WSOP Main Event Chip Leader Cliff Josephy Calls William Kassouf A Clown On ESPN's Latest Poker BroadcastTalkative British Player Dominates WSOP TV Coverage With Controversial Antics |
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Table-talking William Kassouf has been one of main focal points of ESPN’s World Series of Poker main event coverage this year. His showdown with Stacy Matuson was one of the most talked about hands of this year’s world championship. Even Card Player’s very own Rules Guy chimed in with his opinion.
During the most recent WSOP main event broadcast, covering day 7 of the tournament, Kassouf’s chatty antics and penchant for dragging out hands led to a tense interaction with the table. Michael Niwinski had missed a flush draw with the K
J on a 854
9
A board and checked to Kassouf. Kassouf had paired his AQ on the river and began his routine.
“Missed your flush draw? Had a flush draw? 910, right?” asked Kassouf.
After a few moments with the action on him Kenny Hallaert called the clock.
“It hasn’t been that long!” protested Kassouf. The floor agreed and insisted that he be given sufficient time to act on his hand, but the majority of the players at the table disagreed and argued that he was a serial offender when it came to unnecessarily extending the length of hands.
“You keep talking to people that aren’t answering back,” said Cliff Josephy, veteran poker pro and WSOP bracelet winner. “No one is answering you in any hand. Stop talking to everybody.”
“I’m entitled to talk,” replied Kassouf.
“You’re entitled to everything, this table is all about you,” replied Josephy dryly.
Every other player at the table chimed in with their thoughts on Kassouf, with the consensus being that they were fed up with his approach to the game and would be calling the clock on him frequently from there on out.
Kassouf eventually announced a bet of 3 million chips and Niwinski quickly folded. After the pot was pushed to Kassouf the floor person let the table know that he has been keeping an eye on the clock when it is Kassouf’s turn to act and reminded them that he is allowed two minutes to act on his hand. This ignited a second wave of frustration at the table.
Josephy and Kassouf continued back and forth a bit, leading to this exchange.
“Just look at your cards in advance. We don’t need the clown show,” said Josephy.
“There’s not a clown show,” replied Kassouf.
“You are a clown,” snapped Josephy as Kassouf continued to stack chips with action on him. “Clown.”
Lead Tournament Supervisor Charlie Ciresi came over and told the table he will be monitoring the situation. Later in the broadcast a short-stacked Matthew Moss moved all-in over Kassouf’s 550,000 raise for 4,770,000 with the A8. Kassouf went into the tank with pocket threes and began to talk at Moss, trying to gain information from him. Ciresi informed him that Kassouf was overstepping his bounds by asking Moss what he wanted him to do.
After several moments Kassouf spoke to head Tournament Director Jack Effel trying to clarify what he could and couldn’t do. Minutes after Moss had shoved Kassouf finally asked for a count of his opponent’s stack. Shortly afterwards the clock was called on Kassouf.
As time wound down Kassouf folded his pocket threes and showed the rest of the table, who were clearly frustrated with his snail’s-pace approach to the game.
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