9:16pm: Stein outkicks Mercier

Jason Mercier put in a pre-flop raise to 12,000 and Sam Stein called from the big blind. Stein checked the [9c][8d][3s] flop over to Mercier, who bet 16,500. Stein called, and they went to the turn, which fell the [Kc]. Stein checked again, Mercier bet 29,500 and Stein called. The [Kh] on the river brought another check-call from Stein, this time for 68,000. Mercier turned over [7d][9d] for kings and nines, but Stein had him outkicked with [As][9s] and he picked up the 194,000-chip pot.



9:12pm: First pot to Stein

Sam Stein opened for 12,500 and Jason Mercier called. The [Jc][Jh][Ts] flop brought a check from Mercier and a 17,000 bet from Stein. Mercier called and the two checked down the [5c] on the turn and the [7d] on the river. Stein showed pocket deuces and collected the pot.

9:10pm: Butts in the chairs, cards in the air

We’re back to name a champion.

8:58pm: Play about to resume

Here is the state of play:

We ate Bubba’s BBQ for dinner. We’re full.

It’s nearly 9pm.

Oh, and Sam Stein and Jason Mercier are about to sit down to play for the NAPT Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout championship.

Here’s how they stack up.

Sam Stein: 426,000

Jason Mercier: 449,000

This NAPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the North American Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events North America has to offer at North America.

5:54pm: Updated bounty count

With that last elimination, Jason Mercier has locked up the free seat in the next NAPT Bounty Shootout, whenever that may be.

Sam Stein: 3

Jason Mercier: 6

Matt Glantz: 2

Shawn Buchanan: 4

Faraz Jaka: 4

Luis Vazquez; 4

5:47pm: Heads-up chip counts

Sam Stein: 406,700

Jason Mercier: 468,300

5:38pm: Faraz Jaka eliminated in 3rd place

On the very next hand, Jason Mercier opened for a 6,900 raise. Faraz Jaka moved all-in for 71,400 and Mercier quickly called.

Unfortunately for Mercier, his [As][7d] was dominated by Jaka’s [Ad][Kc], but Mercier’s kicker was in the door as the dealer fanned out the [Jc][Td][7c] flop. Jaka got a major sweat on the turn when the [9c] fell— he could now win with a queen, a king or a club— but the river didn’t cooperate. It was the [Jh] and the man known online as “the-toilet” exited the stage in third place.

With that, we’re on an unscheduled 20-minute break.

5:32pm: Stein puts the pressure on Jaka

Sam Stein opened for 7,000 and Faraz Jaka three-bet to 25,000. Stein leaned over to take a look at Jaka’s stack and assess what he had behind (about 120,000) and decided to flat-call. The flop was [Kd][Qh][7d]. Jaka led out for 38,000 and Stein put out enough large-denomination chips to set him in. Jaka decided not to pull the trigger and released his hand, conceding the pot to Stein.

5:25pm: Updated bounty count

Sam Stein: 3

Jason Mercier: 5

Matt Glantz: 2

Shawn Buchanan: 4

Faraz Jaka: 4

5:21pm: Level up

Players are now on 1,500/3,000/500 blinds.

This NAPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the North American Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events North America has to offer at North America.

This NAPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the North American Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events North America has to offer at North America.

5:18pm: Level done

Players are moving up in blinds. You’ll find us HERE now.

5:15pm: And sometimes they have it

Our final three players are known for their ruthless aggression and ability to run without the ball, but sometimes they actually have a hand.

Samm Stein came in for a raise to 7,900 and Jason Mercier called. The [4h][[qh][ac] flop drew a 9,300 bet from Stein. Mercier called and they saw the [4s] turn. Stein led again for 17,100. Mercier again called. The [2s] river drew a 36,700 bet from Stein. Mercier didn’t think for too long before calling. Stein flipped up [ah][ad] for the flopped set and turned boat.

5:08pm: Matt Glantz eliminated in 4th place

Jason Mercier raised to 5,500, Matt Glantz reraised to 16,200 and Mercier came back with a 35,300 four-bet. Glantz moved all-in and Mercier snap-called.



Glantz [Ts][Ts]

Mercier [Qc][Qs]

Mercier’s queens held up on the [Ac][5c][8d][9d][5d] board, sending Glantz to the rail in fourth place. He earned $70,000 from his Round 1 win and the two bounties he collected.

With this KO, Mercier now holds more than half the chips in play and is up to five bounties.

4:54pm: That’s enough of that, sir

Matt Glantz opened the pot for 5,500 and faced a reraise from three-betting machine Faraz Jaka. Glantz gave him a taste of his own medicine, four-betting to 40,500. It was too rich for Jaka, who made the fold.

