$$ Cash 4 Seat $$

by Brad Willis and Change100

Jason Mercier is a winner.

If that seems too obvious a statement, we only point it out because it happens so often, we’re afraid we’re caught in a recurring dream sequence in which Mercier stands there with a trophy and a big smile on his face. It’s not a bad dream, but we probably shouldn’t be dreaming about Mercier so much.

In the past 24 months, Mercier has won–real, first place, defeated everybody, owned all the chips wins–nine major tournaments. How he does it seems different every time. Dominating wire to wire, coming from behind, coming from way behind…he’s done it all and done it time and again.

It’s almost spooky.

Tonight, he did it a little dirty, but he did it with grace, and pocketed prize money worth a published $475,000.

At no point would anyone expect a table full of unknowns at an NAPT High Roller event. Nonetheless, the NAPT Mohegan Sun $25,000 High Roller final table was standard-setting for the quality and experience expected for High Roller finalists.

Sam Stein was barely a month removed (and recovered) from his runner-up finish at the NAPT Venetian Main Event final table. Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier (aka, the guy who wins everything) won the EPT London High Roller event just a couple of years ago. Matt Glantz won the EPT London High Roller the year after that. Shawn Buchanan won a WPT event at Mandalay Bay just a few years back. Luis “Bachy” Vazquez won the Foxwoods Poker Classic just last month. Finally, Faraz Jaka made the final table of the NAPT Venetian High Roller Bounty Shootout in February.

If that isn’t a final table for a High Roller event, we don’t know what is.

The $25,000 buy-in weeds out a lot of people, and the shootout format is unique enough to favor players with single table tournament expertise. With the added element of a $5,000 bounty on every players’ head, your average ABC tournament strategy goes out the window.

Our six remaining players had all secured first place at their Round 1 tables yesterday and came in today looking to scoop up the winner-take-all $350,000 prize. The first two levels saw no eliminations, but we witnessed satellite-winner Bachy Vazquez get bluffed out of a huge hand by Faraz Jaka. From there, it seemed like only a matter of time before Vazquez was all-in.

Vazquez pushed his final 25,700 all-in on a [Ts][7s][4c] flop. Jaka called with [kh][th], good enough to be well ahead of Vazquez’s [5c][Tc]. Vazquez managed to pick up a flush draw on the turn, but missed on the river. Although Vazquez won nothing today, he still pocketed the $70,000 he won in Round 1 (not at all bad after getting in on a $5,000 satellite entry).

Luis “Bachy” Vazquez eliminated

Shawn Buchanan came out of Round 1 with four bounties to his name. While his tight image did him some good yesterday, he wasn’t able to put together an hand or anything in the way of luck in the final.

In his final hand, Jason Mercier raised to 5,500 from the button and Buchanan called from the big blind. When the flop fell [Qc][Th][4c], Buchanan checked. Mercier led for 7,600 and Buchanan raised to 20,000. Mercier wasted no time shoving and Buchanan called. Buchanan was ahead with his [Qh][Tc], but [kc][3c] looked scary. It was made even more so by the [9s] on the turn. In the end, it was a [9c] on the river and a flush for Mercier that sent Buchanan out in fifth place. Buchanan’s four bounties and Round 1 table win earned him $80,000.

Shawn Buchanan accepts his fate

Matt Glantz spent most of the afternoon suffering the same card-dead inability to make a hand that had befallen Buchanan. So, when he finally picked up a pair of tens, he was happy to five-bet shove with them. Mercier made the fast call with a par of queens. Glantz never caught up and exited in fourth place. He pocketed $70,000 from his Round 1 win and the two bounties he collected.

Matt Glantz realizes he is behind

It was only a few minutes later that Jason Mercier and Faraz Jaka began to tangle. Mercier opened for a 6,900 raise and Jaka moved all-in for 71,400. Mercier called and looked exceptionally unhappy when he saw Jaka’s [ad][kc]. Mercier only held [as][7d]. The [Jc][Td][7c] flop put Mercier ahead, but when the [9c] fell on the turn, Jaka picked up some more outs. The river, however, paired the board with the [Jh] and Jaka was gone. His total take for the event was $80,000 in bounties and Round 1 prize money.

Faraz Jaka eliminated</center

When the players began heads-up play, Mercier had a 468,300 to 406,700 lead on Sam Stein. Mercier extended that lead over nearly an hour of heads-up play to the point he had Stein out-chipped nearly 2-1. All was well for Mercier until he made an ill-timed bluff with an open-ender on a paired board. Bad timing, as Stein held a straight. Mercier had three outs to a chop and missed. With that, Stein doubled through and the stacks were nearly even.

And from there, Stein suffered some of the worst indignities a poker player could endure without quitting the game forever. The river card on three hands was enough to make the most jaded of poker players puke.

All-in with an ace-nine versus ace-eight? Chopped pot.

Need to dodge three queens on the river to win the tournament? Queen.

Mercier needs a three or five with one card to come? Five.

Stein feels the burn of a three-outer

With that, Stein was down to 13,000 chips. He managed to double up once, but after that, his sails had collapsed. He couldn’t make [9h][3h] beat Mercier’s [ts][6c] and Mercier claimed the NAPT Mohegan Sun $25,000 Bounty Shootout championship.

Mercier admitted afterward that the rivered-three outer was nothing even he–a man who wins everything–could’ve seen coming.

“I really didn’t think it was going to happen,” he said with a small smile.

But with that understood, he said something we all know well: “I never give up.”

