By Sean Chaffin
Cashing in on a bounty for Jamie Kerstetter (pictured) seemed likely several times on Day 2 of the WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble. On a short stack early in the day, she was all in several times. The bad news for opponents looking for a quick $2,500 score? She kept winning. That included doubling up twice with pocket Aces.
“It feels good because I was really short,” she said late in the day on Sunday. “At one point I was down to one big blind, so being in the money is surreal.”
Playing in her second straight event as a bounty, Kerstetter now has her second WPT cash in the event. In total, she has more than $670,000 in live tournament earnings. Beyond the felt, she’s also a popular commentator on various poker broadcasts including the World Series of Poker Main Event and WPT live streams. She also hosts two podcasts, LFG with Chad Holloway and Run It Once with Marle Cordero.
Not only did Kerstetter enjoy making a deep run here in the Bounty Scramble, but also loves just the general vibe the event generates.
“I like it here a lot,” she says. “The atmosphere is always happier and more fun – even though people are coming for my throat the whole time for my bounty. I feel like there’s been more table talk and more opportunities for people to needle you and go after you, so it’s a little more fun.”
When it comes to the bottle of Dom Perignon and trophy for the last bounty standing, she definitely had some plans.
“I promised Katie Lindsay, who is at Run It Up Reno right now, that I was going to deliver her a bottle of Dom, so I’m trying to make good on my promise,” says Kerstetter, who is originally from New Jersey and now lives in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, Katie may have to make an extra trip to the liquor store for that bottle. Kerstetter finished 33rd for $8,700 when fellow bounty Jessica Dawley sent her to the rail. Dawley and Champions Club member Marvin Rettenmaier were the last of the 30 bounties left in the field. Kerstetter now has eight career tour cashes and should add to her $118,462 in WPT winnings.
It will be a quick turnaround for Kerstetter. She now heads to Run It Up Reno to commentate for four days and then play in some events. Despite coming up just short of her goal as a bestbet bounty, after so many double-ups Kerstetter was happy to take home some cash and had plenty of fun doing it.
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.