Jason Mercier: Biography, Career and Poker Results

October 30, 2026

Table of Contents

Jason Mercier is an American professional poker player from Florida who won the European Poker Tour San Remo Main Event in 2008 as an online qualifier and went on to win six World Series of Poker bracelets. He was the 2016 WSOP Player of the Year, spent more than eight years as a Team PokerStars Pro and has recorded more than $22 million in live tournament earnings. ^[1][15][18]

Jason Mercier, American poker player, at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in 2018 — Photo: World Poker Tour, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

Jason Mercier: key facts

Full name	Jason Mercier
Country	United States ^[1]
Born	November 12, 1986, Fort Lauderdale, Florida ^[3][12]
Known for	2008 EPT San Remo champion; six WSOP bracelets; 2016 WSOP Player of the Year ^[1][15]
WSOP bracelets	6 (117 cashes and 32 final tables on WSOP.com) ^[2]
Best result	1st, 2008 EPT San Remo Main Event, €869,000 ($1,340,867) ^[5][6]
Poker Hall of Fame	Not inducted; eligible from 2027 according to PokerNews ^[1]
Live tournament earnings	$22,111,835 as of October 27, 2026 ^[1]

Early life: from math student to online grinder

Mercier was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 12, 1986. ^[3][12] According to PokerNews, he was certain he would become a math teacher and was studying to become one when poker took over. He first played in weekend games with friends in high school, then discovered online poker in college. ^[1][4]

Beginning in poker

He started with small buy-in online tournaments and then made a living from No-Limit Hold’em cash games, multitabling $2/4 and $3/6 games under the screen name “treysfull21”. He eventually left college to play online full time. “I knew what I was getting into when I dropped out,” he told EPT presenter Kara Scott. ^[4]

His breakthrough came in April 2008 at EPT San Remo, a €5,000 event he reached through a PokerStars online qualifier. Card Player reported that it was only his second live tournament. ^[5] PokerStars signed him in 2009, when he was 22. ^[18]

Playing style

Mercier first made his name in No-Limit Hold’em, and a 2008 PokerNews profile described him as a player who “can school you at no-limit hold’em”. ^[4] His first two bracelets came in Pot-Limit Omaha, and his later WSOP titles came in Deuce-to-Seven lowball and H.O.R.S.E. His WSOP record also includes second place in the $10,000 Razz Championship and third in the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw. ^[1][14]

His own description of his approach, given after his second bracelet in 2011, put the emphasis on giving himself chances rather than on results: “Winning is not expected. Putting myself in a position to win is always expected.” ^[10]

Greatest achievements

EPT San Remo 2008 and the “hero call”

The 2008 EPT San Remo Main Event drew 701 players. ^[5] At the final table Mercier made the hand he is best known for: holding nine-five for bottom pair on a 5-J-6-8-8 board, he called an all-in from Eric Koskas, who was bluffing with ten-high. In June 2013 a panel of poker media judging 22 hands voted it, under the title “The One Where Jason Mercier Arrives”, the greatest hand in PokerStars history. ^[7] He then beat Anthony Lellouche heads-up when his king-queen held against pocket sevens, winning €869,000 ($1,340,867). ^[5][6]

Six months later he won the £20,000 High Roller of the EPT London £1 Million Showdown, an 85-player field, for £516,000. On the final hand his king-queen made a straight against John Juanda’s ace-jack. ^[8]

Six WSOP bracelets

His first bracelet came in Event #5, $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha, in 2009, when he beat Steven Burkholder heads-up for $237,415. ^[9] Two years later he won the first six-handed Pot-Limit Omaha event in WSOP history, a $5,000 tournament with 507 entries, for $619,575. ^[10] In 2015 he won his first No-Limit Hold’em bracelet in the $5,000 Six-Max, a 550-entry field, for $633,357, after telling WSOP.com he had been “busting every tournament” earlier that summer. ^[11]

After a seven-year gap he won his sixth bracelet in 2023 in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw, beating 548 entries for $151,276. Card Player noted that he was then one of 21 players with six or more bracelets. ^[17]

The 2016 WSOP and Player of the Year

Before the 2016 series Mercier had a widely reported side bet with Vanessa Selbst: $10,000 at 180 to 1 that he would win three bracelets that summer, which would have paid $1.8 million. ^[16] He won Event #16, the $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball Championship (100 entries), for $273,335 and his fourth bracelet. ^[12] He then reached heads-up in the $10,000 Razz Championship and finished second to Ray Dehkharghani for $168,936. ^[14] Days later he won Event #24, the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship, against 171 players for $422,874. ^[13] Selbst bought out or hedged the bet before he could win a third bracelet, and PokerNews reported that Fedor Holz lost $200,000 on a separate side bet when Mercier won his first bracelet of the summer. ^[16]

With two bracelets, four final tables and 11 cashes, he was named 2016 WSOP Player of the Year, with Paul Volpe his closest challenger. ^[15]

