Jason Koon should be a clear frontrunner for the Poker Hall of Fame

When Jason Koon turned 40 in August last year, his numerous friends and colleagues at the Triton Poker Series, as well as the thousands of fans who watch him on the Triton stream, had the same thought simultaneously: Koon can finally now take his place in the Poker Hall of Fame.

From the list of criteria for induction to poker's most esteemed ranks, reaching 40 was the last one Koon was able to fulfil. He had otherwise been Hall of Fame worthy for many, many years.

Koon is a player of exceptional ability, proven without question on the grandest stage, with a list of results on the world's most prestigious poker tour that are, frankly, dumbfounding.

As a reminder, the Triton Ambassador has 12 titles from 54 final tables, including wins in two Triton Series Main Events. There's no one else who comes remotely close.

But more than that, Koon is one of the most approachable and personable players in the world game, a man who has done more than almost anybody to promote poker for more than a decade. 

Koon is the ultimate professional, but still relishes the opportunity to introduce the game to beginners. He frequently acts as a mentor to up and coming players, and is often the bridge between the professional game and the millions of people from all walks of life who play poker recreationally. 

Koon is uniquely recognizable across the world, having made his way from the micro-stakes online, through the mid-stakes tournament circuit in his native United States, to the biggest games on the planet. He is perhaps the only player in the world who would be welcomed to any nickel and dime game in a college dorm as well as a cash game for the highest-stakes played by high-rolling businesspeople or the Hollywood A-list.

He has earned and maintained the highest respect from everyone related to poker, and he has done it now for close to 20 years.

AN INSTANT IMPACT ON THE LARGEST STAGE

Like many players of his generation, Jason Koon first learned poker in college and then played online to gain vital experience, build a bankroll and create a network of like-minded peers. 

The new pros approached the game with focused dedication, building on established norms to find innovative new methods and strategies. As a result, the game rose to new prominence, and the poker tables grew packed across the world.

As the live tournament scene took off through poker's boom years, Koon continued to hone his craft, emerging as one of poker's leading lights. He steadily rose through the ranks and quickly emerged as a force as the high stakes scene got going. 

Koon first appeared on the Triton Poker Series when the tour was in its infancy, but true to form he had an instant impact. 

Despite only recently learning the mechanics of short deck poker, Koon immediately saw its significance to the Triton Poker player pool and played two short deck events in Montenegro in 2018.

He warmed up by finishing fourth in a HK $250K event, before going three places better a couple of days later, snatching the $3.6 million first prize in a tournament with a HK $1 million buy-in. 

A Triton legend was born.

From that moment on, Koon's dominance on the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series is unmatched. He has cashed in 81 tournaments, finished in the top nine on 55 occasions and has won a startling 12 titles, including that first one in Montenegro. 

By comparison, nobody else has won more than seven events. Even Poker Hall of Famer Phil Ivey has won only five.

Koon, right, in conversation with Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu

Furthermore, Koon has done it in all variants played on the series. He has six no limit hold'em wins, four in short deck and two in PLO. He was the first player to complete the so-called Triton Trident and has now, essentially, done it twice.

He was also the first player to win two Triton Main Events, in both short deck and NLH. The Main Events are the most prestigious and keenly contested on the circuit. All in a day's work for this superlative talent.

In all, Koon's Triton earnings stand at close to $41 million. He was the wholly fitting first winner of the Ivan Leow Player of the Year award.

By necessity, the fields in the Super High Roller Series are comparatively small, but they are the toughest in the game. Koon has a breathtaking affinity for the specific demands of Triton. He repeatedly beats the best of the best.

Koon is also a regular in cash games at the highest stakes, where players need to be invited by the host. Koon's skills as a raconteur frequently permit him access. Though likely to be the most skilled player at the table, and a hot favorite to end any session in profit, his affable demeanor make him the kind of person you still want in the game.

KOON'S 12 TRITON TITLES

Montenegro 2025 – $30,000 PLO Bounty Quattro ($385,176 inc. bounties)

Montenegro 2025 – $150,000 NLH ($3,393,656)

Monte Carlo 2023 – $25,000 PLO ($365,000)

London 2023 – $60,000 NLH 7-Handed ($1,570,000)

London 2023 – $60,000 Short Deck Main Event ($828,000)

North Cyprus 2023 – $20,000 NLH 7-Handed ($663,000)

North Cyprus 2023 – $100,000 NLH Main Event ($2,451,082)

Vietnam 2023 – 50,000 NLH Turbo (574,000)

Madrid 2022 – €150,000 Short Deck One Bullet (€1,750,000)

Jeju (South Korea) 2019 – HK$ 1 million Short Deck ($2,899,000)

Jeju (South Korea) 2019 – HK$ 1 million NLH Refresh ($993,221)

Montenegro 2018 – HK$ 1 million Short Deck ($3,579,836)

Jason Koon has been collecting Triton titles for close to a decade

A TRUE AMBASSADOR

Jason Koon's role at Triton Poker extends far further than even his record-breaking exploits at the tables. Early in 2019, Koon became an official Triton Poker ambassador: one of poker's great communicators, he was a natural fit to help introduce Triton to potential players from across the world, and to make them feel welcome on their arrival.

Koon's love for poker is second to none, and his enthusiasm for the game is clear. He is a great conversationalist, always eager to promote a relaxed and convivial atmosphere at the tables, underlining poker's unique social aspects. 

He is, furthermore, an archetype of the successful, modern poker pro: he obsesses over fitness and diet, understanding the extraordinary physical demands of the contemporary game. Similarly, he studies prodigiously, corresponding and conversing with peers and utilizing the tools of the modern era to bring general poker skills to ever greater heights.

Koon is uniquely articulate in discussing both the technical and the lifestyle aspects of poker. He is honest and insightful, and remains a sought-after interviewee for all media outlets. There is simply nobody else in world poker who is so adept at all the skills required of a contemporary poker superstar.

Jason Koon is the leading light of the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series

FITTING THE BILL

In short, there are no stronger candidates than Koon for the Poker Hall of Fame. One by one, the criteria — and Koon's surpassing of them — are as follows: 

High Stakes Experience: Having played and proven themselves at the high stakes

Koon has by far the most titles of anyone on the most prestigious poker series in the world. His 12 wins may never be matched. Furthermore, his two World Series bracelets came in a $50K NLH event and the $25K Heads Up, widely considered among the toughest at the WSOP.

Respected by Peers: Held in high regard by fellow poker players and having faced acknowledged top competition at the poker table

Koon is the leading light of the Triton Poker Series who regularly competes against, and beats, the world's elite in both tournaments and cash games.

Consistent Excellence: Played consistently well, earning the respect of peers

Koon's first documented tournament cash came in 2008. Since then, he has won $77 million in live tournaments and sits third on poker's all time money list. He was the ninth highest earned globally in 2025, and the third in both 2022 and 2023. 

Legacy That Lasts: Withstanding the test of time and achieving longevity in poker

Koon's achievements, even prior to his 40th birthday, will undoubtedly secure him a place on the list of poker's finest ever players. He has played more than perhaps anyone else on the high-stakes circuit, with a work ethic that is second to none. The fruits of Koon's labor are plain to see. But even more significantly, he is a role model to numerous professional players who have entered the game over the past decade, as well as being an invaluable conduit for high-rolling recreational players to join the organized tournament scene.

Age of Experience: at least 40 years of age at the time of nomination

Jason Koon was born on August 14, 1985. He is now 40 years old.

CLICK TO NOMINATE JASON KOON FOR THE POKER HALL OF FAME