Mercier wins NAPT Mohegan Sun bounty shootout
14 Apr 2010
The win marks Mercier's second high roller title in as many years. The 23-year-old pro from Davie, Florida also won the 2008 EPT London High Roller Event (£516,000) and came close to winning a third high roller title back in February at the L.A. Poker Classic (3rd - $141,780).
Mercier battled heads-up opponent Sam Stein for the better part of three and a half hours before the most pivotal hand of the tournament took place.
Mercier moved all in over the top of a three-bet from Stein holding pocket threes and Stein looked him up with the ace-jack of diamonds. When the money went in, Stein had Mercier covered by just 13,000 in chips. Stein spiked a jack on the flop to take the lead, but the turn and river gave Mercier a runner-runner six-high straight to win the pot. Stein was eliminated from the tournament two hands later.
"Pocket threes were really lucky for me when I was 17 or 18 and that's why I made my (online) name "treysfull," but I haven't really won any enormous pots with threes until that one," Mercier said. His former online screen name was "treysfull21."
Runner-up Sam Stein has had a successful year thus far in his own right. Stein finished runner-up to Tom Marchese at the NAPT Venetian Main Event ($522,306) and posted another second place finish in a $5,000 preliminary event at the PCA in January (168,390).
Stein earned $75,000 in prize money at the NAPT Mohegan Sun HRBSO; $60,000 for winning his Round 1 table and $15,000 in bounties.
PokerStars.net sponsored player Faraz Jaka finished third, collecting $80,000 in prize money for his efforts; $60,000 for winning his Round 1 table, and $20,000 for accumulating four knockout bounties. Jaka is the only player to have final tabled both NAPT $25,000 HRBSO events. Jaka placed fifth at the NAPT Venetian HRBSO back in February ($95,000).