Jason Mercier Victorious At WPT Alpha8 St. Kitts For $727k
December 8, 2014 11:22 amThe World Poker Tour Alpha8 in St. Kitts may not have been the biggest tournament ever held, with just 15 players putting up the $100,000 buy-in, but that won’t bother US pro Jason Mercier, who took down the competition on Saturday to scoop the huge $727,500 top prize. Following his impressive success, the 28 year-old Florida man who now boasts $13,620,920 in live tournament earnings, tweeted:
“I won it! Set a goal to win 3 titles in 2014… Late start winning my first one now. Lot more poker to play this month! Let’s go!!!!”
A slew of notable pros attended the WPT Alpha8 event, including the likes of Dan Colman, Antonio Esfandiari, Alec Torelli and Olivier Busquet. Day 2 of the tournament subsequently saw nine players return to the action, and with just three players receiving a payout the competition was intense.
The last players to then go home empty-handed was Olivier Busquet, whose A-J was cracked by Jason Mercier’s K-Q, and after his departure it was left to Jason Mercier, Kathy Lehne, and Tony Guglietti to compete for the title.
Next, Tony Guglietti (K-3) shoved all-in on a K-8-7-Q board, and after Mercier (K-10) called, a 2 arrived on the river to send Guglietti to the rail in 3rd for $291,000.
As the final showdown got underway, Mercier held a 825,000 to 675,000 chip advantage over business entrepreneur and CEO of Sun Coast Resources Inc., Kathy Lehne. Mercier subsequently used his heads-up experience to finish the job, and on the deciding hand Mercier (A-A) bet out on a Q-Q-5-7-8 board, only to have Lehne move all-in holding 10-8. Mercier made the call, and Kathy Lehne had to then settle for a runner-up finish worth $436,500, with her $500,667 in winnings propelling her to 46th on the women’s all-time money list. Meanwhile, Jason Mercier was crowned the champion and has now earned more than $3.67 million in live winnings this year.
Final Table Results:
1 Jason Mercier $727,500
2 Kathy Lehne $436,500
3 Tony Guglietti $291,000