Jason Mercier(credit: Poker Stars blog)
In April 2008, this young American made headlines by winning his first European Poker Tour title in San Remo, Italy. Since then Jason Mercier has made a final table at the EPT Barcelona and at the World Series of Poker Europe Pot Limit Omaha tournament, among other accomplishments. The 21 year old from Davie, Florida has, in a nutshell, been on fire and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
Recently, the talented poker player outwitted and outlasted a tough field of poker professionals to come out on top of the European Poker Tour’s High Roller event in London. He bested 84 others including Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen and recent WSOPE Main Event winner, John Juanda. Each of these pros put up £20,000 to play in the event, which lasted two days.
Nine players made bank in the tournament. The first person to earn that distinction was also the last lady standing, Poker Stars pro – and no relation to Jason, Isabelle Mercier. The lovely Canadian player, a former WPT Ladies Night champion, received £51,500 for her ninth place finish.
Soon after Isabelle hit the rail, the last European remaining in the competition bid his table mates adieu. David Benyamine, a recent World Series of Poker bracelet winner, said adieu and hit the rail in eighth place, adding £69,000 to his bankroll. John Juanda KO’d several players later on in the evening, sending Isaac Haxton, runner-up to Ryan Daut to the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure title in 2007 and Scotty Nguyen out of the competition.
Later on, Mercier would stick it to Peter Jetten, and Juanda would let Michael “SirWatts” Watson, the Bellagio Cup IV winner, go less than gently. Although Juanda would begin heads-up at this point with more than a 2-to-1 chip lead, Mercier would turn the tables on the former Bible salesman. He doubled up on the Full Tilt poker pro on the very first hand of heads-up play and never looked back.
Mercier won the title and added another EPT trophy to his growing poker resume as well as £516,000 to his fat wallet with this impressive win.
These are the final results:
1) Jason Mercier - £516,000
2) John Juanda - £327,000
3) Michael Watson - £241,000
4) Peter Jetten - £189,000
5) Scotty Nguyen - £137,500
6) Isaac Haxton - £103,000
7) Masaaki Kagawa - £86,000
8) David Benyamine - £69,000
9) Isabelle Mercier - £51,500
Go to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure this January and battle Boris Becker. Visit them now for more information on their special Battle Boris in Bahamas promotion today!