4:37pm: Jaka rebuilding

It was three players to a [9d][3c][6d] flop. Sam Stein checked, Matt Glantz bet 9,200 and Faraz Jaka called. On the [jh] turn, Glantz checked, Jaka bet 26,000, and Matt called. The [6c] turn brought another check from Glantz, a 60,000 bet from Jaka, and a fold from Glantz.

4:35pm: Updated bounty count

Sam Stein: 3

Jason Mercier: 4

Matt Glantz: 2

Shawn Buchanan: 4

Faraz Jaka: 4

4:28pm: Shawn Buchanan eliminated in 5th place

Jason Mercier raised to 5,500 on the button and Shawn Buchanan called from the big blind. Buchanan checked the[Qc][Th][4c] flop, leading Mercier to bet 7,600. Buchanan came in with a raise to 20,000 and Mercier shoved. Buchanan called off the rest of his stack, his tournament life at risk.

Buchanan [Qh][Tc]

Mercier [Kc][3c]

Buchanan flopped top two pair while Mercier was on a flush draw. The turn gave Mercier four more outs, the [9s] falling to give him a gutshot straight draw. He made his flush on the river, however, the [9c] spiking to give him the pot.

Buchanan departed in fifth place his four bounties and Round 1 table win earning him $80,000.

Mercier now has a stranglehold on the chip lead, with approximately 375,000

4:21pm: Cards in the air

We’re back in action with 1,200/2,400/400 blinds.

4:01pm: Chip counts at break

Sam Stein: 237,400

Jason Mercier: 264,300

Matt Glantz: 143,800

Shawn Buchanan: 103,800

Faraz Jaka: 125,700

3:57pm: Players are on a 15-minute break

Break time. Back soon.

3:54pm:

Sam Stein came in for a raise to 4,600 and Shawn Buchahan called. On a flop of [9h][[9d][js], Buchanan led for 4,500 and Stein called. On the [4h] turn, Buchanan led again, this time for 11,100. Again, Stein called. The [ad], however, slowed Buchanan down. He checked, and Stein put out 22,600. Buchanan folded.

3:48pm: Stein puts the hurt on Glantz

Sam Stein raised to 4,600 from the button and Matt Glantz came along with a call from the big blind. Glantz checked the [Ah][Kh][6h] flop over to Stein, who bet 5,300. Glantz raised to 17,300 and after a bit of a think, Stein made the call. The turn came the [3c] and Glantz led out for 28,600. Stein called. Glantz slowed down on the river, checking when the [Ks] fell. Stein made it 57,800 to go, a bet that was too rich for Glantz. He folded and Stein raked in the pot, easily his largest one of the day.

3:34pm: Bounty count

As we’ve mentioned, whoever collects the most bounties in this event will get a free entry into the new NAPT Bounty Shootout tourney. Here are the people who are still in contention for that prize.

Sam Stein: 3

Jason Mercier: 3

Matt Glantz: 2

Shawn Buchanan: 4

Faraz Jaka: 4

3:21pm: Bachy Vazquez eliminated in 6th place

We were looking for a bit of action and our two most active players obliged.

Bachy Vazquez got the rest of his chips, 25,700 in all, in the middle on the [Ts][7s][4c] flop and Faraz Jaka made the call.

Vazquez: [5c][Tc]

Jaka: [Kh][Th]

Although Vazquez picked up a flush draw on the turn with the [9c], giving both him and his railbirds a good sweat, the [As] fell on the river, spelling Vazquez’s elimination. With his table win yesterday and the four bounties he collected, Vazquez will take home $70,000.

Down to five.

3:14pm: The last five hands

While we’re waiting for some significant action to unfold, we’ll give you a taste of how things are going right now. Here are the last five hands played.

1. Faraz Jaka limped on the button, Bachy Vazquez completed the small blind and Sam Stein checked his option. The action was checked to Jaka on the [8c][4h][4s] flop. He bet 3,500 and only Vazquez called. Both players checked the [3s] on the turn and the [7c] on the river. Jaka took down the pot with [Ah][9c] for ace-high.

2. Shawn Buchanan opened for 4,500. Jaka called and Jason Mercier three-bet to 13,800, a move that got both of his opponents to fold.

3. Shawn Buchanan raised to 4,600, winning the blinds and antes.

4. Matt Glantz raised to 6,500, winning the blinds and antes.

5. Sam Stein opened for 4,600, Matt Glantz three-bet to 13,700 and Stein released his hand.

3:08pm: Your final table in moving pictures

So, we’d like to think you’d stick around here and read what we have to write, but if you’e one of those people who like to watch this new-fangled live webcast thing, our buddies on the other side of the curtain have you covered.

For the live streaming webcast, just click HERE.

And while we’re talking about the moving pictures, feel free to check out the video introduction for our final table.

2:56pm: Level up

We’ve moved on to the 1,000/2,000/300 level with all six players still remaining.

A few notes from last level.

