Jason Koon Joins Poker Hall of Fame With First-Ballot Selection

By Mrinal Gujare

2 hours ago

Mrinal Gujare 2 hours ago

Share this article

Jason Koon is the only inductee for the Poker Hall of Fame 2026, in his first eligible year.
He earned 22 of 33 votes from living Hall members, outpacing a strong finalist field.
Koon ranks third on all-time earnings with $77M+ and holds multiple major titles.

Image by WSOP

Jason Koon has been inducted into the 2026 Poker Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The two-time WSOP bracelet winner earned the required two-thirds majority, becoming the lone inductee after building a career featuring more than $77 million in live earnings.

Two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Jason Koon has been inducted into the 2026 Poker Hall of Fame, becoming the only player selected in this year's class.

The West Virginia native earned one of poker's highest individual honors after receiving the required two-thirds majority from the Hall's living members during his first year of eligibility.

Koon secured the necessary 22 votes from the 33 living inductees, making him the sole candidate to meet the threshold under the Poker Hall of Fame's revised voting format for 2026.

Koon became eligible for nomination after turning 40, meeting the Poker Hall of Fame's minimum age requirement.

Despite appearing on the ballot for the first time, his long list of accomplishments made him one of the most accomplished candidates in the field.

The Poker Hall of Fame introduced a new voting system for 2026 that allowed multiple nominees to be inducted if they received support from at least two-thirds of the Hall's living members.

Although the revised process created the possibility of multiple inductees, Koon was the only finalist to receive the required 22 votes.

Jason Koon Earns First-Ballot Hall of Fame Recognition

The 2026 ballot featured eight finalists, making Koon's first-ballot selection a notable achievement among an accomplished group of candidates.

Koon's induction reflects a career marked by sustained success in the highest buy-in tournaments around the world.

With more than $77 million in live tournament earnings, he currently ranks third on poker's all-time money list.

His résumé includes 12 Triton Poker titles and two WSOP bracelets, achievements that place him among the most accomplished players of the modern high-stakes era. Koon first discovered poker while attending West Virginia Wesleyan College during his collegiate years.

After transitioning from college athletics to professional poker, he established himself as a successful online player before building an even stronger record on the live tournament circuit.

Throughout his career, Koon has demonstrated consistent results across several poker variants rather than excelling in a single discipline.

Alongside his achievements in No-Limit Hold'em, he has also compiled an impressive record in Short Deck and Pot-Limit Omaha.

His ability to compete successfully against elite fields across multiple formats has remained a defining feature of his professional career.

Join Stake Poker with code NEWBONUSClaim a deposit bonus of $3000REGISTER HERE!

Joining the Game's Greatest Players

The Poker Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose careers have made a lasting impact on the game, and Koon's induction reflects his place among poker's most accomplished competitors.

His career has spanned the evolution from the online poker boom to today's global super high-roller circuit, where the world's top professionals regularly compete in the largest buy-in events.

With more than $77 million in live tournament winnings, a third-place position on poker's all-time money list, 12 Triton Poker titles, and two WSOP bracelets, Jason Koon has assembled one of the strongest résumés in contemporary poker.

His induction was further distinguished by the voting outcome. Among eight finalists, Koon was the only candidate to secure the required two-thirds majority, becoming the lone member of the 2026 Poker Hall of Fame class in his first year of eligibility.

For Koon, the induction marks another milestone in a career that has consistently produced results at the highest level and now secures his place alongside the players who have shaped poker's history.

News Koon Makes PHOF