And when it came time to take his winner’s photo, he helped set everything up. He’s been there so many times, it was old hat to him by now.

“This is not my first rodeo,” he said.

We know, Jason. We know.

Congratulations to Jason Mercier for winning…again.

Here’s how the final six made out.

NAPT Mohegan Sun $25,000 Bounty Shootout final table published results
Figures include money won for bounties and table vicitories

1. Jason Mercier ($450,000 + $25,000 future Bounty Shootout seat)
2. Sam Stein ($80,000)
3. Faraz Jaka ($80,000)
4. Matt Glantz ($70,000)
5. Shawn Buchanan ($80,000)
6. Luis “Bachy” Vasquez ($70,000)

Thanks for joining us at NAPT Mohegan Sun. Stay tuned for more NAPT announcements in the coming months. Until then, please join us for reports from the EPT, LAPT, and WSOP in the next few months.

All photography © Joe Giron

7:42pm: Dinner break
Players are now on dinner break until 9pm ET. Here are the heads-up chip counts

Sam Stein: 426,000
Jason Mercier: 449,000

7:36pm: Stein folds to the four-bet
Jason Mercier raised to 10,000 from the button and Sam Stein called from the big blind. All hell broke loose (well, kind of) on the [Ad][Kh][Jd] flop. Stein checked, Mercier made a 12,500 continuation bet and Stein raised to 32,000. Mercier wasn’t going to give this one up easily and came back over the top for 59,500. That appeared to be the magic number, as Stein mucked his hand.

7:37pm: Part of being a winner…
is not getting impatient.

While there are a few dozen people in a hundred-yard radius who would like nothing more than to see these guys spew like a kid who shotgunned a glass of a ipecac, we’re actually being treated to a pretty good and reasonable game of heads-up poker.

Jason Mercier: A picture of concentration

7:24pm: Break discussions
If this match doesn’t finish up in the next 16 minutes, we’re all scheduled to go on a an hour and 15-minute dinner break. With the players heads-up and everyone’s night hanging in the balance, it’s tempting to just play right through or take a shorter break.

That is, in fact, what Jason Mercier and Sam Stein are talking about now.

Our bet is we’re going to dinner (we’re thinking BBQ)…unless these boys can find a way to put this thing to bed.

7:11pm: Mercier extracts maximum value
Sam Stein raised it up to 10,000 and Jason Mercier made the call. Both players checked the [9d][8s][2d] flop. Mercier checked again on the turn, which fell the [Ts]. Stein bet 14,000 and Mercier came in with ye olde check-raise to 36,500. Stein looked him up and they went to the river. It was the [Th] and Mercier led out for a hefty 68,000. Stein looked a little distressed at the size of the bet but made the call anyway, only to watch Mercier roll over [6h][7h] for the rivered straight.

These two are still about even in chips.

6:53pm: Sam Stein doubles through Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier had ground out a nice lead over Sam Stein, but after this hand, they are essentially back where they started their heads-up match.

Mercier raised to 10,000 from the button and Stein called. On the [8c][6d][5c] flop, Stein checked, Mercier led out for 12,500, Stein raised to 34,000 and Mercier called. The turn brought the [8s] and Mercier checked. Stein bet 57,000 and Mercier moved all-in, Stein making the call for his entire 216,500 stack.

Stein made a nine-high straight on the turn with [9h][7s] while Mercier was drawing to the same straight with [7c][3s]. Mercier could only hope for a chop but didn’t get one, the [3c] falling to give Stein a double-up to nearly 500,000.

We could be here for a while.

Send the chips to Sam

6:43pm: Level up
Jason Mercier and Sam Stein are now playing at (2,000-4,000-500).

6:34pm: Stein can’t call the river
Mercier made a standard pre-flop raise to 7,500 and Sam Stein called. Stein check-called a 9,000 bet from Mercier on the [Qc][Js][9c] flop, then check-called another 21,500 when the [Jc] hit the turn. The river was the [2s] and Stein checked a third time. Mercier made it 50,500 to go, enough of a bet to chase Stein away.

6:21pm: Stein recovers lost chips
Jason Mercier made it 7,500 to go and Sam Stein three-bet to 21,000. Mercier called, then led out for 25,500 on the [Td][4h][4c] flop. Stein made the call. Both players checked the [6s] on the turn. Mercier checked again on the river, which fell the [7c]. Stein bet 37,000 and it was enough to induce a fold from his opponent.

6:17pm: A word from Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier, as you might have heard, knows how to win things. It’s just what he does. We can’t explain it. We’d have an easier time lecturing on string theory, we think.

So, instead of trying to deconstruct the dude, we’ll just let him speak for himself.

Here’s what he had to say before we started play this afternoon.

6:08pm: Mercier’s soul-read nets huge pot
Jason Mercier opened for 7,500 and Sam Stein made the call from the big blind. Stein checked the [9d][4h][2d] flop over to Mercier, who bet 9,500. Stein raised to 25,500 and Mercier calls. The turn was the [8h] and Stein took the lead with a 38,000 bet. Mercier called and they went to the river which fell the [Kc]. Stein took one more shot with a 63,500 bet and after a short dwell, Mercier looked him up.

Stein had nothing but air with [Js][Tc], meaning Mercier’s [3c][4s] for fourth pair was good. Mercier is now up over the 600,000 mark.

6:00pm: Heads-up play resumes
We’re back in action.

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.

Faraz Jaka eliminated

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.

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.

Matt Glantz realizes he is behind

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.

Shawn Buchanan accepts his fate

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.

