British professional poker player Will Kassouf was disqualified from the rest of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) after being removed from the property following his elimination from the Main Event. The divisive character went out in 33rd place, collecting $300,000, but the fallout from his bust took center stage on a dramatic Day 6.
Key Takeaways
- Will Kassouf has been banned from the WSOP after penalties and a disruptive Main Event bust
- The WSOP Main Event drew 9,735 players, the third largest in history despite a slight attendance dip
- Jesse Lonis bet $2,000 at +50000 odds to win poker’s biggest tournament
The day started with Kassouf being issued a one-round penalty for conduct at the table, and things only intensified from that point. He consistently infuriated floor staff and players alike, and several penalties and an inordinate number of clock calls were issued against him during his deep run.
By the time he was eliminated, frustrations had reached boiling point. Kassouf went into a lengthy post-elimination tirade and kept talking as he was escorted to the payout area at Paris Las Vegas, accompanied by security guards and two Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers.
Revered for his trash talk and divisive personality, Kassouf's attitude took a stark turn during the tournament. The customary table chatter was replaced by apparent frustration, and any comedic tone was substituted with biting criticism aimed at staff and foes.
The WSOP's action of barring him was an uncommon disciplinary step, but one that resulted in cheers and applause from players and onlookers.
Main Event turnout falls off slightly but remains historic
The Main Event attracted 9,735 entries, shy of the attendance records of 2023 and 2024. Though this ends the run of back-to-back record-breaking years, the total still ranks the tournament as the third-largest Main Event in WSOP history.
In spite of the decline from 10,112 players in 2024 to 10,043 in 2023, the attendance cements the event's reputation as poker's most elite tournament. The $10,000 buy-in generated a prize pool of $90,535,500, with at least $10 million guaranteed to the winner and all final table players guaranteed at least $1 million.
The guaranteed minimum cash prize was $15,000, with awards given down to 1,461st position.
This is the first decrease in attendance since 2015, not counting the 2020 and 2021 Main Events, which were both significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease might indicate a plateauing of what had been an exponential growth trend.
Jesse Lonis goes all-in on himself in high-risk prop bet
Jesse Lonis has put additional pressure on his Main Event run with an audacious side wager. The reigning GPI Player of the Year leader bet $2,000 at +50000 odds with Mikita Badziakouski that he'd take down the tournament, setting himself up for a potential $1 million windfall in addition to the Main Event payout.
Lonis made the wager at the PokerGO Studio while he and Badziakouski were engaged in a friendly discussion. Following some negotiation, Badziakouski accepted Lonis' +50000 counteroffer.
Lonis detailed on social media that losing $2,000 would not bother him, but the opportunity to win a million through self-belief was too enticing to resist.
