Jason Mercier Has Had a Lucky Streak

You are the luckiest motherfucker alive. These were the words of Dave Devilfish Ulliot addressed to Jason Mercier at this years World Series of Poker. With the $5,000 PLO six max final table looming, Devilfish’s hopes of a second bracelet crumbled when Merciers Queen high straight draw came good to knock both he and Peter Jetten out in one fell swoop. Fast forward a few days and it was Mercier not Ulliot, holding his second gold bracelet aloft.

Yet despite amassing over $6m in the past four years, Mericiers abilities are routinely dismissed by his critics, and Devilfish is definitely not the first, nor likely the last to bemoan the Americans uncanny knack for hitting cards.
Mercier has divided opinion ever since making a name for himself with victory at 2008’s EPT San Remo. Those familiar with his meteoric rise have been torn between lavish praise and offhand criticism. And even now, 11 big money wins on from his San Remo debut, Mercier is still seen by some as “just another lucky player”. But nowhere in the rule books does it say the two ideas are mutually exclusive, that you can’t be both lucky and good.

Sometimes I’ll get things on Twitter, where people say “you’re so lucky” or that i'm cocky or something like that. Mercier tells me “If I go on Two Plus Two and read – oh mercier looks like he’s stoned – I don’t really let it get to me. I don’t care and I can’t control what people say. Are the forums right? Is the secret to Merciers ongoing success not luck, but getting higher than Cheech and hitting the tables red eyed and without inhibition? I don’t even smoke weed he replies chuckling. I never even tried it.
It’s not uncommon for people, poker players or otherwise, to put their faith in lucky charms, rabbits feet and superstitions. Before Tiger Woods was caught with his pants down he was unstoppable. And during his prime, certain camps (albeit stupid ones) claimed his on-course prowess could be attributed to wearing red t-shirts on the final day of any big money event.

Decked out in the same brown and tan striped polo shirt, Mercier won 2008’s EPT San Remo and the £20k EPT London High Roller, before taking his lucky top to 2010’s NAPT Mohegan Sun for the $25k Bounty. One shirt 3 wins, $2.8m in winnings. Coincidence, probably, but like many pros at eh top of their game, Mercier knows that fortune has its part to play.

”When your playing each tournament, all you’re thinking about is that single event and trying to win” he says. “Sometimes if you’re lucky enough you’re going to win a bunch of them.

Still just 26 Mercier has already won two WSOP bracelets, a smattering of EPT side events and back to back NAPT titles, as well as proving his skills in esoteric games such as H.OR.S.E. At the heads upstage of the Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout, his pocket 3’s were lagging behind Sam Steins AJ with an A high flop. In drops a runner runner straight. At this years EPT champion of champions, his AJ cruelly outdrew Galen Halls A-K heads up. En route to victory in 2010’s WCOOP, his buddies were even offering 3 to 1 odds on their boy losing a single coin flip. And in a subtle nod to his luckbox qualities, Mercier even sucks out against some nameless actor in his latest Pokerstars TV commercial. “Lady Luck likes to hang out with the guys that practice the hardest” he tells the cameras. According to his namesayers, that means Mercier has been practicing getting lucky for some time.

Poker Articles
Q+A With Phil Hellmuth
Matt Perrins Wins WSOP Bracelet 2011
Elky picks up bracelet in 7 card stud
Chris Moneymaker refects since he won wsop
All in decisions in MTT poker
The changing nature of starting hands
The biggest mistake made in poker
Guide to MTT Poker
WSOP 2011 news
Zero Roulette

Recommended Gaming Sites
Bodog Sportsbook Sports Betting - (Visit Website) - Free Bets Available!
Bodog Casino (Direct Download)
Planet 7 Free $25 - No deposit - Exclusive Offer! (Direct Download) code PLAYERSEDGE
888 Casino 100%match+$15extra - Exclusive Offer! (Direct Download)
888 Casino UK £5 FREE offer No Deposit - (Visit Website)
Supercasino UK - Play live on channel 5 (Visit Website)
Partypoker - No deposit required (Direct download) code TPE500 100% match