Mercier’s Top Ten Under 30 at the 2010 WSOP

Sorel Mizzi

Sorel Mizzi is on absolute fire right now. If you want to know what a heater looks like … just stare into this kid’s eyes.

He’s already won 4 live tournaments this year with numerous other final table appearances, and just took down a SCOOP event this month. Expect him to be going deep in many of the NL holdem and PLO events.

Yevgeney Timoshenko

In my opinion, this kid has to be considered one of the best NL holdem tournament players in the world. His results speak for themselves, he is insanely tough to play against and I know I wouldn’t want him at my table.

Scott Seiver

Another one who is just on fire right now… going deep in everything, crushing everything he sees. He’s been regularly working on his mixed game play the last few months. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him holding up a bracelet.

Daniel O’Brien

One of my best friends in poker, and the kid just has flat-out skills. He has a table presence that you just don’t see in most players with online roots.

He can play multiple games and will be playing a lot of events this year, and I know how hungry he is. Fuel the animal!

Daniel Alaei

Plays tons of mixed games events, solid, aggressive in all forms of poker, and he’s been playing poker since he was born… it’s in his blood.

Brent Hanks

Another one of my good friends in poker. He eats online kids for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I know how frustrated he was after last year’s WSOP with no results, and I know how badly he wants to win.

Christian Harder

One of the nicest kids I’ve ever met, and in my opinion, is in the top 5 for NL holdem tournament players.

I know the NL events are hard to win because of the big fields, but this kid is skilled enough and so in tune to the game and his opponents, I think we’re going to see him deep in a bunch of events.

Allen Bari

Misunderstood by his peers, loved by his friends, hated by his enemies … I don’t care what you think of him, Allen Bari is going to win a bracelet this summer. That is my flat out prediction. He’s going to be playing the $50k 8 game and tons of mixed game events.

I talk poker with him all the time and he knows his stuff.

Marco Johnson

Plays a lot of mixed game events, solid player all around. Wouldn’t be surprised if he shipped a 2-7 triple draw tourney.

Justin Bonomo

Crushes all forms of poker. He’s going to be playing a lot of events this year and he looks motivated. I don’t know what event he’s going to win, or final table, but I’m sure you’ll see him deep in something in the first week or 2 of the series.

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On to Round 2 of the NBC Heads-Up Championship

After my 3^rd place finish at the High Roller event in LA, I knew I needed to make my way back to Las Vegas. I had an invitation to play in the NBC Heads Up Championship, how could I say no to that? 

I came back that same night after the finish of the High Roller event. I rode back with a couple buddies crammed in their tiny 2 door car… I rode in the back seat! 

We left around 2 am and arrived in Vegas around six. It was a miserable drive, but I was happy to finally get here. 

I chilled out the first day I was here, just hanging with friends, drinking some beers and having a good time. The next day was the drawing party for the event. It was pretty cool, I was able to bring two of my good buddies, Andy and the one and only- Daniel O’Brien, and two of his friends as well. 

We all had a great time there and I found out who I was matched up against, Daniel Negreanu.

He’s not exactly my first choice from the field, as there are plenty of much weaker opponents. However, I was not totally opposed to the thought of playing him as I knew there would be a good chance our match would be the featured one. 

I have also played a lot against Daniel and feel like I have a good read on how he plays. 

Our match did end up being on the featured table, and also the fastest one. I knocked him out of what I would guess to be around the 10^th hand of the match. 

I got all the money in on a board of J-3-3-2 holding QQ vs his 55 in a 3-bet pot. The structure of these matches are fairly fast paced, as they are made for TV.  

Saturday, I will be playing Pieter De Korver in my first match. If I win this match, I will be in the money and down to the final 16. Hopefully I can win both matches tomorrow and be on the final day on Sunday when only 8 players are left. 

First place in this tournament is a cool half million.  Not bad eh?

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