Jason Koon Wins 2016 SHRPO Championship For $1 Million

Jason Koon
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  • PG News August 18, 2016
  • 2 Minutes Read

The 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO) partnered with Poker Night in America for the second year again, which saw four final tables being live streamed simultaneously. Chief among those was the $5,250 SHRPO Championship, which was taken down by West Virginia’s Jason Koon (cover image) for a whopping top prize of $1,000,000. The win is the largest of Koon’s career and he now has live tournament cashes amounting to $5,233,339.

Later talking about the win, Koon added that it was “something that I reminded myself to burn into my brain, so on rough days I can think about this awesome day.”

The four-day event began on Saturday, August 13 with players allotted starting chips of 30,000 and 60-minute blind levels, with one reentry allowed until the end of level 9. The event drew 853 runners leading to a massive overlay of $765,000, against the guaranteed $500,000 that saw the top 150 finishers cash a minimum of $7,500.

Bubble boy tag fell to Ben Eilers when his failed to catch up against Zo Karim’s and Eilers exited at 151st place. After the exit of Corey Hochman, busted by Koon at 10th place for $50,000 it was time for the official final table.

 

Final Table Recap

It took a full two hours for the first final table elimination, which turned out to be Zo Karim, who moved allin with . Koon called with and got a stronger pair with a king on the river and Karim exited at ninth place.

Ryan Fair and Paul Balzano followed at eighth and seventh places, respectively. Koon then mortally crippled Joseph Serock’s stack and he fell at sixth place.

Thereafter Seth Davies took back-to-back eliminations, busting Thomas Midena at fifth place and Roman Valerstein at fourth.

Three-handed play continued for a while until Tim Burton’s were overpowered by Koon’s on a board that ran , sending Burton to the rails at third place.

Heads up began between Koon and Davies, both close friend and former roommates. Koon had a very small advantage going in, and though Davies put up a valiant fight, Koon kept chipping up until he had a 6 to 1 lead.

On the 38th hand of heads up play, Davies moved all in with . Koon called with and the board sent out , to crown him champion!

Davies made a second place for $575,000 and paying tribute to his friend said, “Jason is very much a mentor to me in poker, and in life. […] I’ve learned so much from him, just about how to grow as a person and as a poker player.

Final Table Results

1. Jason Koon – $1,000,000

2. Seth Davies – $575,000

3. Timothy Burt – $310,000

4. Roman Valerstein – $220,000

5. Thomas Midena – $180,000

6. Joseph Serock – $150,000

7. Paul Balzano – $125,000

8. Ryan Fair – $100,000

9. Zohair Karim – $75,000

Cover Image and Content Courtesy: SHRPO

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