Natasha Mercier Changes in Diapers for Time Chips on Day 3

By Matt Clark

The last six months for Natasha Mercier are unlike anything she’s ever experienced. From the time Mercier gave birth to her son Marco last October, she didn’t play a hand of tournament poker up until this week’s Season XVI WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown.

Mercier’s life is devoted to raising her son with husband and poker superstar, Jason Mercier. The couple has limited their time on the felt to only a few spot appearances from Jason.

This morning was a different one for Natasha, though, who is away from Marco for the first time since he was born.

“Well, the last six months I’ve been waking up at 5 a.m. with the baby, changing diapers, playing, feeding him,” Mercier said. “Basically, not sleeping and not really playing any poker. This morning is the first time I get to leave the baby with Jason and go out and do what I like to do.”

Mercier played a full summer schedule in Las Vegas before stepping away to focus on full-time motherhood.

For as much as Mercier wanted to play this tournament, it almost did not happen. Mercier’s singular priorities are with her son and being away from him for the extended period of time caused concern.

The two Mercier’s didn’t register for the event until the waning hours of Day 1a. Natasha had to play Day 1b due to elimination and came close to missing registration altogether.

“I almost didn’t play it,” she said. “I haven’t left the baby, basically, in six months. Not with my sister, not with anyone. I was still, like, ‘Is he going to be OK?’ Even on Day 1, we were supposed to go in at 2 p.m. to register and I wasn’t able to leave him. I was like, ‘I’m just going to wait to for him to go down, he won’t even know I’m gone.’ That’s the only way we were able to do it.”

The assimilation back into the fold on Day 1 was easier than Mercier expected.

“I felt really great, even on Day 1,” she said. “It was like, this is what I used to do. I feel comfortable.”

The process became easier on Day 2 when Mercier played with friend and WPT Champions Club member Daniel Weinman.

“We played a lot of big pots for no reason because we know each other really well,” she said. “Most of the people know I haven’t played poker in six months and I guess they were trying to take advantage of that, but I didn’t feel like I was away from the tables.”

Day 3 of any tournament is tough and Mercier’s mind is still not all the way at the table. Mercier left her husband to care for Marco today and slept in for the first time since she can remember.

On her drive to Seminole Hard Rock this morning, Jason sent Natasha information about the table draw.

“He did the work while I was driving,” she told WPT.com. “We’re a team, we’re always helping each other.”

While away from the game, Mercier stayed sharp on new developments a few different ways. The Florida poker couple watches hand videos together and talks poker when they can. Streams also play a role in her study habits.

“We do watch some PokerGO, we watch some poker hands,” she said. “When someone posts a hand, we watch it together. We still talk about poker in our spare time.”

Mercier is faced with an attempt to focus as much as she can on poker today. Thanks to modern technology, Mercier accesses cameras set up across her home via her phone to check in on the boys whenever she feels the need.

The prize of a cash in her first tournament back satisfies Mercier. For what happens today and beyond, Mercier is comfortable with her game to let the results take care of themselves.

“I’m happy I made it this far in my first tournament back,” she said. “I’m just going to play poker and see what happens.”

Click here for more coverage from the Season XVI WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship.

Looking to win your way to a World Poker Tour event for your shot at becoming a WPT champion? Play for your chance on ClubWPT.com, where eligible VIP Members can play for over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, including seats to WPT events, no purchase necessary.