This Week's Big Winner: Jason Koon Wins Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship

Jason Koon recently won the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $5,250 buy-in no-limit hold’em $5 million guaranteed championship event, outlasting a field of 847 entries to win his largest career title and the $1 million first-place prize.

In addition to the seven-figure payday Koon was awarded 1,824 _Card Player_ Player of the Year points. This was Koon’s second final-table finish of the year, with his other score being a title run in a $25,000 high roller at Bellagio this summer. He now sits in 38th place with 2,328 points and $1,514,080 in year-to-date earnings. Koon now has over $5.2 million in lifetime live tournaments earning.

Here are the five biggest hands from the final table that propelled Koon to the win.

Tournament: Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship
Buy-In: $5,000 • No. of Entries: 847 • Prize Pool: $5,000,000 • 1st Place Prize: $1,000,000

The Action

Jason Koon raised to 180,000 from the cutoff and Zo Karim moved all in behind him for 750,000. Koon felt priced in and made the call with K 10 and was pleased to see he had live cards against the A 7 of Karim. The flop of 8 6 2, however, made Karim an 87 percent favorite to double up according to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator. The Q on the turn had Koon drawing to just four outs, but the K on the river was just what he needed to come from behind. Karim picked up $75,000 for his ninth-place showing.

The Action

Roman Valerstein raised to 175,000 from the hijack and Jason Koon three-bet to 300,000 from the button. The action moved to Paul Balzano in the small blind and he four-bet to 875,000. Valerstein folded and Koon thought it over for a bit before moving all in. Balzano called all in for a total of 3,345,000 with pocket queens, but Koon had him in terrible shape with pocket kings. The board ran out 9 5 2 J 7 and Balzano busted in seventh place, taking home $125,000.

The Action

Jason Koon raised to 230,000 on the button and Joe Serock moved all in for his last 1,330,000 in the small blind. The big blind folded and Koon quickly called with A J, which had the A 2 of Serock dominated. Serock got some hope with a flop of J 7 4, improving his chance at a double up to 37 percent, but the turn and river fell 10 K to end his tournament run in sixth place. Serock pocketed $150,000 while Koon extended his chip lead.

The Action

With just three players remaining, Seth Davies raised to 450,000 on the button and Jason Koon called from the small blind. Tim Burt then squeezed all in from the big blind for his last 3,760,000. Davies folded, but Koon made the call with pocket tens and saw that he was ahead of Burt’s A 3. The board ran out Q 7 3 10 10, giving Koon quads and the winning hand. Burt was eliminated in third place, earning $310,000, while Koon took a slight chip lead into heads-up play.

The Action

Jason Koon raised to 900,000 on the button and Seth Davies moved all in for his last 7,450,000 from the big blind. Koon called quickly with A 8, which was just a 59 percent favorite to win against the Q J of Davies. The flop of A 7 3, however, gave Koon a stranglehold on the hand at 97 percent and Davies was left drawing dead by the 3 on the turn. The inconsequential river card was the 8, improving Koon to two pair. Davies was eliminated in second place, banking $575,000. Koon took home the title, the trophy and the $1,000,000 first-place prize.

Final Table Results

1. Jason Koon — $1,000,000
2. Seth Davies — $575,000
3. Tim Burt — $310,000
4. Roman Valerstein — $220,000
5. Thomas Midena — $180,000
6. Joe Serock — $150,000
7. Paul Balzano — $125,000
8. Ryan Fair — $100,000
9. Zo Karim — $75,000