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2011 42nd Annual World Series of Poker

Monday, June 20, 2011 to Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Event #35: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed

download official reportdownload official winner photo
  • Buy-in: $5,000
  • Prizepool: $2,382,900
  • Entries: 507
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:23 AM Local Time

Jason Mercier - Champion!

The World Series of Poker heard the voice of the players and included a six-handed PLO event on this year's schedule. Event #35 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha/Six Handed was the first of its kind and appealed to an assorted mix of amateurs, professionals, and seasoned online players. When registration closed two days ago, 507 players had entered to create a prize pool of $2,382,900, with $619,575 of that reserved for first. It took three grueling days of intense play, but eventually it was Jason Mercier who defeated a stacked field to claim the prize and his second PLO WSOP gold bracelet.

Day 3 got off to a bang when the field of 15 that started the day was whittled down to just eight within the first two hours of play. The man making the most noise during that time seemed to be Mercier, who scored a double knockout to vault among the top stacks. In that hand, David "Devilfish" Ulliott raised to 25,000 from the button and Peter Jetten re-raised to 110,000 from the small blind. Mercier called from the big blind, while Ulliott called behind

The flop came down     and Jetten open-shoved all in, Mercier instantly went all in, and Devilfish called off his stack.

Mercier:     
Jetten:     
Ulliott:     

Ulliott was ahead with a set of jacks, but Mercier had both straight and flush draws and Jetten's aces weren't looking too good. The turn came   to give Mercier the straight, leaving Devilfish looking to pair the board; however, the river was the   and both Jetten and Devilfish hit the rail. Of course the ever-vocal Devilfish didn't leave before calling Mercier "the luckiest f***ing mother f***cker alive"

Early Eliminations

PlacePlayerPrize
15Shawn Bennani$23,519
14Peter Jetten$23,519
13David "Devilfish" Ulliott$23,519
12Daniel Fuhs$30,024
11Chris Moorman$30,024
10Jared Bleznick$39,413
9Robert Fellner$53,210
8David Callaghan$39,413
7Greg Brooks$53,210

Brooks' elimination meant the official final table had been reached. It was there that WSOP rookie Michael "Timex" McDonald got his short-stack all in against four-time bracelet winner David Chiu.

Chiu:     
McDonald:     

Unfortunately the board ran out       and Timex was eliminated in sixth place for $73,965. The next elimination came some time later and in excruciating fashion. It began when Joe Ressler raised to 80,000 from under the gun and the action folded to Steven Merrifield in the small blind. He called as did Mercier in the big blind to see the flop fall    . Merrifield and Mercier checked to Ressler who bet 150,000, only to see Merrifield check-raise to 425,000. Mercier folded, Ressler snap-shoved and Merrifield insta-called.

Ressler:     
Merrifield:     

It was set-over-set as the dealer burned and turned the  . Ressler was one card away from a double, but much to the shock of his supporters, the   spiked on the river. Merrifield had hit a one outer to send Ressler home in fifth place ($105,967).

The next to go was Chiu, who grew extremely short stacked and couldn't outflop Mercier. The four-time bracelet winner hit the rail in fourth place, worth $156,628. Three-handed play began with the chips essentially spread equally between the players. Merrifield held a small lead, but short-handed play did not go his way. He was chipped down considerably and eventually eliminated at the hands of Hans Winzeler. That left Mercier (3.49 million) to do heads-up battle against Winzeler (4.125 million).

The heads-up match saw the chip lead change hands a couple of times, lasting almost two hours. In the end, Mercier hit a straight on the river to claim the title, his second in the PLO variation, with his previous victory coming back in the 2009 Event #5 $1,500 PLO after he cleared a field of 809 players to claim the $237,462 first-place prize. That means he has now won two PLO bracelets for a combined $857,037.

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerPrize
1Jason Mercier$619,575
2Hans Winzeler$383,075
3Steven Merrifield$239,100
4David Chiu$156,628
5Joe Ressler$105,967
6Michael McDonald$73,965

Congratulations to Jason Mercier on becoming the Event #35 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha/Six Handed champion. That does it for our coverage from this event, but there are plenty more ahead. Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all the updates from the 2011 WSOP.

Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:19 AM Local Time

Hans Winzeler - 2nd Place ($383,075

It almost seemed like we were in for a long night, but Jason Mercier has just defeated Hans Winzeler heads-up in stunning fashion to claim his second WSOP bracelet!