Selected tournament results

Year	Event	Result	Prize	Source
2008	EPT San Remo €5,000 Main Event (701 players)	1st	€869,000 ($1,340,867)	[5]
2013	EPT Grand Final €100,000 Super High Roller	2nd	€1,115,700	[20]
2008	EPT London £1 Million Showdown, £20,000 High Roller (85 players)	1st	£516,000	[8]
2015	WSOP $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max (550 entries)	1st	$633,357	[11]
2011	WSOP Event #35, $5,000 Six-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha (507 entries)	1st	$619,575	[10]
2010	NAPT Mohegan Sun High Roller Bounty Shootout	1st	$450,000	[1]
2016	WSOP Event #24, $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (171 players)	1st	$422,874	[13]
2011	Epic Poker League Main Event	3rd	$360,970	[1]
2016	WSOP Event #16, $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball Championship (100 entries)	1st	$273,335	[12]
2009	WSOP Event #5, $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha	1st	$237,415	[9]
2026	WSOP Event #60, $50,000 Poker Players Championship (108 entries)	7th	$176,732	[2]
2016	WSOP $10,000 Razz Championship	2nd	$168,936	[14]
2024	WSOP Event #29, $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw	3rd	$151,412	[1]
2023	WSOP Event #60, $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw (548 entries)	1st	$151,276	[17]
2025	WSOP Event #55, $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (207 entries)	4th	$144,965	[2]

World Series of Poker record

His WSOP.com profile lists six bracelets, 117 cashes, 32 final tables and $9,101,200 in earnings. ^[2] He has not won the $10,000 Main Event; his recorded cashes in it include 940th in 2023 and 707th of 9,735 entries in 2025. ^[1][2]

Rankings, Hall of Fame and records

Mercier first reached No. 1 in the Global Poker Index for the week of August 15, 2011, after finishing third in the inaugural Epic Poker League Main Event. ^[19] PokerListings credits him with the record for most weeks at No. 1 on the index, 84. ^[3] At the end of 2016 PokerNews reported that he led Florida’s all-time money list with $16.7 million in live earnings. ^[16]

He is not a member of the Poker Hall of Fame; PokerNews notes that he becomes eligible in 2027. ^[1]

Team PokerStars and a reduced schedule

On January 8, 2018, Mercier announced that he was stepping down as a PokerStars Team Pro, describing it as “the end of my relationship with PokerStars, and the end of my full time travel schedule”. He said he was not retiring, and added: “as of now I plan to go to Las Vegas for the WSOP this summer.” ^[18] PokerNews describes him as no longer playing full time but still entering a few WSOP bracelet events each year, and his recent results include 4th in the 2025 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship and 7th in the 2026 $50,000 Poker Players Championship. ^[1][2]

In his own words

“I’m either flipping or I have two live cards.” Before calling John Juanda’s all-in, EPT London, 2008. ^[8]
“It feels awesome to win a second WSOP gold bracelet, especially in PLO.” WSOP.com, 2011. ^[10]
“I expect to make deep runs, and eventually win some tournaments.” WSOP.com, 2011. ^[10]
“It feels really good just to go deep, make the final table, and to win is just the cherry on top.” WSOP.com, 2015. ^[11]
“The first one you get is always the most special.” On his bracelets, WSOP.com, 2016. ^[12]
“But I think it helps me be even more focused.” After finishing second in the 2016 Razz Championship, PokerNews. ^[14]
“I am honored to receive this award.” On the 2016 WSOP Player of the Year title, Pokerfuse. ^[15]

Iconic hands and moments

Jason Mercier: top moments (PokerStars)

FAQ about Jason Mercier

How old is Jason Mercier?

Jason Mercier was born on November 12, 1986, so he is 39 as of October 27, 2026, and turns 40 in November 2026. ^[3]

Where is Jason Mercier from?

He is American and was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2016 WSOP.com listed his residence as Hollywood, Florida. ^[1][12]

What is Jason Mercier’s net worth?

There is no reliable public figure for his net worth. What can be verified is his live tournament record: $22,111,835 in earnings as of October 27, 2026, according to PokerNews. Sponsorship income and cash game results are not published. ^[1]

How many WSOP bracelets does Jason Mercier have?

Six: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (2009), $5,000 Six-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha (2011), $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max (2015), the $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball Championship and the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (both 2016), and $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw (2023). ^[1][2]

Has Jason Mercier won the WSOP Main Event?

No. His recorded Main Event cashes include 940th in 2023 and 707th in 2025. His biggest main event title is the 2008 EPT San Remo Main Event. ^[1][5]

Is Jason Mercier in the Poker Hall of Fame?

No. According to PokerNews he becomes eligible in 2027. ^[1]

What was the Jason Mercier bracelet bet?

Before the 2016 WSOP, Vanessa Selbst bet Mercier $10,000 at 180 to 1 that he would win three bracelets that summer. He won two and finished second in a third event, and Selbst bought out or hedged the bet before he could win a third. ^[16]

Is Jason Mercier still a PokerStars pro?

No. He signed with PokerStars in 2009 and stepped down as a Team Pro in January 2018. ^[18]

What was Jason Mercier’s screen name?

He played online cash games as “treysfull21”. ^[4]