The selection of Jason Koon
The American, considered by many as the strongest candidate of this generation, was announced as the new Hall of Fame member ahead of the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event. No one disputed that he deserved the recognition. What did surprise was that he was the only one chosen.
This year a new mechanism was implemented with the intention of allowing more than one player to enter. To be inducted, a candidate needed to gather at least 22 votes from the 33 members with voting rights. If no one reached that number, only the highest voted would enter.
Koon barely crossed the line. He obtained 23 votes, just one more than the minimum required, while Scott Seiver
The surprise and self-criticism from Koon
“I was having lunch with my wife when I received the call from the WSOP boss, Ty Stewart
The new Hall of Fame member admitted he is still surprised by the result. “I’m still in shock. It’s an incredible honor, but some of the players who were eligible this year are heroes and mentors to me. They will be on my ballot when it’s my turn to vote next year.”
Among those who were absolutely clear was Phil Ivey
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“My eyes filled with tears. Several called to congratulate me, but when Ivey called me it was different. He said: ‘You were the only player I voted for.’ That hit me very hard.”
Paradoxically, while Ivey placed all his trust in him, 10 Hall of Fame members decided not to include Koon on their ballots, a fact that surprises considering he was seen almost as a sure choice.
Koon Alongside Phil Ivey.
Beyond the numbers
Koon took the opportunity to recall the enormous sacrifice behind a career that today places him third on the all-time earnings list, with more than 77 million dollars in prizes and a record 12 Triton Poker titles.
“When I met my wife twelve years ago, everything changed. I understood that if I wanted to reach the top, I had to seek every little advantage possible. My closest friends know what it meant to play 19 hours straight on the computer even while trying to take a shower, or to lose seven kilos over months playing live tournaments. Many people think poker is glamorous, but much of this game consists of working, enduring, and moving forward.”
That effort also left him with a lesson he carries with him to this day. Koon recalled a conversation with Phil Ivey during one of the best streaks of his career.
“I was walking with Phil after winning a big tournament. Without me saying a word, he touched my shoulder and simply said: ‘Receive it all with humility.’ It’s a phrase I never forgot.”
Koon’s words reflect the spirit with which he received the highest recognition of his career. However, they also fuel a discussion that seems far from over. If the honoree himself considers that Scott Seiver, Shaun Deeb, and Isai Scheinberg should have entered alongside him, there remains the feeling that the Poker Hall of Fame once again rewarded one legend… but failed again to recognize several more.
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