PokerNews catches Jason Koon just before he busts the Big One for One Drop. Jason Koon has cashed for over $11 million since August 2017. What has he changed about his game? Is he grinding away online? What is the secret to improving his game? Jason discusses how he balances poker and his life outside of poker while still remaining one of the best poker players in the world.
Steffen Sontheimer raised to 400,000 on the button and Dan Smith in the small blind three-bet all in for 7.32 million. Sontheimer asked for a count on Smith's jam and called all in for 5.9 million.
Steffen Sontheimer:
Dan Smith:
The flop gave Sontheimer even more outs with the gutshot and counterfeit option, while the turn changed nothing. A blank fell on the river and Sontheimer was eliminated in 14th place.
In the next hand at the secondary table, Justin Bonomo opened to 340,000 from under the gun and Jason Koon shipped all in for 3,350,000 on his left. The action folded back around to Bonomo who quickly made the call.
Justin Bonomo:
Jason Koon:
Koon was in a bit more trouble this time holding an underpair against Bonomo. The board ran out and Bonomo's set of queens eliminated Koon from the tournament.
Jason Koon moved all in for 1,520,000 in middle position and David Einhorn called in the small blind. The big blind folded and the two hands were tabled with Koon at risk.
Jason Koon:
David Einhorn:
It was a coin flip with Koon needing to hold to stay alive. The flop came and Einhorn took the lead with a pair of kings. The turn was the giving Koon a straight draw and the on the river was just what he was looking for. Koon's straight earned him a double up at the hands of the chipleader.
Cary Katz made it 350,000 to go from the hijack and Dan Smith defended the big blind. The flop came and both players checked. Smith led the turn for 350,000 and picked up a call from Katz before betting the river for 700,000. Katz was not willing to pay that and the pot was shipped to Smith.
Christoph Vogelsang's raise to 360,000 in the hijack was called by Steffen Sontheimer in the big blind and they headed to a flop. Sontheimer checked and Vogelsang placed a continuation bet worth 275,000, Sontheimer called. The followed on the turn and Sontheimer checked nearly instantly, Vogelsang checked behind.
The river prompted a bet worth 1.25 million by Sontheimer and that avoided a showdown, as Vogelsang tossed his cards into the muck.
David Einhorn raised to 500,000 from the hijack and Phil Ivey called from the cutoff. They went heads-up to a flop of and Einhorn continued for another 500,000. Ivey called and the landed on the turn.
Both players checked and the completed the board. Einhorn led out for another 1,300,000 and Ivey went into the tank for nearly two minutes. He eventually made the call and Einhorn turned over . Ivey wasn't able to beat it as his cards went sailing to the muck.
Steffen Sontheimer made it 375,000 to go from the hijack and fellow German High Roller regular Christoph Vogelsang three-bet to 1.35 million in the small blind, Sontheimer called. The flop brought and Vogelsang checked, Sontheimer checked back.
The turn was the and Vogelsang bet 1.1 million, Sontheimer folded instantly.
Cary Katz raised to 330,000 and Dan Smith called out of the big blind. The flop came and Smith checked, Katz continued for 600,000. Smith folded and Katz claimed the pot.
Smith limped in from the small blind the next hand and Fedor Holz checked in the big blind. On the flop, Smith bet 160,000 and Holz raised it up to 410,000. Smith sent his cards into the muck and forfeited the second pot in a row.
Steffen Sontheimer made it 380,000 to go in the cutoff and Christoph Vogelsang called in the big blind. The flop fell and Vogelsang check-called a bet of 250,000. The followed on the turn and both players opted to check. The river triggered a bet of 450,000 by Vogelsang and he was called to show for sevens and sixes to win the pot.
Jason Koon was one of the shorter stacks in the room and opened to 325,000 in the hijack. Rick Salomon flat-called on the button and both of the blinds, Byron Kaverman and David Einhorn came along as well.
On a flop of , the action checked to Koon who continued for 350,000. Only Kaverman called as the paired the board on the turn. Kaverman led out for 500,000 and Koon quickly disposed of his cards, falling below 15 big blinds.