Trash talk isn’t uncommon at the World Series of Poker. It can be an effective tool, especially when you’re bluffing and trying to convince someone with a better hand to fold their cards.
There comes a point, though, when the trash talk turns from a tactic to downright disrespect.
That’s what happened recently in the World Series of Poker Main Event when William Kassouf trash-talked Stacy Matuson, who had pocket queens and a 100 percent chance of winning the hand (although she obviously couldn’t have known that for sure).
Kassouf got to the point where a tournament official told him to stop talking, so then he started making hand gestures, which the official also told him to stop doing.
Matuson eventually folded, giving Kassouf the $1.12 million pot.
Kassouf received a one-round penalty for his actions.
The rest of the WSOP field — and fans of decent people everywhere — got the last laugh, though. Kassouf eventually was eliminated, moments after pulling the same act.
