Jack Black from the World Series of Art Poker, Jason Koon wins

A-list celebrities with a penchant for cards and creative things recently gathered in LA for a unique event called the World Series of Art Poker.

Jack Black was one of the celebrities who recently attended the World Series of Art Poker in LA. (Image: Flickr/ Picasa)

Organized by LA artist Jonas Wood and featuring the likes of Jack Black and Tobey Maguire, the $500 tournament is now in its third year. This time, on a vague date set to be “late February,” nearly 100 famous faces from Hollywood and the art world came forward in relative anonymity.

We speak of relative anonymity because, like many celebrity poker games, the World Series of Art Poker exudes a clandestine vibe. Not that the doors are closed and the windows are blacked out, but only a select few know about it. In fact, we don’t even know where it took place.

Vanity Fair unveils the World Series of Art Poker

Someone who had access to the event was Vanity Fair’s Nate Freeman. He reportedly mingled with the stars and caught everything from world-renowned artist Richard Price joining the action to Jack Black bursting the bubble.

Freeman also spoke to tournament organizer Jonas Wood about its origins. Woods explained that artists have been playing poker behind closed doors for years. However, when poker-mad celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio got wind of it, there was another game in town they wanted to play.

Jeweler Andrew Bunney’s World Series of Art Poker winner’s bracelet. (Picture: Bunny)

DiCaprio joined the game and was soon joined by Jack Black, Ellen DeGeneres and Bruno Mars. Also in the mix were billionaire art collectors Peter Brandt And Theo Niarchus. In Freeman’s words, the game began to “mimic the art world.”

The meeting of minds from different creative industries led to new relationships and collaborations. Wood took the opportunity to expand LA’s art scene by creating an official tournament. The World Series of Art Poker is now in its third year thriving.

Celebrities love poker

Of course, anyone who’s been around poker long enough knows that the odds were always in Wood’s favor. Molly Bloom famously lifted the lid on America’s richest celebrity games, and today more and more famous faces are speaking out.

Actress Jennifer Tilly is not only a regular at tournaments and cash games, she was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2022. Other famous poker fans include UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Vince Vaughn, all of whom have played at the WSOP.

There are many other prominent players, but none of them have won this year’s World Series of Art Poker. Indeed, the winner’s bracelet, that was designed by Andrew BunneyShe didn’t even go to an artist. It went to Jason Koon.

As one of the few poker pros invited to the semi-secret game, Koon did what he does best and blew his way through the competition. He even sent Jack Black to the bubble.

The win won’t make it to Koon’s Hendon Mob side, but we doubt it’ll bother him too much. The West Virginia man is now part of a middle-class world teeming with artists and celebrities, and it’s all thanks to poker.

Written by

Daniel Schmidt

Dan Smyth is a fellow in the poker media who politely reminds CardsChat readers that poker is played all over the world, not just in America.