Earlier, Winzeler raised to 160,000 before the flop from the button and Mercier called before both players checked the flop of    . Mercier then led out for 165,000 on the turn of the   and Winzeler called before Mercier bet 390,000 on the river of the  . Winzeler folded his hand.

Down to less than 2.8 million, the final hand of the night came after two sets of blinds were passed between them. Mercier raised to 160,000 from the button, only to see Winzeler re-raise to 480,000. Mercier called and then the dealer spread the flop of    .

Mercier bet 960,000, Winzeler potted all-in and Mercier snap-called.

Winzeler:     
Mercier:     

Winzeler was in front with the overpair, and he kept the lead when the   came down on the turn. Needing any deuce, trey, five, six or seven, the audience went bananas when the   spiked on the river and Mercier's supporters jumped the rail in droves to kick off the celebrations!

It was a truly impressive display from Winzeler, who held his own against 505 other superstars in what can only be considered the greatest field ever assembled in modern WSOP history. Unfortunately, he was pipped at the post, but there is no shame in taking second place tonight (and of course, there's 383,075 reasons for him to smile). We're sure that we'll see him back even more determined to snare gold.

But to the victor go the spoils - ladies and gentlemen, we present to you Jason Mercier, the 2011 WSOP Event #35 champion!

Hans Winzeler00
Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:10 AM Local Time

Hans Winzeler raised to 160,000 on the button only to have Jason Mercier make it 480,000 to go from the big blind. Winzeler made the call and there was nearly a million in the pot preflop. Just when it seemed like there might be some fireworks, both players checked the     flop, as well as the   turn.

When the   hit the river, Mercier decided it was time to put out a bet, settling on 530,000. Winzeler didn't take long to make the call, but ended up mucking when Mercier turned over      for a straight.

Jason Mercier4,250,000995,000
Hans Winzeler3,350,000-990,000
Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:06 AM Local Time

Hans Winzeler

Hans Winzeler may not be familiar to most poker fans, but the Florida professional is no stranger to poker. Not including today, he has amassed five World Series of Poker cashes totaling $40,921.

2007 Event #21 $1,500 NLHE Shootout (27th- $6,757)
2007 Event #35 $1,500 NLHE (23rd- $20,109)
2008 Event #29 $3,000 NLHE (66th- $5,533)
2009 Event #32 $2,000 NLHE (81st- $5,667)
2011 Event #18 $1,500 NLHE (299th- $2,855)

Whether he wins or takes second, Winzeler is destined to get his biggest cash to date, which will be close to, or more than, 10X his total lifetime earnings. Not a bad day for Winzeler.

Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:05 AM Local Time

The cards are back in the air! Two more levels until we either crown a champion or bag and tag, whichever comes first.

Playtika - Jason Alexander
Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:04 AM Local Time
Level: 29
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:51 PM Local Time
Hans Winzeler4,340,000980,000
Jason Mercier3,255,000-985,000
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:45 PM Local Time

The two remaining players are now on their last 20-minute break of the evening.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:44 PM Local Time

Hans Winzeler limped on the button, Jason Mercier checked his option in the big blind, and it was heads up to the     flop. Mercier bet 70,000, Winzeler called, and the   was put out on the turn. Both players checked, the   hit the river, Winzeler bet, and Mercier folded.

That certainly wasn't anything exciting, but you could simply copy and paste that hand to get a good idea of what's been happening as of late.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:39 PM Local Time

Jason Mercier has now wrestled back the chip lead from Hans Winzeler to increase his stack to more than 4.2 million in chips.

After a couple of raise-button-folds passed, Winzeler raised to 120,000 from the button and Mercier called before both players checked the flop of    . Mercier check-called Winzeler's bet of 100,000 on the turn of the  , but elected to check-fold after Winzeler bet 250,000 on the river of the  .

In the very next hand, Mercier min-raised to 120,000 from the button and Winzeler called before check-calling Winzeler's bet of 110,000 after the flop of    , then did the same after Winzeler bet 320,000 on the turn of the   before both players checked down the river of the  .

Mercier showed      for trip sixes and Winzeler dropped his hand into the muck.

Jason Mercier4,240,000440,000
Hans Winzeler3,360,000-440,000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:34 PM Local Time

The grinding has begun. How excitement!

Earlier, Hans Winzeler limped in from the button and Jason Mercier called before both players checked the flop of    . However, Mercier check-folded after Winzeler led out for 100,000 on the turn of the  .

