EPT San Remo (Italy) Online Qualifiers
The EPT made an explosive debut in Italy last season with a massive field at Casino San Remo. Every seat in the house sold out as 701 players put up €5,000 or qualified online to compete for €3.1 million in cash. PokerStars qualifier Jason Mercier rose above the rest to capture the title and €869,000 in one of the final table battles of the season. His tournament hinged on one jaw-dropping hand. Aggressive French player Eric Koskas had moved all-in on a board reading 5-J-6-8-8. Clutching only 9-5 and facing a make-or-break decision, Mercier went deep into the tank. After several agonising minutes, Mercier did the unthinkable. He slammed his cards down and made what looked like an impossible call with just bottom pair. Koskas turned to the crowd in disbelief, his stone cold bluff crushed by what he later described as the single best play he had ever seen.
With an online qualifier lifting the trophy and two more reaching the final table, it was a great week for PokerStars players. Team PokerStars Pro was out in force too, as the home crowd roared Italian superstar Dario Minieri all the way to third place.
Filed with: Dario Minieri, EPT, EPT 2009, EPT 2010, EPT San Remo, EPT Series 5, Jason Mercier