Jason Mercier

Jason Mercier was born on November 12, 1986, in Hollywood, Florida, and grew up in Port Charlotte. He first played poker in high school with friends and began taking the game seriously in college, where he initially studied 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, earning €869,000 ($1,372,893). In 2009, he was named Bluff Magazine Player of the Year.

European Poker Tour

Mercier won his first major title at the EPT Sanremo in 2008, defeating a final table that included Dario Minieri (3rd) and William Thorson (6th). Later that year, he won the £20,000 EPT London High Roller event (the "£1 Million Showdown"), taking home £516,000 ($944,847); the final table included John Juanda (runner-up), Mike Watson, Isaac Haxton, Scotty Nguyen, David Benyamine, and Isabelle Mercier. In 2008, he also finished 6th in the EPT Barcelona Main Event for €227,800. In May 2013, he was 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, with 17 final tables and 58 money finishes (as of 2016). His best WSOP Main Event finish was 463rd in 2010. His bracelets are:

• 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, he had an extraordinary run: winning two bracelets and a runner-up finish in an eight-day span, along with 11 cashes and four final tables, earning him the WSOP Player of the Year title. Also in 2016, he proposed to his now-wife Natasha at a WSOP final table after she was eliminated.

North American Poker Tour

Mercier won the NAPT Mohegan Sun $25,000 Bounty Shootout in 2010 for $475,000, beating a final table that included Sam Stein and Faraz Jaka. He repeated as champion in 2011, winning $246,600.

Online Success

Mercier has two World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) titles: Event 42 in 2010 ($1,050 No-Limit Hold'em, $435,862) and Event 64 in 2012 ($10,300 8-Game High-Roller, $253,425). He also has multiple Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) titles.

Mercier is known for an aggressive, well-balanced approach. He excels in deep-stacked play and adjusts effectively to short stacks. His decision-making relies on mathematical analysis and opponent tendencies, enabling large bluffs and tough folds. He has been described as a "balanced attacker" who leverages position and post-flop pressure.

Mercier married Natasha Mercier, also a poker player, in 2016; the couple have two children. In 2018, he stepped down as a member of Team PokerStars Pro after eight and a half years, citing a desire to spend more time with 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 (ranking 54th all-time) and holds a record 84 weeks at number one on the Global Poker Index. He was also ranked number one in the world by ESPN.

In 2023, Mercier won his sixth WSOP bracelet in Event #60: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw, defeating a final table that included Erik Seidel. He cashed four times at the 2024 WSOP, demonstrating his continued competitiveness. As of 2025, his live earnings exceed $21.2 million.

Mercier is regarded as one of the top American players of his generation. His 84-week reign at #1 on the GPI is a record, and his six WSOP bracelets place him among the most decorated active players. He is on track for potential Poker Hall of Fame consideration when eligible in 2027.

Mercier has cashed nine times on the World Poker Tour (WPT) but has not made any final table or won a title.

As of 2025, Mercier's live tournament earnings exceed $21.2 million, ranking 54th on the all-time money list. His best live cash is $1,622,181. He has 79 WSOP cashes totaling $5,582,599 in WSOP earnings.

After retiring from full-time poker in 2018, Mercier still plays a few bracelet events each year. He cashed 11 times at the WSOP in 2017 and four times in 2018, and continues to record cashes at the series.