Faraz Jaka was by far the most active player. We didn’t count, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a stat that showed he played 50% of the pots. Meanwhile, with the exception of a couple hands, we haven’t seen Shawn Buchahan giving much action.

The winner-take-all format of this final table makes for a different kind of strategy. Whetehr Jaka or Buchahan’s strategy is the right one remains to be seen.

This NAPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the North American Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events North America has to offer at North America.

2:53pm: Level done

We’re moving up in levels. Find the next level RIGHT HERE.

2:50pm: Jaka folds to Stein’s shove

Ever the aggressor, Faraz Jaka raised to 3,700 only to have Sam Stein play back at him with a reraise to 10,800. Jaka called and they saw a [Ac][Ts][6c] flop. Stein check-called a 15,000 bet from Jaka. The turn was the [2h] and Stein checked again. Jaka bet 38,000 and Stein made his move, shoving for 53,100. It was enough to get Jaka to give up his hand and Stein took down the pot.

2:42pm: Jaka jams

It might have been interesting to count how many pots Faraz Jaka played today. Then again, we probably would’ve lost count by now.

In the lastest, Jason Mercier came in for a raise to 3,700 and got calls from Shawn Buchanan, Faraz Jaka, and Bachy Vazquez. Play checked to Faraz Jaka on a [qd][8s][td] flop and opened the door for his 13,100 bet. Vazquez and Mercier folded, but Buchanan called. He also check-called the same bet on the [th] turn. When the river fell [2d], Buchanan checked again, so Jaka moved all-in. Buchanan folded, so score another one for Jaka.

2:37pm: Bachy Vazquez doubles through Faraz Jaka

It seems like Luis “Bachy” Vazquez had enough of Faraz Jaka’s abuse. He opened for 4,000 from under-the-gun and after being met with yet another three-bet from Jaka, he moved all-in. Jaka, however, made the call.

It was [Ah][8c] for Jaka and [7s][7h] for Vazquez, a virtual coin toss. Bachy’s hand held up on the [Kh][6c][4h][6h][Kc] board and he earned the double-up.

“Brush it off, it ain’t no thang,” offered one of Jaka’s supporters (decked out in a royal blue velvet coat with gaudy gold trim and a matching hat we might add).

2:28pm: No mercy from Jason

Jason Mercier is your current chip leader, and he cemented that position even further in this three-way hand. Faraz Jaka opened for 3,700 and both Bachy Vazquez and Mercier called. The flop was a rather dangerous-looking [Ac][Ad][Qh]. Jaka took a stab at the pot for 6,500, Vazquez called, and Mercier three-bet to 13,700. That was enough for Jaka, but Vazquez wasn’t done. He made it 25,000 straight, only to have Mercier shove on him. Not ready to go broke yet, Vazquez immediately released his hand and Mercier stacked up the pot.

2:21pm: Stein gets there

Sam Stein came in for a raise to 3,800 and Faraz Jaka called out of the big blind. Both players checked the [5s][3c][kd] flop. When the [4c] came on the turn, Jaka checked, Stein bet 3,500, and Jaka called. The [8c] on the river drew a check-call for 12,600 from Jaka. Stein turned over [3d][4d] for the sneaky two pair.

2:07pm: Fear Faraz

The action here is still a bit slow-going but leave it to Faraz Jaka to get some chips moving again.

Bachy Vazquez led off the hand with a raise to 3,800 and Jason Mercier reraised to 10,900. The action folded to Jaka who put in a hefty four-bet to 26,000. Vazquez quickly folded and stood up from the table to talk with some friends in the audience while Mercier mulled his decision. He found a fold as well, and Jaka took down the pot.

On the next hand, Shawn Buchanan opened for 4,000 and both Jaka and Vazquez called. All three players checked the [8s][7d][3c] flop. Jaka fired out 8,500 when the [8c] hit the turn. Only Vazquez called. Both players checked the [Js] on the river, Jaka turning up pocket nines for the win.

1:53pm: Back from break

Players are now back from break and playing 800/1,600/100 blinds.

1:41pm: Chip Counts

Here are the chip counts from the break.

Sam Stein: 110,800

Jason Mercier: 239,700

Matt Glantz: 159,700

Shawn Buchanan: 141,000

Faraz Jaka: 172,000

Luis Vazquez: 61,100

1:31pm: On a break

Alright. That first hour was sort of yawny. The players are going to take a break for some coffee and see if that perks everybody up. Back in 15 minutes.

1:21pm: Glantz gets value from Vazquez

Matt Glantz raised to 3,000 from under-the-gun and Bachy Vazquez called on the button. Glantz took the lead on the [9h][9d][5d] flop, making it 5,100 to go. Vazquez called. The turn was the [Kh] and Glantz checked to Vazquez, who checked behind. When the [6h] hit the river, Glantz made a small bet of 9,500 and Vazquez tossed in a call.