Luis “Bachy” Vazquez eliminated

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.

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.

Bachy Vazquez gets his 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.

Sam Stein

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.

Vazquez reacts as he sees Jaka’s all-in

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.

2:01pm: Break time
Players are now on a 15-minute break.

2.05pm: The Vasquez charge
Luis Vasquez is our first $10,000 man as he has just picked up his second bounty of this tournament and eliminated Curt Kohlberg.

This is one of those hands that was fairly standard pre-flop but then went nuts after three community cards were exposed. There were three players: Kohlberg in the small blind seat, Vazquez in the large and Petter Jetten on the button. Those three cards were: [kd][3h][10d].

Kohlberg and Vasquez checked but then Jetten bet 1,300. Kohlberg announced “Twenty-six hundred more,” and threw out the necessary chips, to which Vasquez re-re-raised, making it 15,000 to play.

Jetten was done and he folded, but Kohlberg moved all in. Vasquez called.

Vasquez: [ad][2d] for nut flush draw
Kohlberg: [3c][3d] for bottom set

After the requisite delay for the camera vultures to descend, the dealer turned the [qd], filling Vasquez’ flush. Kohlberg still had outs to the full house, but the [6c] was not one of them.

Kohlberg takes his leave and Vasquez now has about triple his starting stack, as well as three bounty chips. The table only started with five players and they’re already down to two

2:02pm: Brian Powell doubles through Barry Greenstein
Down to 5,175, Brian Powell open-shoved and Barry Greenstein made the call.

Powell: [Ad][Kh]
Greenstein: [Ac][Qd]

There was little hope for a Greenstein suckout, especially after William Reynolds confessed to folding a queen. The board complied, running out [Ks][8d][7c][Qs][3s] and Powell earned the double-up. Greenstein is still well-stacked, however, with more than 25,000.

2:00pm: Sung scoops a big one
Steve Sung limped in from under-the-gun, Hoyt Corkins followed suit from the button, as did Scott Paston in the small blind. Joe Cassidy raised the price to 1,100 from the big blind all three of his opponents making the call.

Paston checked the [Qc][7s][2c] flop over to Cassidy, who made a 2,600 continuation bet. Sung called and both Corkins and Paston folded. Heads-up to the turn, which fell the [6c]. Cassidy checked and Sung checked behind. The river was the [9h] and Cassidy checked to Sung, who bet 4,200. Cassidy gave up his hand and Sung took down the sizable pot, sending his chip count up to 32,000.

1:53pm: Keep up with the bustouts
We’ve posted a list of everybody who is playing, their table number, bustouts, and bounties on our Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout Round 1 results page.

1:45pm: Stein staying alive
Brian Powell will be cursing Sam Stein and the [kd] after that particular card landed on the river - one of only four outs in the deck - to keep Stein alive. It was already a huge pot and four cards were out: [qh][4h][6c][2h] when Stein moved all in for his last 11,975. Powell insta-called and tabled [ad][ah] for an overpair and the nut flush draw. Stein was in big trouble with his [kc][qd].

As Stein prepared for an early exit, the cameras descended in time to see the dealer burn and then turn that [kd]. Bink, Stein was back in it and Powell calmly asked how much it was to count out the double up. Powell is now the short stack.

1:41pm: Chau Giang eliminated
Another all-in during the first level? Say what?

We happened upon the hand on the turn with the board reading [6d][4d][2s][7s]. Chau Giang led out for 5,200 and Matt Glantz moved all-in for 16,475. Giang tanked for well over five minutes, sitting up on his knees.

“I don’t care. I call,” Giang said defiantly, turning over [As][5s] for straight and flush draws.

Much to his surprise, Glantz revealed [Qd][Jd].

“Oh my God!” exclaimed Giang.

The dealer burned and turned the river, the [9d] making Glantz’s flush.

“Oh come on! He hit it!” spat a disgusted Giang.

“But you’re still my friend,” said Glantz with a warm smile as he extended his hand. Giang shook it with a laugh.

“Come on guys, hug it out,” offered Scott Seiver.

A few hands later, Giang moved all-in for 1,875 from the cutoff and Pat Pezzin called from the button. Giang’s [As][7d] was dominated by Pezzin’s [Ah][Kh] and a king hit the flop, spelling Giang’s elimination. Pezzin also claimed Giang’s $5,000 bounty.

“I want to go home. I don’t want to play with you no more!” Giang quipped as he made his exit.

1.40pm: The Vasquez freeroll
Luis Vasquez, who knocked out Tom Marchese to collect the first bounty of the day, is putting his big stack to good use. He went to a flop with Curt Kohlberg on what is now a four-handed table, and the two of them saw: [jh][9d][2d]. Vasquez checked, Kohlberg bet 1,000 and Vasquez then raised to 2,500. Kohlberg called.

The turn was [3s] and now Vasquez bet 3,000 at it. That was good enough to persuade Kohlberg to lay it down.

Vasquez was one of five players who won their seat in this tournament in last night’s $5,000 super satellite. Having collected Marchese’s bounty in the first orbit - worth $5,000 - Vasquez has already earned back his investment. Essentially he’s freerolling already.

1:25pm: The Internet v. The Real World
Scott Seiver, fresh from the final table at the Main Event, got involved with the Venetian Bounty Shootout champion, Aston Griffin. Seiver raised to 800 under the gun and Griffin called in the cut off. Matt Glantz, who won the High Roller event at EPT London, also called in the big blind and the three of them saw a [2s][ad][2h] flop.

