At PokerStars EPT Barcelona 2025, Jason Koon didn’t fireplace each bullet on the schedule. However throughout the occasions he did play, issues nonetheless broke his method.
“I’ve run extremely properly to get second within the PLO [€25K High Roller] event, that was superior, after which yesterday I had three large blinds at one level and by some means acquired the cash within the 50K,” Koon stated. “I performed three tournaments. I didn’t money the 100K, and the opposite two got here by means of for me, so it hasn’t been a lot work. Not large grindy days. I didn’t play the Important Occasion, so I haven’t put one in every of these 5‑day classes in.”
The one factor left on his record: the Spin & Go Championship. “Stars requested me if I wished to do it, and it sounded enjoyable and completely different, so I figured why not. More often than not within the excessive rollers I’m taking part in guys I’ve identified for 10 years, so it’ll be good to play with some contemporary faces.”
Why He Joined PokerStars
I really feel like I perceive the present zeitgeist of poker, what individuals need, and PokerStars has been open to listening to me out and letting me share my voice. Koon’s determination to hitch PokerStars in November 2024 was a shock to many. Over time he had a number of ambassador roles together with partypoker and GGPoker, however he additionally usually described himself as fiercely impartial.
“I’m a really impartial individual,” he defined. “Earlier than I had any success in poker, I had a job for 2 weeks and I stated, this isn’t for me. I don’t prefer to be right here. And I gave up monetary safety to play poker due to that independence, that drive for simply doing issues the best way I need. So for some time I used to be type of sworn off ambassador roles. I believed, no matter, I’ll simply maintain taking part in excessive stakes and competing.”
That modified when he reconnected with previous associates at PokerStars. “They simply acquired me actually excited to be right here. And there’s a nostalgia issue too. I made my account 20 years in the past—truly 20 years in the past, it’s insane. I nonetheless keep in mind the best way I felt logging into PokerStars. A number of the greatest breaks I had in school had been on PokerStars. They type of rocketed my profession to the place it was. So to go full circle and are available again and be a part of the group that acquired me began, it actually was a nostalgic dream.”
He additionally feels the timing in his profession is true. “I’ve had a ton of expertise on this enterprise—I’ve seen the ins and outs, I’ve had completely different ambassador roles. I’m not the brand new man anymore, however I’m additionally not the previous guard. I type of have an ear to either side. I really feel like I perceive the present zeitgeist of poker, what individuals need, and PokerStars has been open to listening to me out and letting me share my voice.”
Recreation Integrity
A lot of his work at GGPoker, and now in broader roles, touches on sport integrity. Koon stated that got here naturally.
“It wasn’t as a result of I went asking to be a part of it. It’s extra that I keep in mind what poker was on-line, and I need that to be out there to younger children right now. And on high of that, I’m a stats nerd. I like optimum poker and understanding the boundaries of human efficiency. Typically you see play at such a excessive degree you suppose: is that this even human? I’m not saying it’s not potential—individuals are getting higher yearly. But it surely’s good to have somebody who is aware of what the height appears like. That makes me helpful for safety. It’s not that I consider myself as a beacon of integrity—it simply matches. I’m comfortable to help.”
The Price of Being an Ambassador
Koon was additionally candid in regards to the flip facet. “There’s an enormous value to these things. Folks say, oh, this man’s getting paid to be an envoy, that’s superb. Effectively, it’s good to get a paycheck—it’s very onerous to win cash taking part in poker, so I’m not complaining. However you’re at all times plugged in. There are limitations on what you are able to do. Folks suppose you’ll be able to change greater than you actually can. These are large companies; there’s a whole lot of purple tape. I can’t simply snap my fingers and say, let’s make this occur for gamers.”
“And also you’re within the center. Gamers say they need one factor. Companies say, properly, we’ve to make a revenue. And you need to be the one saying, let’s assist them a bit of right here, let’s give a bit of again right here. You’re by no means going to make everybody comfortable. I don’t like battle—I’ve had sufficient battle for ten lifetimes—in order that half is draining typically.”
A Macau Evening to Keep in mind
Of the numerous tales from his profession, Koon was comfortable to share one from Macau, the fabled place the place a number of the craziest poker video games happen behind closed doorways.
“One actually colourful second occurred my first journey to Macau, over 10 years in the past. There was a younger participant there, his title was Trueteller on PokerStars, one of many biggest excessive‑stakes money sport gamers of all time. And I used to be in over my head in that sport to start with, however I grew to essentially like him,” Koon recalled.
“The sport was breaking, and he checked out me and stated, ‘Hey, stick round for an additional hour. I feel one thing good may occur.’ So it was three within the morning and I used to be taking part in three‑handed with him and a Norwegian child, each actually nice gamers. And I used to be like, guys, I actually don’t wish to be taking part in this sport for much longer, I’m not doing good on this sport. And he stated, ‘Simply belief me.’”
Koon did. “About half-hour later, he provides me a nod. I look again and there’s a man strolling in with a posse of individuals carrying duffel baggage of Hong Kong {dollars}. They begin emptying out the duffel baggage of money on the cage, he will get chips, and he sits down. And we performed among the finest poker video games I’ve ever performed in my life. And Trueteller gave me a wink and a nod. I’m ceaselessly grateful for that one.”
“I Was Born to Do This”
With greater than $ 66 million in reside event winnings, Koon has nothing left to show on paper. However he says the fireplace comes from someplace deeper.
“I don’t suppose there’s ever going to be an finish sport for me. I’ll by no means retire from poker. I like it. I used to be born to do that. I play as a result of I wish to compete. Now it’s not about proving one thing to different individuals—it’s about proving one thing to myself. That’s a sustainable gasoline. It’s wholesome, it makes me really feel good, and it scratches an itch I’m at all times going to wish to scratch.”
He research, he mentors, and he prepares. However he additionally units limits now. “I gained’t beat myself to loss of life taking part in 340 days a 12 months like I used to. I gained’t journey to each cease. I gained’t be involved about being primary on the all‑time cash record. However once I wish to play, I’ll play. And I’ll by no means sit down with out being able to win. If I can’t produce my finest model, then I’ll go do one thing else. Till then, I’ll maintain competing.”
