poker

Jason Clarke Named First-Ever World Series of Poker ‘Main Event for Life’ Winner

Published

3 years ago

July 17, 2023

jason-clarke-named-first-ever-world-series-of-poker-‘main-event-for-life’-winner

Moments before cards hit the air for this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Final Table, the WSOP officially named Jason Clarke as its first-ever ‘Main Event for Life’ winner. In honor of this year’s Main Event making history as the largest event field on record, the WSOP selected Clarke at random out of 10,043 entrants to win complimentary entry into the Main Event for the next 30 years.

“I actually missed the first phone call about me winning,” Clarke said. “Although I was skeptical, I decided to call back and to my surprise, I found out I won. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and I am excited to see what the next 30 years has in store.”

About Jason Clarke

Born in North York, Canada, Clarke grew up in Brampton just outside of Toronto. While Clarke had always taken an interest in poker, playing casual games with childhood friends, he began to play professionally at the age of 25. Now, 17 years in and 15 WSOP tournaments later, he’s secured his spot in the Main Event for life.

On July 5, he won a $19,500 Daily Deep Stack tournament, which covered his $10,000 buy-in for what would be his first Main Event ever. Clarke busted in the Main Event before finishing in the money but plans on leveraging any winnings from his guaranteed seat over the next 30 years by donating 5% to various charitable initiatives.

When he’s not at the felt, Clarke spends his time as a real estate agent in Toronto and enjoys cheering on his favorite sports teams, the Buffalo Bills, Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs. Fans are encouraged to keep up with Clarke as he embarks on his 30-year Main Event journey on Instagram (@jasonclarke2021).

With all eyes on the Final Table for this year’s Main Event, the WSOP will crown the 2023 World Champion on Monday, July 17. For real-time WSOP Main Event coverage, please visit PokerNews .com https: //bit .ly/3uLIQdj.

Latest News

PokerStars Big Game on Tour returns May 17 with Koon, Deeb and Berkey

Published

4 days ago

May 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Season 3 runs weekly on PokerStars’ YouTube channel through June 14 and includes a $50,000 staked ‘Loose Cannon’ amateur spot.

PokerStars will launch a new run of PokerStars Big Game on Tour episodes on May 17, with Jason Koon, Shaun Deeb and Matt Berkey set to headline the line-up. The series will air on the PokerStars YouTube channel, with weekly episodes through June 14.

The cast for the new instalment also includes MMA fighter Sean O’Malley and high-stakes cash game player Randy ‘3Coin’ Sadler, according to the company. The episodes follow the Big Game format, featuring No Limit Hold’em cash game play.

PokerStars said the season’s ‘Loose Cannon’ will be Canadian operations manager Andy Taylor, who will be staked $50,000 and will keep any profit made at the table. The company described Taylor as running a property maintenance company and, with his wife, a non-for-profit organisation focused on supporting young athletes in Toronto.

A teaser for the new episodes aired during the livestream of the €100,000 High Rollers Invitational at PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo, which featured Koon. PokerStars noted Koon “took home €1,000,000” from the event.

Release schedule: May 17 (Episode 1), May 24 (Episode 2), May 31 (Episode 3), June 7 (Episode 4), and June 14 (Episode 5).

The post PokerStars Big Game on Tour returns May 17 with Koon, Deeb and Berkey appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

Jason Koon, Shaun Deeb, and Matt Berkey Headline New Instalment of PokerStars Big Game on Tour

Published

4 days ago

May 12, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

jason-koon,-shaun-deeb,-and-matt-berkey-headline-new-instalment-of-pokerstars-big-game-on-tour

Poker’s most thrilling televised cash game, PokerStars Big Game on Tour, will return on May 17 with a brand-new set of episodes featuring a stellar line-up headlined by PokerStars Ambassador and number three in the all-time poker money list Jason Koon, reigning two-time World Series of Poker Player of the Year Shaun Deeb, and American high-stakes poker pro and coach Matt Berkey.

MMA Fighter and poker enthusiast Sean O’Malley, and well-known high stakes cash game player and businessman Randy ‘3Coin’ Sadler complete the line-up, who will take to the felt against the ‘Loose Cannon’ to win big.

As always, each episode will showcase high stakes No Limit Hold’em cash game action in the beloved Big Game format, where one amateur player or ‘Loose Cannon’ is staked $50,000 and gets to keep any profit they make at the table.

Canadian Operations Manager Andy Taylor will shake up the felt as the ‘Loose Cannon’ hoping to beat the pros. Andy runs a property maintenance company as his main job and, alongside his wife, runs a non-for-profit organisation aimed at improving the skillset and mindset of young athletes across Toronto.

The teaser for the new Big Game episodes was aired during the live stream of the €100,000 High Rollers Invitational at PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo, featuring Big Game player Jason Koon. Koon took home €1,000,000 after topping a field of some of the best in the world.

The first Big Game episode will air on PokerStars YouTube channel on May 17, with new episodes airing weekly and culminating on June 14.

Sunday, May 17 – BGOT Season 3 Episode 1
Sunday, May 24 – BGOT Season 3 Episode 2
Sunday, May 31 – BGOT Season 3 Episode 3
Sunday, June 7 – BGOT Season 3 Episode 4
Sunday, June 14 – BGOT Season 3 Episode 5

The post Jason Koon, Shaun Deeb, and Matt Berkey Headline New Instalment of PokerStars Big Game on Tour appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

EPT

Roman Stoica wins EPT Monte Carlo Main Event for €825,000

Published

4 days ago

May 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

roman-stoica-wins-ept-monte-carlo-main-event-for-e825,000

Roman Stoica won the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo €5,300 Main Event, taking €825,000 after coming through a 1,011-entry field on the French Riviera. Stoica defeated Austria’s Bernhard Binder heads-up to secure the title.

Stoica, 31, is from St Petersburg in Russia. PokerStars said he became Russia’s ninth EPT winner and followed Aleksandr Shevliakov, named by the operator as the 2025 EPT Monte Carlo champion. “I’m very happy that I’ve become an EPT champion,” Stoica said. “This is the dream of every poker player. I’m feeling great – I just won €825,000, so how else can I feel! The secret to running as deep as I did is to play and practice as much as you can. It’s what brings you to the final table and to winning the tournament.”

The Main Event final table payouts listed by PokerStars were: Stoica (€825,000), Binder (€515,000), David Djian (€368,750), Samuel Ju (€283,550), Jose Malpelli (€218,300), Longmao Fan (€167,850), Raul Mestre (€129,050) and Oshri Lahmani (€99,450).

In the high-roller schedule, PokerStars said the festival’s €250,000 Super High Roller was the largest buy-in event ever held at a PokerStars-branded event. Alex Kulev won the tournament for €2,786,332, beating Bryn Kenney heads-up.

Elsewhere, the €100,000 High Roller for One Drop raised €228,000 for the One Drop Foundation, with PokerStars stating 3% of each €100,000 buy-in was donated. Albert Daher won €2,055,000 after defeating Stephen Chidwick heads-up. Jason Koon won a €100,000 Sit & Go Invitational for a winner-takes-all €1 million first prize, beating Chidwick in heads-up play.

PokerStars also reported movement in the PokerStars Live League standings after EPT Monte Carlo, with Juan Pardo leading the High leaderboard, Julien Sitbon leading Medium, and Danilo Donnini leading Low. A total of €157,500 in PokerStars LIVE credit is set to be awarded across the top three finishers in each leaderboard category, according to the operator.

The post Roman Stoica wins EPT Monte Carlo Main Event for €825,000 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.