Glantz checked, Seiver bet 11,000 and Griffin called. Glantz got out the way. The turn was [7d], which they both checked, and the river was [9h], which they also both checked. Griffin flipped black pocket tens, and that was enough to get Seiver to muck.

That particular table pitches some of the leading lights of online poker - Griffin, Seiver and Greg Dyer, against the high stakes live game stalwarts Glantz, Chau Giang and the newly minted Team PokerStars Pro Pat Pezzin.

Which style will win out?>

1:08pm: Vasquez KOs Marchese in the day’s first elimination
Only eight minutes had ticked off the tournament clock when our first elimination took place. NAPT Venetian champion Tom Marchese got his entire stack in the middle before the flop against Luis Vasquez, his [Ah][Kd] up against the Vasquez’s [Ad][Ac].

“How about some hearts or diamonds so I at least get a sweat,” Marchese quipped.
He did get two hearts on the [Th][4c][2h] flop and picked up a gutshot straight draw when the [Js] hit the turn, but he couldn’t find a miracle queen on the river, the [3h] falling to send him to the rail in rapid fashion.

Tom Marchese, victim #1

Luis Vasquez scores first bounty

1:10pm: Raymer mixes it on table two
They’re all pretty tasty tables here, but some stand out even in this exalted company. The action on table two is feisty already, where the PCA High Roller champion William Reynolds sits next to the Team PokerStars Pro duo of Barry Greenstein and Greg Raymer, with Sam Stein, Brian Powell and Brett Richey closing it out.

Raymer has been involved a lot in the early stages. After Greenstein raised his button, Raymer three bet from the small blind and forced everyone else out, showing pocket jacks. On the next hand, Greenstein raised the cut off and Raymer three-bet the button, again picking it up. This time he showed a bare [as].

Raymer then raised the hijack, making it 500 to go and Powell called on the button. The flop came [5c][9s][qc] and Raymer bet 900, which Powell called. The turn was [4c] and Raymer slowed down. His check allowed Powell to bet 1,500 and Raymer let it go.

“I can’t even beat four deuce,” Raymer said.

“That’s not four deuce,” said Powell as he mucked his hand.

1:05pm: The Negreanu Show
Daniel Negreanu’s role today seems to be warming up his table for the TV cameras. Part of the act is playing with his opponent’s names. Our favorite so far is his singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” with Sorel Mizzi’s name inserted.

“The Mizzi Mizzi spider!” sings Negreanu.

This is how the day will go.

And this is how the day will go according to the video blog team:

1:04pm: Cards in the air
The cards are in the air in the $25,000 Bounty Shootout here at Mohegan Sun.

Every player has been given a real $5,000 chip. Bust a player, win their chips. Simple game.

The Bounty Chips

12:58pm: play about to begin
With 35 players in the field and each table more scary than the fanged red-eyed monster that lives under every hotel bed I’ve ever slept in, we’re about to get under way.

We have five six-handed tables and one five-handed table for a total of 35 players.

Here’s what the seat draw looked like.

Mike Ward washes the seat draw cards

Daniel Negreanu draws his seat card

At the Venetian, the $25,000 Bounty Shootout was a first-of-its-kind event, and it was a success. Now, it’s coming back to the North American Poker Tour.

Next month at the Mohegan Sun, the NAPT is reprising the Bounty Shootout with a two-day $25,000 event that is bound to draw some of the top players in the world.

If you’re just tuning in, the $25,000 event combines both bounty and shootout formats. The first round on April 12th will featured an expected nine tables of nine players, with the first place finisher from each table competing in the winner-takes-all final on April 13th. All the finalists will get $50,000. The remainder of the prize pool–minus the $5,000 per player bounty–will be awarded to first place.

Team PokerStars.net Pro Daniel Negreanu said, “I had the opportunity to play in the first High Roller Bounty Shootout at NAPT Venetian in February and I have to say it’s an incredibly exciting format. I am really looking forward to the chance to play again at NAPT Mohegan Sun.”

Young pro Ashton Griffin won around half a million bucks when he took down the Venetian Bounty Shootout last month.

To give as many players as possible an opportunity to play in the High Roller Bounty Shootout event, Mohegan Sun has scheduled a special $5,250 Super-Satellite qualifying tournament at noon on Sunday, April 11th. PokerStars is guaranteeing ten $25,600 entries as prizes in the Super-Satellite, with $51,200 added to the prize pool.

The North American Poker Tour is an inaugural event to Mohegan Sun with 37 poker events over 16 days. The series will feature the $5,000 buy-in Main Event as well as the $25,600 buy-in Bounty Shootout event, both of which will be produced for a total of four hours of programming ESPN2. The Main Event will go off on April 7-11. More than 600 players are expected to participate.

For full details about all NAPT events, head on over to NAPT.com.

Some invitations are simply meant to be accepted. When the parents invite you for holiday dinner, you should probably accept. If your significant other invites you on a trip to a luxurious vacation destination, thinking twice might cause you some trouble. And when PokerStars.net invites you to play in the prestigious $25,000 buy-in Invitational Bounty Shootout, you just say yes.

The invitation-only event not only boasted of a $460,0000 first place prize, but $5,000 bounties were placed on every player, the fields were challenging and perfect to feed any player’s need for a great game, and the event was set to be filmed by 441 Productions for broadcast on ESPN2. So when asked to play, whaddya say?

Yes.

