Mercier Eliminates the Defending Champ

Dan Smith, who won this very event last year for €962,925, has been nursing an extreme short stack for the better part of two levels, but his time just ran out.

It happened after Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier opened with a raise from the cutoff and Smith shoved from the button for 42,000. The blinds folded and Mercier made the call.

Mercier:
Smith:

Smith got it in good, but Mercier was drawing to two live cards. He hit one of them on the flop and left Smith in need of either a king or an ace. The turn wasn't what he was looking for, and neither was the . Smith failed to catch and was bounced from the tournament in 25th place.