US American Jason Mercier Wins EPT San Remo In-a Italy

Our final EPT San Remo report is brought to you by the favolosa-ly gorgeous 29-year-old Italian model and actress Elisabetta Canalis, who like most hot Italian chicks has a penchant for banging professional soccer players. We hear Chelsea's Didier Drogba is the latest to have the pleasure.

A U.S. American has done it again.

For the third time this season, a relative unknown from the US of A has upset the Europeans on their home turf to take the top prize in a European Poker Tour event. First it was Reuben Peters of Colorado who slayed poker phenom Annette Obrestad, a woman, heads-up to win the EPT Dublin last November. Then it was Tim Vance at the EPT Scandinavian Open who conquered the Danes in Copenhagen. And now it's 21-year-old Jason Mercier, playing in just his second live tournament, who will bring an EPT title back across the Atlantic after he bested a field of 700 mostly Euro-runners to win the EPT San Remo and its €869,000 first place prize.

On his way to victory, Mercier played a near perfect tournament at the Casino Sanremo. The young Floridian, who plays online poker for a living, ended day 2 as the chipleader, and he found himself at the final table today in good position with the second most chips, just behind Italy's boy wonder Dario Minieri. While the mini Minieri was poised to command the final table with his aggressive style and the vocal support of his countrymen, it was Mercier who ended up dominating the table, singlehandedly sending the final five to the rail, including Swede William Thorson (6th), Italy's Gregory Genovese (5th), France's Eric Koskas (4th), Minieri (3rd) and France's Anthony Lellouche (2nd).

With his win, Mercier earns an automatic seat to the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo on April 12. The premier poker tournament on European soil, the EPT Grand Final has been won the past two years by a US American, with Jeff Williams capturing the title in 2006 and Gavin Griffin taking it down 2007.

Watch a video of the final hand being played out at the EPT San Remo and Kara Scott's post-victory chat with Mercier here and read Matthew Showell's interview with Mercier after his win here.

Watch on YouTube here.

Comments

[Kajagugu]

awesome post - more like these please!