So said the 49 players who accepted their invitations to this unique high roller event, and while it was fun for everyone involved, there were seven players especially excited about the final table because they won their seats by taking down their first heats on Tuesday, February 23 and each claimed $75,000 for doing so. In addition, players collected bounties from that first table, and several were in contention for the $100,000 bonus established for the ultimate bounty hunter, the one who personally handled the most eliminations.

And no one could be happier that he accepted that invitation than to play in the $25K Bounty Shootout than Ashton Griffin. He won his first day’s heat, then took a day off before the final table but spent the night before playing online poker, putting him at an all-important final table with no sleep. But sleeping during breaks and staying focused took the young pro all the way to the winner’s circle and $460,000, in addition to collecting $30,000 for bounties throughout the two day event.

Final table action got underway on Thursday, February 25, in a rather large ballroom at the Venetian with the following seven players, all starting with 150,000 in chips:

Seat 1: Joe Cassidy
Seat 2: Faraz Jaka
Seat 3: Peter Eastgate
Seat 4: Scott Seiver
Seat 5: Ashton Griffin
Seat 6: Hoyt Corkins
Seat 7: Brett Richey

Just over an hour into the action, Team PokerStars Pro Peter Eastgate was already one of the shorter stacks at the table. He took some hits early, and when he finally decided to push with pocket eights, Seiver was able to call with pocket jacks, and the board couldn’t help Eastgate. He was the first to exit the table in seventh place.

Peter Eastgate

Several hours later, Brett Richey had become the short stack and pushed with A-K, which held up to the A-8 of Cassidy. But on the very next hand, Richey tried it again, this time with A-Q. Griffin called with K-Q, and everything looked good for another double until he was three-outed by a king on the river, sending Richey out in sixth place.

Brett Richey

It wasn’t until after the dinner break that players got aggressive and action sped up. The first thing to happen was an all-in move from Faraz Jaka with [Qs][Td] and a call from Seiver and his [Ac][Jc]. The board came [Ah][9c][2c][Ad][2h], and the full house knocked Jaka out in fifth place.

Faraz Jaka

Moments later, Corkins doubled through Seiver with pocket jacks over fives, and Scott Seiver was the shortest stack of the four. He was clearly looking to move and ultimately did so with [Qs][Th]. However, Corkins made the call with [Ah][Kc], and the board hit [6d][7d][Ad][Kh][7s] to eliminate Seiver in fourth place. However, Seiver took with him a $100,000 award for collecting the most bounties - eight in all - during the tournament. Not a bad consolation prize, indeed.

Scott Seiver

It took three hours to find an all-in and a call that changed the make-up of the table, and the hand happened with Joe Cassidy pushing from the small blind with [Ad][2d]and Ashton Griffin calling immediately from the big blind with [As][9d]. A nine came on the flop and solidified Cassidy’s position as the third place finisher.

Joe Cassidy

Corkins came in as nearly a two-to-one underdog in chips, and it was only two hands into it that he risked it all. The two went to see a raised flop of [4s][5d][9s], and a raising war ensued during which Griffin pushed all-in and Corkins insta-called for his tournament life with [9h][3h]. But Griffin showed [9d][8d] for top pair with the better kicker. And the [7h] turn and [Jc] river ended the tournament. Hoyt Corkins had to accept second place.

And Ashton Griffin became the first NAPT $25K Bounty Champion. He accepted the invitation to participate, and it paid off in spades…and hearts, clubs, and diamonds. Lack of sleep mattered none, and the experience of the competition did not dissuade him. He plowed through the table and made it worth every moment of his time.

Congratulations to Ashton Griffin and all of the prize winners in this exciting inaugural event!

For all of the double-ups, bustouts, struggles, triumphs, and even a nap story or two, check out the final table coverage.

Introduction
Levels 1-3
Levels 4-6
Levels 7-9

All photography © Joe Giron

10:31pm: Color up
As we move up a level, it’s time to color off the black chips. We’ll also be moving to a new post on the homepage.

10:13pm: Cassidy forces big laydown from Corkins
On a flop of [9s][Tc][Th], Hoyt Corkins bets 4,500 and received a call from Joe Cassidy. After the [7s] showed up on the turn, Corkins bet 20,000 and received another call from Cassidy. But when the [5s] hit on the river, Corkins put in another bet, this time for 32,200. Cassidy raised all-in and put Corkins in the tank for quite a long time.

Corkins asked for a count on Cassidy’s stack, which turned out to be 153,300. Corkins stared at his opponent. He moved his hat around on his head, wiping his scalp underneath. He commented that he thought Cassidy had a monster. And finally, with a wry smile, he folded [Ah][Ts] face up.

9:59pm: Scott Seiver eliminated in fourth place
Seiver was looking to move with his new short stack. From the button, he pushed all-in, and after Ashton Griffin folded his small blind, Hoyt Corkins didn’t hesitate to call from the big blind with [Ah][Kc]. Seiver turned over [Qs][Th], and the board ran out [6d][7d][Ad][Kh][7s]. Any hopes for Seiver to double up were dashed, and he finished the tournament in fourth place.

Scott Seiver

9:53pm: Corkins doubles through Seiver
Scott Seiver started the hand with a raise, but Hoyt Corkins popped it to 30,000. Seiver responded with an all-in move, and Corkins quickly called for his tournament life. His last 138,800 chips were in the pot as the cards were revealed.

Corkins: [Jh][Jc]
Seiver: [5s][5d]

Board: [7c][4h][2h][Jh][Ts]

The set of jacks was good enough for the double-up for Corkins.

