Another record-breaking day of action at the 2023 World Series of Poker saw Jason Mercier return to the annals of poker history as the devout Christian’s tournament resurrection was confirmed. Mercier, who hails from Florida and is a huge basketball fan, slam dunked in Event #60 as he defeated Mike Watson heads-up. Watson has never won a WSOP bracelet on American soil, despite having being heads-up for one an incredible five times.

Mercier Wins Gold at Watson’s Expense… Again

Jason Mercier won his sixth WSOP bracelet at the expense of Mike Watson, with his victory in the $1,500-entry No Limit 2-7 Single Drawn event coming seven years after his 5^th WSOP victory… against the same opponent.

Having made his job as father the one of most importance since becoming a Dad, passionate Floridian and devoted Christian Mercier has stepped back from playing a full schedule to spend more time with his young family. Shorn of his recent long hair and beard, a buzz-cut Mercier took down the 60^th event of this summer’s WSOP in the spirit of resurrection in more ways than one.

After the surprise exit of Erik Seidel in fifth place, Jon Tuner’s elimination in fourth came before a lengthy three-handed battle for supremacy. The overnight leader Brad Ruben lost that battle, cashing for $63,505 in third before heads-up began with Mercier on 7 million chips to Watson’s 6.7 million.

A near-level playing field saw Watson take a small lead, which he held for some time, but Mercier fought his way back and when he grabbed the lead back himself, he wouldn’t let it go. Celebrating a momentous win, Mercier cheered with his rail and was gracious in victory to Watson.

“Everyone’s a lot better. The game is different,” he said of his return to the game. “There’s just not as many people that are drawing dead at the game. I’m not much of a studier. I just kind of play and get my experience by playing more hands. It’s kind of like riding a bike, you know? I just hopped back on.”

Everyone will be happy to see Jason Mercier back to winning ways in the World Series of Poker… with the possible exception of Mike Watson.

Ladies Championship Sets New Attendance Record as Champions Stay in Hunt  

The 61^st event of the Series saw 1,295 Ladies Event hopefuls put up $1,000 to play the record-setting Ladies Championship, eclipsing the number set back in 2007 when poker was a very different game. Now in its ‘second boom’ poker saw a top prize of $192,167 guaranteed after the Day 1 action of this event, with chip leader Bernice Mclennan (276,500) followed by some impressive names on the list of players who made Day 2.

There was a stunning show from Veronica Brill (212,500), a ‘WSOP Thrill’ from Samantha Abernathy (185,500), and another super-consistent performance from Vanessa Kade (146,000) along the way as stars littered the above-average end of the chipcounts.

Others were a little further back with Poker.Org reporter Tiffany Michelle (75,000) followed by both the 2021 champion Lara Eisenberg (72,500), and reigning champion Jessica Teusl (39,000) along with Kristen Foxen (59,500) and Gaelle Baumann (31,000).

While many great players bagged up, others busted out and we’ll see no more of stars such as WPT anchor Lynn Gilmartin, Poker Hall of Famer Kathy Liebert, YouTube star Marle Spragg, or GPI Breakout Player of the Year Kyna England on Day 2, with just 330 players making it to the next day’s play.

Malboubi in Charge on Penultimate Day of Super Seniors

Only 13 players are left chasing the $371,603 top prize in Event #61, otherwise known as the Super Seniors Event, which costs $1,000 to play just like the Ladies Championship. Over 60 years old to a man and woman, the Super Seniors leader with 13 left is Rassoul Malboubi (10.1 million) with the Day 2 leader Farhad Davoudzadeh (9m) not far behind.

Elsewhere in the top 10, Ronald Lane (6m) trails in third place, with the wonderfully monikered James Martini (4.2m) hoping he’ll be celebrating with a drink such as his surname in 24 hours time.

Five Remain in Mixed Event

Only five players are left battling it out for the gold in Event #62, the $1,500-entry Mixed NLHE/PLO event. There are a trio of American names at the top of the leaderboard, with a huge chip leader, as David Prociak (21,450,000) leads from David Simon (11,900,000), No-one else has half the leader’s stack, with Eric Pfenning (8,100,000) followed in the counts by Tsuf Saltsberg (6,550,000) and Eran Carmi (3,925,000) as the lower end of the leaderboard features not one but two Israeli poker heroes.

Miller Time in Seven Card Stud

The final six players are confirmed in the $10,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Championship and Bryn Kenney is second in chips as he fights to win a second WSOP bracelet. The Long Islander, currently second on the all-time money list, has 2,035,000 chips to play with on the final day as he attempts to get the job done, only a few less than the leader, Ryan Miller (2,230,000). Overnight leader Max Schindler (1,910,000) is the other well-stacked player, with Andres Korn (1.3m) considerably clear of Chino Rheem (525,000) and Eddi Blumenthal (455,000).

Drama in Four More Events

The $600-entry Deepstack Championship is down to its final 44 players, and Cade Lautenbacher leads with a stack of 7.2 million chips, with Jonathan Fhima (6,665,000) and Julian Pineda (5.86m) chasing him down.

In Event #65, two Brazilians top the charts overnight, with Vitor Dzivielevski (3,425,000) and Pedro Garagnani (3,220,000) top two of the 48 players to reach Day 3. Stars of the felt such as Ryan Leng (1,425,000), Craig McCorkell (815,000), Kyle Julius (810,000), Scott Seiver (615,000), David ‘Bakes’ Baker (400,000) and Daniel Lazrus (185,000) will all be visualizing that gold bracelet around their wrists.

Michael Rodrigues (3.45m) only trails runaway leader William Kopp (7.5m) in Event #66, the $1,500-entry PLO Hi-Lo 8 or Better event. Major threats include double WSOP winner Yuval Bronshtein (2,155,000) and four-time winner Anthony Zinno (825,000).

Brazilian Gabriel Schroeder (14.5m) leads the last 10 players in the $1,000-entry Super Turbo Bounty Event #68, with Daniel Lowery (6.35m) and Andy Black (2.6m) two big names who also made it to the added final day of the event due to popularity. 

Michael Moncek (452,000) leads the field in Event #69 after just the first day’s action in the $10,000 No Limit 2-7 Single Draw Championship. Jason Mercier, fresh from claiming gold, jumped right on into this one and ended Day 1 sixth in chips!

Len Ashby is an advocate for an ‘old school’ tournament to be added to the WSOP schedule in 2024.

Should have an “old school” event banning the following things below ?

1. Headphones
2. Betting any number ending in 75
3. Right hand on shoulder while tanking
4. Asking “how much are u playing”every street
5. Not coloring down someone’s big chip
6. Betting 14 percent pot https://t.co/d99OoCUBwo

— Len Ashby (@ZENofLEN) June 30, 2023

Dan Zack may not retain his POY title this year – although nothing is over yet – but either way, he’s betting big on the Main Event.

Gonna offer the @Chris_D_Brewer bet this year: you pick 50-100 players for the main event and if they cash for 1.5x their total buyins you win. Even money bet.

— Daniel Zack (@Dan__Zack) June 28, 2023

Meanwhile, the award for Best Outfit of the 2023 WSOP looks to have been wrapped up early this year (via Angela Jordison).

This guy has arrived to Event #66 @GambleOnPoker pic.twitter.com/WCmpSF0pWG

— Angela Jordison (@Angelajordison) June 28, 2023

And finally, the king of the laconic Twitter takedown, TV writer and former WPT Player of the Year Matt Salsberg, summed up the feeling of taking on WSOP events with this 15-word masterpiece.

Tourney poker is like going to a job you love and getting fired every day.

— Salty (@msalsberg) June 30, 2023

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