Glantz’s pocket tens were good and earned him the pot.

1:17pm: Mercier unintimidated

As we’ve noted here in media row, Faraz Jaka has been active to say the least in the early going. Jason Mercier decided to put the brakes on that aggression, raising to 2,800 from under-the-gun. Jaka three-bet to 7,500 and Mercier came back over the top for 20,200 total. Jaka called and they went heads-up to the flop, which came down [Jh][6s][3c]. Mercier bet 24,800 and Jaka raised to 50,000. Mercier was having none of that and moved all-in, earning a quick fold from Jaka.

1:16pm: Get Mercier a cup of coffee

Yeah, we’re only playing for $350,000 here, so Jason Mercier’s yawn every five minutes makes sense.

1:08pm: Glantz gets it in there

Matt Glantz, perhaps the quietest player at the table thus far, made it 2,600 to go from the cutoff and Bachy Vazquez gave him some action from the big blind. Vazquez checked the [Kc][6s][4h] flop over to Glantz, who bet 4,000. Vazquez called and checked again on the turn, which fell the [5d]. Glantz put out 11,000 and Vazquez called. The river was the [4c] and Vazquez checked a third time. Glantz wasn’t fooling around, moving all-in, and Vazquez gave up his hand. Score one for the Atlantic City pro.

1:10pm: Jaka, Jaka, Jaka

Notice anything about the last few headlines. Yeah, it’s all Faraz Jaka right now. It’s as if he is playing heads-up against the field. Just now, he bet 5,500 into a [6c][9h][9d] flop and got a call from Jason Mercier. They checked the turn [qs] and river [7s]. Mercier showed ace-high for the win.

12:55pm: Two in a row for Jaka

On the next hand after his massive river bluff, Faraz Jaka opened for 3,000 and Sam Stein made the call from the big blind. Both players checked the [As][Qc][2c] flop, but Stein led out for 4,300 when the [2h] hit the turn. The river was the [Ah] and Stein took another shot, making it 8,600 to go. Jaka called and turned up [Kd][Qs] for two pair. This time it was Stein who had nothing with the [7h][9h] and Jaka took down another pot.

12:50pm: Jaka’s river bluff induces huge fold

Matt Glantz opened for 3,000 and Faraz Jaka three-bet to 8,000 on the button. Luis “Bachi” Vazquez flat-called the three-bet and Glantz got out of the way. Both players checked the [Qh][Jd][5d] flop. The turn came the [Js] and Vazquez led out for 11,000. Jaka called. The river was the [6c] and Vazquez fired again for 19,000. Jaka came in with a huge raise to 81,000, sending Vazquez into the tank for several minutes. Ultimately he mucked his trips face-up, revealing the [Ah][Jh]. Jaka rubbed a little salt in the wound, showing only the [3c] as he raked in the pot.

12:43pm: Quads for Jaka

After six hands that yielded little action, we finally saw a few more chips change hands on the seventh deal. Matt Glantz opened for 2,700 from the button and Faraz Jaka made the call from the big blind. The flop was [6c][6s][4c] and Jaka checked to Glantz, who bet 3,500. Jaka raised to 8,500 and Glantz called. The [Qh] on the turn brought a 13,000 bet from Jaka and a call from Glantz. The turn was the [6d] and Jaka checked. Glantz checked behind.



Good thing he did— Jaka turned up [3h][6h] for quads. Glantz mucked and Jaka took down the pot.

12:40: Back in action

With six players remaining, the cards are in the air. Some time in the next 13-14 hours, somebody here will be $350,000 richer.

12:13pm: NAPT Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout final table about to begin

With our six players who survived their tables yesterday, we’re about to get back in action.

Everybody still alive today has already won more than $70,000. They will continue to win $5,000 per player they knock out. The first place winner today will win the remainder of the prize pool, $350,000.

Finally, whoever collects the most bounties will win a seat to the next $25,000 Bounty Shootout (and, no, we don’t know where that’s going to be yet).

Here’s who we will be watching today and how they are stacked.

Seat 1: Sam Stein—150,000

Seat 2: Jason Mercier—150,000

Seat 3: Matt Glantz—150,000

Seat 4: Shawn Buchanan—150,000

Seat 5: Faraz Jaka—150,000

Seat 6: Luis “Bachy” Vazquez—125,000*

*Vazquez’s Round 1 table only had five seats, and hence he’s only been able to carry over 125,000 chips.

Here’s how much money they’ve won so far:

Matt Glantz, USA ($70,000)

Sam Stein, USA ($75,000)

Shawn Buchanan, Canada ($80,000)

Jason Mercier, USA, Team PokerStars Pro ($75,000)

Faraz Jaka, USA ($75,000)

Luiz Vazquez, USA ($70,000)

We’ll be underway shortly.

This NAPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the North American Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events North America has to offer at North America.