Hoyt Corkins rakes in the chips

9:47pm: Faraz Jaka eliminated in fifth place
The hand happened quickly. Jaka pushed all-in from the small blind, and Scott Seiver called from the big blind, knowing that he had Jaka covered. Jaka turned over [Qs][Td] and Seiver showed a dominating [Ac][Jc]. The board came [Ah][9c][2c][Ad][2h], and that was all she wrote for Jaka. Faraz Jaka finished the tournament in fifth place.

Faraz Jaka

9:42pm: Second wind?
Griffin came back from dinner with more vigor than we’ve seen from him today thus far. He took down a pot with an all-in move from the small blind and two pots from Hoyt Corkins that went far beyond the flop. For example, on the second one, it was after the [Kh][6c][7h] that Ashton bet 11,000 and Corkins called. And after the [9h] turn card, Griffin bet 28,000 and prompted Corkins to let his hand go.

9:40pm: Why so serious?
In case you’re wondering why this little event has taken on such an air of importance, here’s a reminder of what they’re playing for.

At stake: $30,000 worth of bounties, a $100,000 prize for the most bounties collected, and $460,000 to the winner.

9:31pm: Griffin looking refreshed
Ashton Griffin (the guy who hasn’t slept but a few minutes in the past 48 hours) has a commanding chip-lead right now. He’s also looking a little bit more awake than he did before the dinner break. Perhaps he found a corner to catch a few Zs during the break.

9:25pm: Dinner done
We’re back from the dinner break. Five players remain.

8:08pm: Dinner break
With the end of Level 5, players have been released for for a dinner break. Action will resume at approximately 9:20pm. The chip counts are as follows:

Cassidy: 193,400
Jaka: 172,900
Seiver: 143,900
Griffin: 445,500
Corkins: 199,300

8:05pm: Corkins careful, but good
Hoyt Corkins wasn’t about to get crazy with his ace-queen, but when Scott Seiver led into him on the river of a [kc][ac][6d][kh][8h] board for 19,000. Corkins made the call and was way good. Seiver simply slipped his hand in the muck and looked for the next hand.

7:40pm: Griffin wants a nap or all the chips
When Joe Cassidy came in for a raise and Scott Seiver called from the small blind, Ashton Griffin pushed all-in from the big blind. It was an obscene overbet that forced a quick fold from Cassidy. Seiver, however, slipped into a fit of manic decision-making. After several minutes of thought he disgustedly mucked his cards. Seiver currently sits second in chips to Griffin. Had that pot gone to showdown, this game would’ve been one of the those players’ to lose.

7:27pm: Brett Richey eliminated in 6th place
On the very next hand, Richey looked to double again. He woke up with [Ac][Qh] and pushed all-in. Ashton Griffin, who was the original raiser, asked for a count of Richey’s chips, and the dealer came up with 75,600. Griffin called and showed [Kc][Qc]. The board ran out [4s][4d][4c][7h][Kh], and Griffin caught his king on the river to take it down.

Brett Richey was eliminated in sixth place.

7:22pm: Low confidence Richey doubles up
Brett Richey just moved all-in from the button and got a call from Joe Cassidy in the small blind. Richey was in good shape with [ac][kc] against Cassidy’s [ah][8d]. Feeling no confidence at all, Richey tossed his bounty chip over to Cassidy. Cassidy had to give it back after the [6d][3c][9d][qc][2s] board. Richey doubled to close to 80,000.

7:15pm: Ashton Griffin’s real problem
It would be one thing if Ashton Griffin had only stayed up all night last night playing cards (which, apparently he did). It’s another thing that we’re expecting to be here very, very late tonight. We’ll be taking a dinner break in about 45 minutes. We won’t get back from that until close to 9:30. The current O/U on finishing time right now 2am Friday morning. It may well be that Griffin never sleeps again. We’re going to try to find him a Snuggie during the dinner break.

7:10pm: Wakey wakey!
“Anybody wanna tap Ashton and wake him up?”

That question from the tournament director just now.

As we noted earlier, Ashton Griffin is a little sleepy. During the last tournament break, he laid out on a row of chairs and took a 15-minute power nap.

7:05pm: And we’re back…with new chip counts
The players are slowly returning from their break, and they will be starting Level 5 with the following chip counts:

Joe Cassidy 288,200
Faraz Jaka 82,300
Scott Seiver 208,500
Ashton Griffin 300,800
Hoyt Corkins 126,500
Brett Richey 44,500

6:47pm: Pause
With the end of Level 4, the clock is paused for a 15-minute break.

6:33pm: Jaka doubles through Corkins
Faraz Jaka and Hoyt Corkins just got it all-in pre-flop. It was pocket tens for Jaka and sevens for Corkins. The board was a sick one, [7d][6d][td][ac][kh], giving both players sets. Jaka is back up near 80,000 in chips.

6:13pm: Woops
Faraz Jaka and Ashton Griffin saw a flop of [2d][5c][8c]. Jaka check-called a 12,200 bet, and then did the same thing for 29,000 on the [3d] turn. Then, on the [6d] river, Jaka led out for 80,000. Griffin almost immediately announced all-in. Jaka tanked for three minutes, and then folded.

6:09pm: Measuring
Curious about our remaining players’ live tournament records? Here they are.

Joe Cassidy: $ 1,164,336
Faraz Jaka: $1,941,563
Scott Seiver: $1,268,005
Ashton Griffin: $53,520
Hoyt Corkins: $5,069,984
Brett Richey: $ 436,270

5:45pm: New level
We are beginning a new level with six players remaining.

The blinds now sit at 1,200/2,400/300.

