Jason Koon Reflects on His Poker Journey and PokerStars EPT Barcelona 2025

Jason Koon had a successful run at PokerStars EPT Barcelona 2025, finishing second in the PLO €25K High Roller tournament and cashing in two out of the three tournaments he played. He didn’t play every event on the schedule but still managed to have a profitable time.

Koon joined PokerStars in November 2024, a decision that surprised many given his independent nature and past roles with other poker platforms. He reconnected with old friends at PokerStars, which reignited his excitement for the brand. “They just got me really excited to be here,” Koon said. “And there’s a nostalgia factor too. I made my account 20 years ago—actually 20 years ago, it’s insane. I still remember the way I felt logging into PokerStars. Some of the biggest breaks I had in college were on PokerStars. They kind of rocketed my career to where it was. So to go full circle and come back and join the team that got me started, it really was a nostalgic dream.”

Koon’s work at PokerStars includes game integrity, a role he sees as a natural fit due to his statistical background and deep understanding of poker. He also shared a memorable story from Macau, where a player named Trueteller invited him to stay for a high-stakes game that turned out to be one of the best he's ever played. “I was in over my head in that game to begin with, but I grew to really like him,” Koon recalled. “The game was breaking, and he looked at me and said, ‘Hey, stick around for another hour. I think something good might happen.’ So it was three in the morning and I was playing three-handed with him and a Norwegian kid, both really great players. And I was like, guys, I really don’t want to be playing this game much longer, I’m not doing good in this game. And he said, ‘Just trust me.’” About 30 minutes later, a guy walked in with a posse of people carrying duffel bags of Hong Kong dollars. They started emptying out the duffel bags of cash at the cage, he gets chips, and he sits down. And we played one of the best poker games I’ve ever played in my life. And Trueteller gave me a wink and a nod. I’m forever grateful for that one.”