Good, old fashioned live poker is supposed to be a blend of strategy and psychological warfare. It’s not supposed to be over-the-top trash TV. When the show becomes more about player behaviour than the actual poker, we should know that change is needed.
What we witnessed during the WSOP 2025 exceeded anything we have seen before. Maybe the cameras amplify disruptive tactics, focusing the viewer’s attention on the negative, but the level of sheer annoyance indicated on social media was at a greater height than in previous years.
Of course, we’re talking about Will Kassouf and Martin Kabrhel. And the accusation is that they have crossed that fine line which separates gamesmanship and disruption. Not a crime if the charge is an isolated one, but it clearly wasn’t, particularly in Kassouf’s case.
Avoiding a Toxic Environment
While poker is a competitive pursuit, its nature is generally seen as something to be enjoyed. Yes, it’s all about the bottom line for the pros, but even after we’ve factored in the keen amateurs, a significant portion of the player pool just wants to enjoy their poker.
And with that in mind, if they’re coming along, paying their rake, donating to the skilled players and funding their lifestyles; shouldn’t we take a little more care to ensure that they actually enjoy themselves as much as possible?
Nuisance tactics like relentless table talk, deliberate stalling, or needling to gain a psychological edge is a scourge on live poker. When it is done with the deliberate intention to annoy players, it is nothing less than an angle shoot, in the opinion of Dan “Jungleman” Cates.
People will see this mental gamesmanship play out on livestreams and think there is no way they would want to subject themselves to that kind of harassment.
Online poker players already look at the live game with a certain level of disdain, often wondering how they could adjust from more than 1,000 hands in an hour to an average of only 25. Being forced to endure that reduction in volume while suffering what amounts to mental abuse at the table is a step too far for many players.
Will Kassouf’s run in the WSOP 2025 Main Event ended in chaos as he was escorted to the cage by security to collect his winnings while being told he was not welcome for the remainder of the series.
The gobby Brit’s table mates looked thoroughly relieved as he prepared to leave the area before delivering an unhinged rant, sneering “I’ll remember all of your faces.”
Will Kassouf acquired his notoriety in the WSOP 2016 Main Event, annoying everyone who was forced to share a table with him with his trademark “speech play.”
His relentless chatter went beyond minor annoyance; it was absolutely infuriating to all but the most unflappable individuals.
He repeatedly clashed with players, appearing to gain satisfaction as he crowed how they “just can’t take it.”
Kassouf defends his approach by claiming a legitimate strategic edge.
Czech high roller Martin Kabrhel is another character continuously linked with controversy. Less provocative than Will Kassouf but still right up there with a similar annoyance factor.
Kassouf was notorious for his incessant tanking but Kabrhel probably pips him here.
Poker Hall of Fame inductee Nick Schulman described the experience of playing with Kabrhel as “unbelievably unpleasant.”
And all of this is on top of the allegations of cheating by marking cards and peering at an opponent’s hole cards.
Those who were hoping he might just fade into the background will have to wait as he continues to find success, including a fourth WSOP bracelet in the 2025 Mini Main Event, keeping him in the spotlight.
Trash Talking and Tantrums
When TV poker got going in the late nineties, it was framed as quite a gentlemanly pursuit. All the trash talking and tantrums came later.
Tony G was the original trash talker, famously taunting Ralph Perry from the set, asking for more Russians to come and play him. This was extremely provocative in the day but it was done in a way that entertained viewers while testing the boundaries of etiquette.
It polarised opinion where you loved him or hated him: the perfect recipe for entertainment.
Phil Hellmuth’s tantrums are legendary; he really is a polarising character in the game. But, just like with Tony G, Hellmuth is undoubtedly good for poker, it’s just that his often churlish rants don’t resonate well with a section of the poker community.
Both Tony G and Phil Hellmuth are known for being great poker players; the trash talking and tantrums are just a minor sideshow.
With Will Kassouf and Martin Kabrhel, you wouldn’t know who they were without all of the drama. This reason alone is why their antics should not be accepted as entertainment.
Addressing the Issue
The poker community has tools to manage nuisance players, but enforcement and cultural shifts are needed.
WSOP rules 119 (delay of game) and 48 (excessive chatter) allow penalties for disruptive behaviour, as seen with Kassouf’s and Kabrhel’s shot clocks. The issue is that the game relies somewhat on self-policing.
The floor staff cannot watch every table individually in a large poker series. Players must not only take responsibility for calling for penalties where appropriate, but they must also do so promptly, rather than waiting until annoyance is already ruining the spirit of the game.
Any kind of verbal aggravation should be called out, as should any gamesmanship on the technical side.
Nuisance players might draw viewers and spark debate, but their behaviour risks alienating players and tarnishing poker’s image as a serious mind sport.
Just remember that poker is already fighting to maintain a positive image due to its association with gambling. The game cannot afford to portray itself negatively through some of these characters, even if a small minority think it’s entertaining.
Will Kassouf exited the Horseshoe Las Vegas being told he was banned until the WSOP 2026. What happens with him next year might prove to be a watershed moment in how poker polices nuisance behaviour in the future.
