Top 3 Jason Mercier Moments

I once got in trouble from editor and several readers for describing Jason Mercier as ‘Canadian’, my only defence being that the bearded pro from the US was sporting a shaggy beard and a lumberjack shirt – so where the hell else could he come from!?

Mercier, of course, is likely unaware of my gaffe as he mixes in the highest spheres of the poker world these days, which generally means he has no time to read everything written about him. It doesn’t mean, though, that he can avoid trouble himself as the following three ’Mercier Moments’ show…

1.      As my colleague Florian Gheorghe wrote early last summer:

“Mercier was looking for some action at that start of the 47th annual WSOP and was willing to offer 3-to-1 odds on winning a gold bracelet… but the stakes got a lot higher though when Selbst joined the sweat party. She gave 180-to-1 odds to win three bracelets.”

The sum in play? $10,000 of Mercier’s cash against Selbst’s $1.8 million!

 While Jason was scooping his 2nd bracelet, a nervous and regretful Selbst was on Twitter telling all and sundry that she was drunk when she made the bet, tried to buy out of it, but Mercier wouldn’t let her.

@stealthmunk@Urbanovich_Dima disparity in level of drunk is what upsets me. I almost blackout, he wasn't close. If u don't get it, fine.

— Vanessa Selbst (@VanessaSelbst) June 15, 2016

Fortunately for a sweating Selbst. Mercier failed in his attempt at a 3rd win, although by then she had already arranged a buy-out for $100K. The moral of the story? Don’t drink and make bets with Mercier!

2.  It’s clear that Jason Mercier is an excellent poker player – nobody makes over $18million without having serious game – but this wasn’t enough for Doug Polk who somehow managed to describe the Canadian (sorry, American!) as a ‘bad reg’. He took to Twitter to vent his anger…

Ppl keep telling me that @dougpolkpoker has me pegged as a bad reg... Stick to ur NLH "online only" cash games bud. I'll stick to every...

— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) May 20, 2016

…to which Polk responded with an apology…well, actually he didn’t!

@DougPolkPoker hey mr i hate everybudy and My shit is gold do u want cross % for the main? Don't touch famiglia @JasonMercier#back2back

— Mustapha Kanit (@Mustacchione) May 22, 2016

Such tiffs blow over, of course, but the Super High Roller Bowl saw them seated together shortly afterwards, and Mercier looked less than impressed!

 3.  Mercier in general seems like a decent guy, but somehow he can’t keep away from the little controversies – such as the recent OFC cheating accusations he levelled against Fernando Rosas and Dr Jaclynn Moskow.

The to and fro which took place on the 2+2 forum was unseemly to say the least from Mercier’s side, spurred on by his wife Natasha.

“I haven't been actively telling people that I think you are cheating somehow, I just answer my honest opinion when I'm asked...I'll stick with my same old story, I think he's cheating somehow and I have no proof. Don't play him. Don't play Jacklyn. They are REALLY good at the app!”

Well, perhaps someday soon I’ll do a top 3 positive moments for Jason, but for now….stay off social media Jason!