Few players in the world have had as lucrative a start to a live poker career as Jason Mercier. Originally from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, Mercier, like so many of his peers, was first turned on to poker by Chris Moneymaker and his big score at the 2003 World Series. Jason originally wanted to be a Math teacher, but thanks to Moneymaker and the opportunity to rack up the hours online at college, he decided to make a living through poker.
Jason chose PokerStars as his site and started to learn the game, putting in the hard work and hundreds of thousands of online hands that are so vital to the start of a successful career. In 2007, Jason was the 16th PokerStars player to reach Supernova Elite VIP status – perfect reward for his huge dedication.
Things took off for Jason during Season 4 of the European Poker Tour, with his first major win coming at the San Remo event in April 2008. He beat a field of 700 of the world’s best players, including two other Team PokerStars Pros at the final table, to win the title and take down $1,372,893 in first place prize money. Following that breakthrough win, the Floridian went on one almighty tear. First, he cashed three times at the 2008 WSOP*, before final tabling both Season 5 EPT Barcelona and the Pot Limit Omaha event at the World Series of Poker* Europe in London. He then won the High Roller Event at EPT London, good for $944,847, before focusing his attentions on Las Vegas, with a string of cashes at prestigious tournament in the early part of 2009.
Next up was the 2009 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He joined the elite group of players who have won both EPT titles and World Series bracelets when he won Event 5, the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha, good for $237,462. And he wasn’t done there, making three further cashes, including a fourth place at the 2009 WSOPE* Main Event, taking his career winnings ever upwards and putting him in the top 100 money earners of all time. Not bad for a guy that had only been playing the circuit a year.
Away from poker, Jason loves sports – he coached high school basketball and shoots hoops with friends whenever he can find the time. He also likes going to the beach and relaxing with family. Becoming a Team PokerStars Pro is great honor for Jason, and he believes it cements his place as one of the world’s top professional poker players – and with results like his, it’s hard to disagree.
Career Highlights
| Event | Date | Position | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPT San Remo €4,700 No Limit Hold’em | April 2008 | 1st | $1,372,893 |
| EPT Barcelona €8,000 No Limit Hold’em | September 2008 | 6th | $324,946 |
| 2008 WSOPE £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | September 2008 | 8th | $48,763 |
| EPT London £20,000 High Roller Event | October 2008 | 1st | $944,847 |
| 2009 LA Poker Classic $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | February 2009 | 1st | $35,577 |
| 2009 LA Poker Classic $5,000 No Limit Hold’em | February 2009 | 4th | $71,392 |
| 2009 Wynn Classic $1,000 No Limit Hold’em | March 2009 | 1st | $81,480 |
| 2009 WSOP $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | June 2009 | 1st | $237,462 |
| 2009 WSOP $10,000 World Championship Heads-Up | June 2009 | 16th | $38,424 |
| 2009 WSOPE £10,000 No Limit Hold´em Main Event | October 2009 | 4th | $425,158 |
| EPT London £2,500 No Limit Hold'em | October 2009 | 1st | $185,000 |
| NAPT Mohegan Sun $25,000 Bounty Shootout | April 2010 | 1st | $475,000 |
| PokerStars WCOOP $1,050 No Limit Hold’em | September 2010 | 1st | $435,862 |
| NAPT Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout | April 2011 | 1st | $246,600 |
| EPT Madrid Grand Final Champion of Champions | May 2011 | 1st | €50,000 |
| 2011 WSOP $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha 6-Max | June 2011 | 1st | $619,575 |
| Epic Poker League Event 1 - Main Event | August 2011 | 3rd | $360,970 |
