Will Kassouf & Martin Kabrhel – Kings of Speech Play

Poker is a game renowned for its psychological warfare as much as for its cards, and in the world of poker, silence is often golden – but for Will Kassouf and Martin Kabrhel, noise is a serious weapon.

These two players have mastered the psychological aspect, but have also raised numerous ethical questions, sparked outrage, and generated numerous controversies over the years.

Will Kassouf and Martin Kabrhel’s presence at any poker game can turn a quiet poker table into a theater filled with loud noise.

Will Kassouf – The Voice That Shooks the Poker Room

Will Kassouf, born William Robin Kassouf on December 19, 1981, in London, started his career as a lawyer before shifting full-time to poker. He built his bankroll at the iconic Grosvenor Casino, The Victoria, in low-stakes games, and eventually decided to pursue poker professionally in 2013.

His first significant tournament score was in 2009 at the Irish Poker Tour €3,200 + 300 No Limit Hold’em tournament, where he finished 6th for €100,800.

Will Kassouf’s first big drama came from the 2016 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on day 5, during a hand when the dealer tried to stop his table talk.

The dealer claimed that he couldn’t say what was in the pot, and a tournament director arrived at the table to try to take control of Will Kassouf’s aggressive table talk.

During this scene, he had already put Stacy Matuson all-in on the river on the 5♦ 3♥ 2♣ 8♥ T♠ board.

Will Kassouf had 9♥ 6♣ turned double gutter on the turn, and he missed the river.

Matuson had Q♠ Q♦.

The tournament director told Kassouf that he couldn’t speak anymore, and Kassouf obliged, but continued taunting her with hand and body gestures.

The clock was called on her, and Matuson eventually folded, showing her Queens. Kassouf showed the bluff and said, “Nine high, like a boss,” clapping his chest, saying a big heart, like a lion, before standing up because the tournament director was already taking him away from the table. 

The argument continued with the director, and he received a one-round penalty. However, he kept fighting, and the director told him that if he didn’t stop, it would result in a two-round penalty.

Will Kassouf eventually stopped talking, went back to the table, took a picture of his big chip stack, then walked away. The cameraman followed him, and he started to share his bluff with two guys, proudly repeating his phrase “Nine high, like a boss”.

Will Kassouf Chip Stealing Controversy

During the years, Will Kassouf faced multiple allegations of improper behavior. In 2018, during a drunken night out at a GUKPT stop in Leeds, he was accused of pocketing a friend’s £100 chip at a roulette table. 

Later, Kassouf issued a public apology for what he called “an error of judgment,” admitting regret for his actions and accepting responsibility. 

The incident led him to part ways with his sponsor, Grosvenor Poker, a significant setback to his professional reputation.

Will Kassouf’s Irish Open Accusation

In 2023, similar accusations rocked the poker industry. During the Irish Poker Open, Will Kassouf was playing a Pot-Limit Omaha cash game and was alleged to have gone all-in, lost the hand, and then “run away” with his stack before the dealer could pull in all the chips, allegedly shorting the winner.

Kassouf denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his chips were already in the pot, that he left the table as a player normally would after busting, and attributed any shortfall to a potential dealer error. He described the allegations as “rumors and speculation with no evidence or proof whatsoever. 

Will Kassouf later appeared on Doug Polk’s YouTube channel. He claimed that all of his chips were already all-in on the turn, and the chips were in the middle of the table, saying if the chips disappeared, then it was the dealer’s fault.

Unfortunately, there was no camera in the poker room, so there was no clear evidence to prove what could have happened.

Social media and poker forums lit up with criticism, with several eyewitnesses and players speculating about his behavior.

Will Kassouf 2025 WSOP Bann

At the 2025 WSOP Main Event, Kassouf made an impressive deep run in the main event; however, he did it in his signature style.

A lot of loud table talk, most of which was excessive, and his tablemates received extreme tanking between his decisions, adding one more twist to his questionable table talk.

Will Kassouf’s rampage and hopes for the WSOP Main Event bracelet ended on day 7, where he busted against Kenny Hallert, who, a few days later, finished in fourth place for $3,000,000.

He called Kenny Hallert’s play disgraceful and told him that he is pathetic.

