Jason Mercier

American poker pro Jason Mercier was studying to be a Math teacher before he made it big in the poker world. But like millions of others, he'd seen Chris Moneymaker win the 2003 World Series of Poker* for $2,500,000, and started playing at home with friends soon after. He then discovered online poker when he went away to college, and the next few years were spent mastering the game, picking up some impressive results in online tournaments along the way. He also began crushing the cash games, and became only the 16th player to become a PokerStars Supernova Elite.

By 2008 he was ready to make his mark on the live scene, and was about to have the kind of year that most can only dream of. Thousands of poker players spend years making small but steady cashes before hitting that big score. Thousands more never make it. Jason however was skilled enough to get that life-changing payday in his first major live appearance. He came out of nowhere and beat a field of 700 other players to take down the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour San Remo event in April 2008, earning prize money of $1,372,893. Just six months later, he came close to picking up another EPT title when he came sixth in Barcelona, good for another $324,946. Days later the run continued, with an eighth place finish in the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event at the World Series of Poker* Europe in London, followed a month later by victory at the High Roller event at EPT London, beating a field full of poker legends for a cash of $944,847. As the months ticked by into 2009, Jason was unstoppable.

He made two final tables at the L.A. Poker Classic in February, including a first place finish in a Pot Limit Omaha event. This was followed by another victory in a $1,000 Hold’em event at the Wynn Classic, worth $81,480. Then came the WSOP* in Las Vegas, where Jason was able to continue an incredible year with four cash finishes and his first bracelet, after taking the top spot in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event for $237,462. Jason then went deep at the WSOPE* in London, finished in fourth spot in the Main Event, good for $425,158.

Jason spends most of his waking hours playing poker, but in the time that he does get to relax, he enjoys playing basketball, going to the beach, watching all types of sport and catching up with his friends and family.

Years on from the poker boom, the scene is full of tales about players who shine bright with one big tournament win, before fading back into obscurity. Jason has proven time and time again that he is the real thing. He is a member of Team PokerStars Pro and plays online using the screen name ‘JasonMercier’.