The poker community received sad news this week when word surfaced that Jason “Clozer” Kapoor, a well-known player from both the Michigan poker community and the Midwest circuit, ended his own life at 29 years old.
Born December21, 1994, Kapoor left home when he was just 14 years old and worked 70 hours a week at a Dunkin Donuts during his teenage years. He began selling cars before eventually turning to poker full-time in 2019. Originally from Michigan, Kapoor had relocated and built a home in Thailand at the end of 2022, often sharing pictures and videos of his adventures on social media.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
While primarily an online and cash game player, Kapoor had $153,355 in lifetime earnings according to The Hendon Mob. That included a career-high $41,721 for finishing third in the 2022 Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) US Poker Championship.
Kapoor held a dominant chip lead during three-handed play and it looked like he was going to be the champion, but he then proceeded to lose four close all-in scenarios to fall to eventual champ Ken Baime.
Kapoor, who had lost his mother two years earlier, learned while competing in that tournament that fellow poker player and his best friend of 15 years, Ray Malone III, was killed by a drunk driver
“He dedicated what would be his biggest lifetime score to him when he ended that tournament in third place,” said Kapoor’s friend and poker reporter Liam Gannon. “He wore his heart on his sleeve and was just a very no bullshit kind of guy. One of the most infectious smiles in poker.”
PokerNews offers its condolence to the friends and family of Jason Kapoor, who made an indelible mark on everyone he met.
Jason Kapoor’s Top Five Live Cashes
| DATE | EVENT | PLACE | PRIZE (IN USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2022 | MSPT $1,110 US Poker Championship | 3rd | $41,721 |
| January 2024 | WPT Cambodia $800 NLH Mystery Bounty | 2nd | $33,251 |
| October 2019 | MSPT $1,100 Michigan State Poker Championship | 19th | $12,051 |
| July 2023 | WSOP Daily Deepstack $200 NLH | 1st | $8,615 |
| June 2021 | WPT $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Championship | 78th | $8,415 |
PR & Media Manager