It was a battle of the blinds between Gavin Smith and Jason Mercier. The flop was and Smith check-raised Mercier's bet of 31,000 to 76,000. Mercier made the call.
The turn was the and Smith led out this time for 127,000. Mercier called again.
The river was the and Smith immediately put out 195,000. Mercier was pained by his decision once again and thought on it for a couple of minutes. He eventually decided to let go of his hand as he slid the cards to the muck and let Smith take the pot without a showdown.
Chino Rheem raised to 50,000 from under the gun and Hasan Habib reraised to 140,000 from the small blind. Erik Seidel got out of the way from the big blind and then Rheem went into the tank. He eventually folded and Habib won the pot.
From under the gun, Gavin Smith raised to 55,000 and was called by Jason Mercier in middle position and Chino Rheem in the big blind.
The flop was and Rheem checked. Smith continued for 43,000 and was called by Mercier. Rheem decided to up the action, however, and made it 181,000 to go. Smith wasted little time getting rid of his hand but Mercier decided to play.
The turn was the and both players checked. WHen the river landed the , Rheem thought for a minute and then slid out 296,000 worth of chips. Mercier went deep in the tank, clearly pained by the decision. Eventually, he decided to make the call and Rheem tabled for top two pair. Mercier threw in the cards and Rheem was pushed the pot that had reached seven-figures.
Hasan Habib limped in from the small blind and Erik Seidel checked in the big blind to see the flop. Habib checked and Seidel bet 30,000. Habib called.
The turn was the and both players checked before the hit the river. Habib bet 60,000 and Seidel mucked.
Action folded to Jason Mercier in the small blind and he raised to 51,000. Hasan Habib was in the big blind and made the call.
The flop was and Mercier continued for 43,000. Habib called.
The turn was the and Mercier bet out 96,000 which was again called by Habib.
The river was the and Mercier fired a third bullet worth 173,000. Habib decided to look him up and Mercier was happy to table for broadway. Habib mucked his hand and Mercier raked in the pot.
From under the gun, Hasan Habib raised to 54,000. Action folded to Gavin Smith in the small blind and he reraised all in, committing everything he had to the pot. Jason Mercier got very interested from the big blind and asked for a count on the stack of Smith. Smith was all in for 464,000. Mercier then reraised all in and that knocked Habib out of the way. Showdown time.
Mercier:
Smith:
The flop came down and Smith took the lead with a pair of aces. The turn brought the , which meant all Mr. Run-Good Mercier needed was a diamond or an eight now. The river landed with the and wasn't what Mercier needed to win the hand. Mercier sent over the chips and Smith doubled up.
We picked up the action on the flop with Chino Rheem having checked to Hasan Habib. Habib bet 55,000 and Rheem check-raised to 142,000. Habib folded and Rheem won the pot.
Huck Seed (photo courtesy of Epic Poker) - 6th Place
Huck Seed had almost 900,000 and got all of his chips in preflop against Jason Mercier. He held against the of Mercier with his tournament life at risk.
The flop was and Mercier's rail, about 15 to 20 deep, let out a loud roar. That was followed shortly by repeated "Yeahhhpp" and "Yuphs" from Vanessa Selbst, Dan O'Brien, Brent Hanks and company.
Seed found no help on the turn and river and exits as our 6th place finisher.
![[user75311]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and Smith check-raised Mercier's bet of 31,000 to 76,000. Mercier made the call.
and Smith led out this time for 127,000. Mercier called again.
and Smith immediately put out 195,000. Mercier was pained by his decision once again and thought on it for a couple of minutes. He eventually decided to let go of his hand as he slid the cards to the muck and let Smith take the pot without a showdown.
and both players checked. WHen the river landed the 
, Rheem thought for a minute and then slid out 296,000 worth of chips. Mercier went deep in the tank, clearly pained by the decision. Eventually, he decided to make the call and Rheem tabled 
for top two pair. Mercier threw in the cards and Rheem was pushed the pot that had reached seven-figures.
and both players checked before the 
hit the river. Habib bet 60,000 and Seidel mucked.
and Mercier bet out 96,000 which was again called by Habib.
and Mercier fired a third bullet worth 173,000. Habib decided to look him up and Mercier was happy to table 
and Smith took the lead with a pair of aces. The turn brought the 
, which meant all Mr. Run-Good Mercier needed was a diamond or an eight now. The river landed with the 
and wasn't what Mercier needed to win the hand. Mercier sent over the chips and Smith doubled up.
flop, Gavin Smith checked to Jason Mercier. Mercier fired 36,000 and before the chips could hit the felt, Smith's cards were in the muck.
of Mercier with his tournament life at risk.
and Mercier's rail, about 15 to 20 deep, let out a loud roar. That was followed shortly by repeated "Yeahhhpp" and "Yuphs" from Vanessa Selbst, Dan O'Brien, Brent Hanks and company.