Then in the very next hand, Mercier raised from the button to 120,000 and Winzeler called before check-calling Mercier's bet of 95,000 after the flop of    , only to check-fold after Mercier bet 285,000 on the turn of the  .

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:24 PM Local Time

There haven't been any notable hands as of late. We'll give you an example of the types of hands we've been seeing. In one of the more recent lackluster hands, Hans Winzeler raised to 120,000 on the button, Jason Mercier called, and the flop fell    .

Both players checked as the dealer turned the  . Winzeler bet, Mercier checked, and that was the end of that.

"Peacefully grind," Allen Bari has repeatedly shouted from the rail to his friend Mercier. Peacefully grinding, indeed.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:22 PM Local Time

The players are now essentially even in chips.

Hans Winzeler3,800,000515,000
Jason Mercier3,800,000-515,000
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:17 PM Local Time

Jason Mercier in action heads-up

Hans Winzeler is not giving up without a fight, as he's now moved back to over 3.2 million against Jason Mercier, who's down to 4.3 million.

Earlier Winzeler raised to 120,000 before the flop, only to see Mercier re-raise to 360,000 from the big blind. Winzeler called, then Mercier fired out 420,000 on the flop of    . Winzeler called, but quickly folded after Mercier opened for 710,000 after the dealer produced the   on the turn.

Three hands passed before Jason Mercier came in with a raise from the button and Winzeler called before check-calling Mercier's bet of 95,000 on the flop of    . Winzeler did the same after Mercier's bet of 235,000 on the turn of the  , but re-potted all-in after Mercier opened for 385,000 on the river of the  .

Mercier wasn't particularly happy with that prospect. "You really have ace-queen here? I don't think so ..." he mumbled to himself. Even so, Mercier elected to fold, and Winzeler flashed    before raking in the chips.

Jason Mercier4,315,000-335,000
Hans Winzeler3,285,000335,000
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:05 PM Local Time

Jason Mercier raised to 120,000 from the button and Hans Winzeler made the call from the big blind. Winzeler proceeded to check-call a bet of 95,000 on the     flop, the   hit the turn, and both players checked.

Winzeler felt inspired to fire out 300,000 when the   appeared on the river, which Mercier call. Winzeler turned over      for the nut flush, which was good enough to be the winning hand.

Jason Mercier4,650,000-650,000
Hans Winzeler2,950,000650,000
Gorilla Gaming
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:59 PM Local Time

Jason Mercier has now extended his chip lead, moving up to 5.3 million as the heads-up battle continues here in the ESPN Main Stage.

Earlier, Mercier raised to 120,000 from the button before the flop; Hans Winzeler re-raised to 360,000 and Mercier called before both players checked the flop of     as well as the turn of the   before Winzeler checked again on the river  , only to fold after Mercier bet out 435,000.

In the next hand, Winzeler raised to 125,000 and Mercier called before check-folding after Winzeler quickly bet out after the flop of    .

Two hands later, Winzeler raised to 120,000 from the button and again Mercier called to see the flop of    . Mercier checked and Winzeler bet 150,000, but Mercier check-raised to 385,000. Winzeler called and then both players checked down the turn of the   and the river  .

Mercier showed down      for two pair and Winzeler mucked his hand. Winzeler is now down to 2.3 million

Jason Mercier5,300,000800,000
Hans Winzeler2,300,000-750,000
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:50 PM Local Time

Hans Winzeler limped from the button and Jason Mercier checked his option from the big blind. Both players proceeded to check the     flop, leading to the   turn. Mercier checked, Winzeler bet 125,000, Mercier check-raised to 390,000, and Winzeler made the call.

When the   hit the river, Mercier fired out 590,000 and Winzeler made the call. The latter could only muck when Mercier rolled over      for the nuts.

Jason Mercier4,500,0001,010,000
Hans Winzeler3,050,000-1,075,000
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:46 PM Local Time

For those who may not know, Jason Mercier is no stranger to Pot-Limit Omaha. Back in 2009, Mercier won his first and only bracelet in Event #5 $1,500 PLO after outlasting a field of 809 players. Mercier earned $237,462 for that victory while overcoming a final table that included Steven Burkholder (2nd place), Kevin Iacofano (3rd place), Matt Giannetti (4th place), Dario Alito (7th place), and An Tran (8th place).

If Mercier can dispatch Winzeler here today, he'll become a two-time bracelet winner.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:42 PM Local Time
Hans Winzeler4,125,0000
Jason Mercier3,490,0000
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:38 PM Local Time
Level: 28
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 0
Gorilla Gaming