson

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Yori Epskamp

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Mike Watson raised to 350,000 and Jason Mercier defended his big blind. Both players drew one card.

Mercier ended up with Jx9x8x6x5x after the draw and checked. Watson made a better jack with Jx8x7x6x2x and bet 475,000. Mercier called to see the bad news appear on the felt.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	7,365,000 355,000	355,000

Mike Watson	6,350,000 355,000	355,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Mike Watson

06-29-2023 16:50 UTC-7

Watson Takes the Lead

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Yori Epskamp

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Mike Watson raised to 350,000 with 9x7x7x4x2x and Jason Mercier three-bet to 1,170,000 with Jx10x9x7x6x. Watson contemplated his options before settling on a call.

Mercier patted his rough jack while Watson flung one of his sevens in the muck. He caught the 5x to get there with a ninety-seven.

Mercier checked, and Watson carefully cut out a pot-sized bet of 2,600,000. Mercier slumped back in his chair, visibly unpleased with the situation.

It took the American about thirty seconds before settling on a fold, surrendering the chip lead to Watson in the process.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Watson	8,135,000 1,785,000	1,785,000

Jason Mercier	5,580,000 1,785,000	1,785,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Mike Watson

06-29-2023 16:55 UTC-7

Value for Mercier

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Yori Epskamp

Level 30 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 240,000 ante

Mike Watson raised to 350,000 with Kx5x5x4x2x, and Jason Mercier called with AxJx10x9x5x. Mercier drew one and Watson drew two.

Mercier completed his jack with Jx10x9x6x5x, while Watson paired up with 8x5x4x4x2x.

Mercier bet 460,000, Watson wasn't a believer and called it off with a pair of fours.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mike Watson	7,405,000 730,000	730,000

Jason Mercier	6,310,000 730,000	730,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Mike Watson

Level: 31

Blinds: 100,000/200,000

Ante: 300,000