The tablemates started to clap their hands, probably not acknowledging Will Kassouf’s run but to celebrate his bust-out. Kassouf said to them that they are pathetic and all of them a bunch of p*ssys.

Kassouf didn’t want to leave; he was arguing with the tournament director, then looking over at the table to memorize their face to remember, telling them that “ I’ll remember all of your faces and I’ll see you next year” and after told them that everything has happened to him during the 2025 WSOP was absolute disgrace for the tournament and he was the victim.

Eventually, he was escorted to collect his $300,000 payout for his 33rd place, accompanied by security guards and tournament directors. He was informed that he wouldn’t be welcome back to any of the 2025 WSOP events.

During his walk after the incident, he was celebrating his score and shouting to the cameras that all of his winnings are tax-free, unlike American players.

Kassouf generated a lot of heat during this year’s WSOP, and many players wished to ban him entirely from WSOP events.

Will Kassouf’s net worth –  tournament prize money

After this year’s WSOP, Will Kassouf’s total live tournament earnings stand at $2,069,327 according to The HendonMob.

Kassouf’s largest live cash was the top prize of approximately $555,619 for winning the €10,300 High Roller event at EPT Prague in December 2016.

People speculate that Will Kassouf’s net worth is in the range of $1 million to $5 million, encompassing both tournament earnings and other potential assets, such as sponsorships, private games, and previous income from his legal career.

Martin Kabrhel, the other loud voice in the poker world

Over the years, Martin Kabrhel, the Czech professional poker player, gained fame not just for his poker scores, but also, like Will Kassouf, he made a lot of noise at the poker table and in the poker media. 

Martin Kabrhel is now infamous among poker players and fans for his relentless “tanking” and his questionable table talk and behavior over the years.

Martin Kabrhel Card Marking and Cheating Allegations

The biggest controversy and accusations against Kabrhel occurred during the 2023 WSOP $250,000 Super High Roller event, where multiple high-stakes pros, including Andrew Robl, Arthur Martirosyan, and Dan Smith, accused him of marking the cards by leaving scratches on them.

These allegations, widely spread on social media, drew official scrutiny from the WSOP, which stated that it was investigating but would not discuss details until the process was complete.

Kabrhel denied all allegations, citing reputational damage and vowing legal action against Robl.

Several players stated that even if no clear cheating could be proven, the mere appearance or suggestion of cheating was unacceptable, as it damaged the integrity and perception of poker events.

Angle Shooting and Intimidation

Beyond accusations of outright cheating, Martin Kabrhel has been repeatedly accused of so-called “angle shooting,” hiding his chips, standing up to look at opponents’ cards during hands, and engaging in constant needling of his tablemates. 

Several players have called for his ban from top-level tournaments, arguing such behavior crosses ethical lines even if it technically falls within the rules.

Excessive Tanking and Table Behavior during 2025 WSOP

During the 2025 WSOP, he generated a lot of frustration and received penalties during the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event, prompting staff to implement a 10-second shot clock for all his actions.

His behavior sparked calls for stricter enforcement of rules and fueled intense debates about sportsmanship and the integrity of the game.

Martin Kabrhel’s 2025 WSOP Performance

In this year’s WSOP, Martin Kabrhel showed that he is as skilled at poker as he is at speech play. He cashed eleven events and won the 2025 WSOP Mini Main Event, where he outlasted 10,794 players to earn the bracelet and the first prize of $843,140.

Martin Kabrhel’s 2025 WSOP campaign was highly successful, capped by a bracelet victory and several deep runs.

Martin Kabrhel’s 2025 WSOP Results

Kabrhel polarizes the poker world

Many professional poker players and poker fans argue that he makes the game less enjoyable and hurts poker’s reputation.

In contrast, others see him as a player who provides entertainment and value, likening him to a “villain” the sport needs for drama and viewership.

Conclusion

Will Kassouf and Martin Kabrhel represent some of poker’s most controversial and captivating figures. Using psychological warfare, well-timed bluffs, and entertainment. 

Their presence and style could be really good for the game to gain more views and attention, but sometimes they look like they’re taking it too far, engaging in excessive tanking, and often delivering taunting speeches and gestures that disrespect and hurt other players at the table.

What will we see in the future from Will Kassauf and Martin Kabrhel? 

I hope they will make a more fun atmosphere at the poker table while still showcasing their speechplay.