Scott Seiver, Eastgate-killer

NAPT Venetian reporting comes courtesy of bloggers Brad Willis and Jennifer Newell, and photographer Joe Giron.

5:46pm: Level 3 ends, new blog post begins
The third level of the final table has come to an end, and as we move into Level 4, we also move to a new blog post. Please join us there for the latest final table updates.

5:37pm: Peter Eastgate eliminated in 7th place
Faraz Jaka opened to 5,000 and Peter Eastgate pushed all-in for around 50,000. Scott Seiver looked at his cards and then announced he, too, was all-in. Jaka got out of the way. Eastgate held [8c][8d] to Seiver’s pocket jacks. Eastgate never caught up and was out in seventh. Meanwhile, Seiver picked up another $5,000 bounty to go along with the six he scored in the preliminary round.

5:30pm: A king and a knave walk into a bar…
Or in this case, the king-jack walked right into aces. Scott Sevier and Peter Eastgate just got it in pre-flop with Eastgate’s [kd][jd] versus Seiver’s pocket aces. Eastgate managed to turn a jack, but missed on the river and is down to around 50,000 in chips.

5:14pm: Cassidy climbs
Joe Cassidy is always one of the quietest players at the tables, but that also makes him one of the most feared. Since the last break, he has been a bit more involved in hands. For example, he decided to tangle with Faraz Jaka preflop on a hand that led them to a [Ad][6d][Jc] flop. Cassidy continued to lead the betting, this time for 8,000, and Faraz continued to call. The [8s] turn brought another 13,500 into the pot from each player, and 18,000 from each went in after the [2h] river card showed up. And when Cassidy showed [As][Qs] for top pair, Jaka simply folded and shipped the chips to Cassidy.

4:56pm: Word on the street…
is Ashton Griffin may be winning this thing right now in spite of a very long overnight session that has left him a little light on the sleep. He looks at the moment like he might like a cup of tea and a Snuggie.

4:41pm: Chips
As we return from break, here are how the stacks size up at the 1,000/2,000/300 level.

Cassidy: 167,600
Jaka: 217,900
Eastgate: 85,800
Seiver: 77,200
Griffin: 220,500
Corkins: 171,100
Richey: 109,900

Ashton Griffin, chip leader

4:26pm: First break of the afternoon
As we conclude Level 2, everyone is given a 15-minute break to stretch. We shall resume shortly.

4:21pm: Jaka hurts Seiver
It was only a few minutes ago that Scott Seiver was chatting happily to kill the idle time. In the last few hands, he’s lost a big portion of his stack. Moments ago, he saw a [4s][3c][5h] flop with Faraz Jaka. Jaka bet 8,500 and Seiver raised to 27,000. Jaka called.On the [8s] turn, Seiver checked-called a 45,000 bet. Both players checked the [6h] river. Jaka’s [as][2[s] was good for the flopped wheel and eventual six-high straight.

Scott Sevier’s stacks and bounty chips

4:15pm: Seiver turns it back on Eastgate
Faraz Jaka opened for 4,000, and Peter Eastgate, Scott Seiver, and Brett Richey called to see the [2s] [8s] [Ac] flop. Eastgate came out betting with 8,700, and Seiver was the only caller. The [Qc] on the turn brought checks from both players, but the [7s] on the river induced a 25,000 bet from Eastgate but an all-in retaliation from Seiver. Eastgate got out of the way, and the all-in push worked on Seiver’s behalf this time.

4:08pm: Griffin puts Seiver to the ultimate test
Scott Seiver started the hand with a preflop raise to 5200, and Ashton Griffin and Brett Richey went along to check out the [Ad][Jd][7h] flop. Richey checked, but Seiver bet 6,500. Griffin bumped it up to 23,000, and Richey quickly got out of the way. Seiver asked for a chip count from Griffin but eventually just decided to call. The [2s] on the turn prompted a 38,500 bet from Griffin and check-call from Seiver.

But it was the appearance of the [6s] on the river that caused action to take a turn. Seiver checked, and Griffin bet all-in. Seiver then took his time to contemplate the situation, consider his options, and ask for an exact count of the all-in, which was 83,500. Seiver looked pained to do it but finally folded.

3:58pm: Combined experience
With the action bordering on…sleepy…Scott Seiver and Hoyt Corkins just got into a discussion on whether the Alabama cowboy has more years at the poker table than the rest of the table combined. Corkins said he’s been playing for 32 years. That’s almost enough to cover everybody else at the table. Most of these youngsters have six years of poker experience or less. The veteran among the kids is Joe Cassidy. His first recorded live tourney cash came in January 2002.

3:45pm: Flop-sick
Being flop-sick is a lot like being homesick. It’s been so long since we’ve seen cards on the board, we’re starting to romanticize community cards a little bit.

3:30pm: Eastgate takes early hits
He looks deeply concerned over every hand, but he’s likely a little more concerned after the last two hands. One involved a pre-flop raising war, and it started as Faraz Jaka opened for 3,300 from the button. Peter Eastgate made it 11,200 to go from the small blind. But Jaka came back over the top with a reraise to 26,300, which prompted Eastgate to fold.

Next it was an involvement with Ashton Griffin that involved a raise and reraise that took them to a [Ad][8s][4d] flop. Griffin led out for 11,300, and Eastgate called, but after the [Ts] came on the turn, a 27,800 bet from Griffin induced a fold from Eastgate.

Trouble ahead, Mr Eastgate?

Peter Eastgate

3:25pm: Level up
After an hour of play in which we didn’t see much crazy movement, the players are now working with 800-1,600-200 blinds.

