William Kassouf Eliminated From WSOP Main Event On Latest ESPN BroadcastControversial British Player Sent To The Rail By A Cooler Hand, Opponent Griffin Benger Calls Him 'Abusive' |
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William Kassouf has been the prime focus of ESPN’s 2016 World Series of Poker main event coverage for several weeks now, ever since the talkative British player’s controversial antics in a huge hand against Stacy Matuson. As the biggest poker tournament in the world got down to the final few tables it became clear that many of the remaining players were growing tired of Kassouf’s efforts to gain information from them and tilt them by talking to them throughout hands. It also didn’t help that he didn’t mind taking his time on almost every decision.
Poker fans have spiritedly debated Kassouf’s conduct on message boards and video comment sections over the last few weeks, with some enjoying the drama and respecting his tactics while others simply find it annoying and an abuse of unclear rules. Although that debate may continue on, Kassouf’s time on the WSOP broadcasts came to an end this week when he was eliminated from the tournament in 17th place ($338,288).
Canadian Poker pro Griffin Benger picked up the A
A
and raised to 875,000 under the gun. It folded to Kassouf in the hijack and he looked down at the KK. Kassouf began his routine, tanking for several moments before raising to 2,300,000 and then saying, “Had to find out where I am. Think I’m ahead at the moment… No shame in passing.”
Benger sat silently without responding before eventually cutting out a three-bet to 5,600,000.
“Find out where you are? I take it if I ship it your aren’t passing?” asked Kassouf.
After more than a minute of speaking at Benger, who remained silent, Kassouf said, “I’m here to win it. Are you waiting for the next pay jump at 15? $90k is $90k, right? That’s the main event for the next nine years.”
At that point Jerry Wong called the clock. Kassouf let out one more comment before Benger seemed to have had enough.
“You’re just an abusive person man, it’s not funny. It’s not a game,” said Benger. “You’re being abusive to me.”
“How am I being abusive?” asked Kassouf.
“What you are doing to me is called verbal abuse,” said an increasingly irate Benger.
“You aren’t even gaining any information, he’s not talking to you,” interjected Gordon Vayo.
“You’re a bully. It’s rude. It’s mean…” continued Benger.
“It’s called speech play,” said Kassouf.
“It’s not called speech play, it’s called being a bad person. You should really check yourself.”
The heated back and forth continued on until Kassouf said, “You want to gamble, okay, I’m all in.”
Benger instantly called and flipped up the pocket aces.
Benger went over to join his rail as the board ran out, and although he was roughly an 82 percent favorite to win the hand and eliminate Kassouf, it seemed clear that he was anything but at ease.
The two continued to yell across the final table stage area at each other.
“Verbal abuse, I’ll show you verbal abuse. You can’t take it. You let it get to you,” said Kassouf as he pointed to his head. “I got under your skin, man.”
The board ran out 10
83
610 and Benger’s pocket aces held up, shooting him up the leaderboard and sending Kassouf to the rail in 17th place.
In the wake of the hand Kassouf confirmed that he was indeed covered and eliminated. He then went around the table and wished the remaining players luck. A few players seemed to decline shaking his hand, although Benger did reciprocate the gesture.
This huge hand was just one of the many bust outs shown during last week’s WSOP coverage on ESPN. The broadcast has now caught up with reality and revealed which nine players have made the 2016 WSOP main event final table.
The November Nine will return to the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino on Oct. 30th. The delayed live broadcast of the final table begins at 5:30 p.m. pacific time on ESPN2. Play will continue until a champion is decided on Tuesday, Nov. 1 with the final broadcast beginning at 6 p.m. on the flagship ESPN channel.
For more information on the final table players check out Card Player’s final table preview.
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