Jason Mercier

Jason Mercier was born on November 12, 1986, in Hollywood, Florida. He first played poker in high school and began taking the game seriously in college, initially studying to become a math teacher. He started playing online under the alias "treysfull21," focusing on cash games before transitioning to tournaments. His breakout came in 2008 when he won the European Poker Tour (EPT) Sanremo Main Event after satelliting in on PokerStars.

European Poker Tour

Mercier won his first major title at the EPT Sanremo in 2008, earning €869,000 ($1,372,893) after defeating a final table that included Dario Minieri and William Thorson. Later that year, he won the £20,000 EPT London High Roller event (the "£1 Million Showdown"), taking home £516,000 ($944,847). In May 2013, he finished runner-up in the €100,000 EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final for $1,462,964.

World Series of Poker

Mercier has won six WSOP bracelets:

• 2009: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed ($237,462)
• 2011: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed ($619,575)
• 2015: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed ($633,357)
• 2016: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship ($273,335)
• 2016: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship ($422,874)
• 2023: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw ($151,276)

In 2016, Mercier had an extraordinary run, winning two bracelets and a runner-up finish in an eight-day span, which earned him the WSOP Player of the Year title. He also cashed 11 times at the 2016 WSOP, making four final tables.

Other Major Wins

• NAPT Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout: Won in 2010 ($475,000) and again in 2011 ($246,600).
• World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP): Won Event 42 in 2010 ($435,862) and Event 64 in 2012 ($253,425).

Mercier is known for his aggressive, well-balanced approach. He excels in deep-stacked play and is adept at adjusting to short stacks. His decision-making is rooted in mathematical analysis and opponent tendencies, allowing him to make both large bluffs and tough folds. He has been described as a "balanced attacker" who uses position and post-flop pressure effectively.

Mercier married Natasha Mercier (also a poker player) in 2016, proposing to her at a WSOP final table. The couple have two children. In 2018, Mercier stepped down as a member of Team PokerStars Pro after nearly nine years, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. He officially retired from full-time poker but continues to play select events, including cashes at the 2024 WSOP. He has accumulated over $21 million in live tournament earnings and holds a record 84 weeks at number one on the Global Poker Index.