2:51pm: Seiver starts strong
Scott Seiver’s strong start in this event was evidenced by his performance on Day 1, where he single-handedly eliminated every person at his table. And today Scott Seiver is already showing a solid start at the final table.

Example 1: He took to a [3d][Jd][Ts] flop with Faraz Jaka, Brett Richey, and Ashton Griffin. The [Kd] turn and [Qs] were both checked around, and Seiver calmly turned over [Qd][Td] for the winning hand.

Example 2: The hand found Seiver taking to a [6d][6h][Jh] flop with Peter Eastgate, after which Seiver bet 6,200 and Eastgate check-called. Both players checked the [Kd] turn, but on the [Qd] river, Seiver bet 16,500 and Eastgate check-folded.

Example 3: Brett Richey started the hand with a raise, but Seiver reraised to 11,500. Richey went along to see the [3h][5c][5d] flop, which was checked by both players. Richey was the bettor on the [7h] turn, but Seiver bet out 40,000 after the [7s] on the river, and Richey folded. Seiver took another one.

Serious Scott Seiver

3:01pm: Bryan Micon in the house
We figured if it was worthy of an announcement over the PA, it was worthy of an announcement here. Plus, it’s about the most action we’ve had in 15 minutes.

2:43pm: Corkins aggressive early
Hoyt Corkins is clearly the elder statesman at the table today, and he is not shy about making his presence known among a young, aggressive group of players.

Case and point: a hand started with Faraz Jaka opening for 3,300, and Ashton Griffin tried to call from the small blind. But Corkins reraised it to 16,200 from the big blind, and when his two competitors folded, Corkins flipped over the [Ad][Kc].

Hoyt Corkins

2:36pm: Community cards make their debut
After several hands of raise it and take it preflop, we did establish that community cards were a part of the game, courtesy of a hand between Joe Cassidy and Ashton Griffin. A raised flop of [Qd][6d][2s] was checked to the [Th] turn and again to the [Ts] river. Griffin bet out 9,100, and Cassidy folded to give the pot to Griffin.

2:35pm: Careful now…
While this isn’t a turbo event, we’re not as deep here as we were in the main event. A three-bet at the start of this final table generally represents 10% of a the starting stack. Anyone who gets to jiggy with it could get themselves in some trouble.

2:24pm: First blood to Faraz
When action finally got underway at the final table, it was Hoyt Corkins making the first move by opening for 3,200. But Faraz Jaka popped it up from the big blind to 11,200, and Corkins let it go.

Jaka took the first pot of the day, and is now our chip leader…by a few chips.

2:12pm: Shuffling and dealing
Alright, folks. Here we go. The final table is underway.

2:19pm: Nearly underway
The final table of the $25,000 Bounty Shootout is about to get started. We’re starting with 600-1,200-100 blinds and 150,000 stacks. Here’s the table line-up.

Seat 1: Joe Cassidy
Seat 2: Faraz Jaka
Seat 3: Peter Eastgate
Seat 4: Scott Seiver
Seat 5: Ashton Griffin
Seat 6: Hoyt Corkins
Seat 7: Brett Richey

NAPT Venetian reporting comes courtesy of bloggers Brad Willis and Jennifer Newell, and photographer Joe Giron.

What we have just witnessed is no short of history in the making.

Sure, we know we tend to get hyperbolic around these parts, but we feel comfortable in suggesting that what we’ll witness this week will be the stuff poker people will talk about for ages.

When the NAPT announced it was hosting a first-of-its-kind $25,000 Bounty Shootout at The Venetian, we knew it was going to be cool. We had no idea, however, the kinds of players it would draw. Moments ago, many of the titans of live and online poker gathered for the Bounty Shootout draw party.

Daniel Negreanu, Jason Mercier, and Joe Cada handicap the field

It was there we learned who will battle whom in the big event tomorrow. The 49 players drew for one of seven seats at seven tables, and the match-ups are just silly-good.

Here are the match-ups:

Table 1

1. Joe Sebok
2. Phil Laak
3. Justin Bonomo
4. David Williams
5. Joe Cassidy
6. Yevgeniy Timoshenko
7. Tommy Vedes

Table 2

1. (Satellite winner)
2. Dario Minieri
3. Tony G.
4. Alec Torelli
5. Isaac Haxton
6. Daniel Alaei
7. Peter Eastgate

Table 3

1. Chris Moneymaker
2. Keith Gibson
3. Joe Cada
4. Jason Mercier
5. Hasan Habib
6. Matt Glantz
7. Ashton Griffin

Table 4

1. Andrew Robl
2. Lee Markholt
3. John Hennigan
4. Phil Galfond
5. Alex Kamberis
6. Brett Richey
7. Daniel Negreanu

Table 5

1. J.C Tran
2. Joe Hachem
3. Annie Duke
4. Jennifer Tilly
5. Vanessa Rousso
6. Di Dang
7. Faraz Jaka

Table 6

1. Scott Sevier
2. Brian Rast
3. Chau Giang
4. ElkY
5. Antonio Esfandiari
6. Sorel Mizzi
7. Barry Greenstein

Table 7

1. Phil Hellmuth
2. Adam Richardson
3. Hoyt Corkins
4. Greg Raymer
5. John Duthie
6. Hevad Khan
7. Steve Paul-Ambrose

This event is being taped for broadcast on ESPN2, but you can watch it live on Tuesday on NAPT TV. We will also have live cover on the PokerStars Blog beginning at 11am PST.