PokerGO Mixed Game Series Sees Wins for Jason Mercier and Cary Katz

Jason Mercier Returns to the Winners Circle

The biggest news from the eight-event series in Las Vegas was the return of Jason Mercier to the winners’ circle. A long-time PokerStars Team Pro mainstay, Mercier left the poker giant in 2018. Since then, he’s been enjoying the lifestyle afforded to him by his many triumphs in poker, helping to raise his three young sons with his wife Natasha, also an accomplished poker player.

Mercier, whose poker career has always been one that was likely to reignite given his natural flair at the felt and innate ability to learn, came full circle this weekend. Playing Event #7, the $25,500-entry 10-Game Mix, Mercier had to show his poker chops in a range of very difficult formats against some of the best poker players in the world.

After reaching an agreement on a deal with Dan Zack, Mercier went on to win the title. After doing so, he celebrated by letting his Twitter followers know in his own inimitable way that he was happy with a ‘rare’ win.

Finally won a poker tourney… https://t.co/IrxrYUlR74

— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) February 13, 2023

After the event, Mercier was delighted to have played and won on his return.

“This tournament was so much fun to play,” Mercier told PokerGO after lifting the trophy. “It was my first time in the PokerGO Studio. I felt good playing. I played cash for two days before coming here, so I felt like my mixed games were oiled up and ready to go. I played well. I was never all in except for one time in no-limit deuce where I had the guy dead. That was the only time I was all in and at risk during the whole tournament.”

Daniel Zack Wins Overall Leaderboard Championship

After eight events, there was only one overall winner, who pocketed an extra $25,000. That man was the 2022 WSOP Player of the Year, Daniel Zack. Having finished second to Mercier in the penultimate event, that finish was enough to guarantee that with an event to spare, Zack was top dog. His 352 points eventually finished a total of 36 points ahead of second-placed John Monnette, whose late run saw him take the runner-up position.

Also present on the final leaderboard’s top 10 were some very big names, with Nick Guagenti coming in third with 290 points, having won a total of $275,475 during the eight events. Mercier’s win in Event #7 earned him $367,500, good for a top-five finish on the overall leaderboard.

Overall 538 entrants took part in the 2023 Mixed Games Series, a seriously strong return and with 126 unique entrants, the PokerGO series showed that mixed games are hugely popular within the elite ranks of poker professionals. Racking up points during the series, players who did score PGT points will be looking forward to the end-of-season freeroll that has $1 million in the prizepool.

A Gamble for the Ages Almost Costs Shaun Deeb Dearly

There’s little that mixed game players love more than a prop bet and Shaun Deeb is often chief protagonist when it comes to putting his hard-earned money where his mouth is. So he was in this case, as he offered mixed game player Mike Thorpe – also known by his colorful name of ‘Crazy Mike’ – a wager. Offering him odds of 100 to 1 to win the Triple Draw Mix event, Thorpe got off to a great start and Deeb was sweating.

Rooted for by players such as David ‘ODB’ Baker and Eli Elezra, Thorpe rose through the ranks for some time, ultimately falling just short of glory.

I'll give you a gamble!@shaundeeb offered @RealCrazyMike 100:1 if he could win the Triple Draw Mix and the sweat turned out to be very real with @elielezra1 and @audavidb hoping for the upset!

Follow our Mixed Game series on https://t.co/zae1FD1qN3. pic.twitter.com/9o72CECzi5

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) February 10, 2023

With the PGT’s Pot Limit Omaha Series around the corner, there will be another leaderboard-winning top prize of $25,000 up for grabs very soon, as well as some vital PokerGO Tour points to boot.