Martin Kabrhel causes controversy at WSOP $250k High Roller due to antics & possible card marking

[Dan Druff]

In 2017, I had the chip lead at the $10k WSOP Limit Holdem event.

A guy was moved to the table named Martin Kabrhel, a youngish Czech guy, who was very talkative.

However, it didn't take long to get really annoyed with him. He tanked every decision, and slowed the normally quick limit holdem game to a crawl. His table talk was a combination of annoying and arrogant. He delayed the entire tournament when freaking out about the cold temperature of Rio's Amazon Room, demanding management "fix it", despite everyone telling him that this had been unsuccessfully requested for years. At one point, he was shouting across the room that he'd pay $500 for someone to buy him a hoodie. When I inquired if he was serious (I was going to get a friend in Vegas to do it, who needed the money), he ignored me, and got his girlfriend to buy him one instead. So it was all for show.

Even worse, I was running really bad as soon as he showed up, and lost every hand -- some of them to him. I busted well before the money.

I hadn't thought much about Martin Kabrhel since then, other than occasionally seeing his name in tournament updates. Apparently he's buddies with somewhat shady King's Casino owner Leon Tsoukernik.

However, I woke up to see this tweet from Andrew Robl, regarding Kabrhel in the $250k WSOP High Roller:

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/Andrew_Robl/status/1670535954594172930


This kicked off a lot of discussion regarding Kabrhel, with various people telling stories of either suspecting him of card marking in the past, prior absurdly slow/annoying behavior at the table, or both.

Then there were moments like these, shown from the final table broadcast today:

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/HHHUGINHO/status/1670642598564843520

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https://twitter.com/BrettRichey/status/1670568562069753856


Some are insisting that Kabrhel is just intentionally being annoying, and not cheating. Those people are saying he wouldn't dare mark cards on a highly watched stream of a WSOP final table.


Dan Smith definitely wants Kabrhel banned from the WSOP:

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/PokerGO/status/1670634779673497600


Some are defending Kabrhel, saying that in absence of cheating proof, the WSOP has no business banning him, even if he's annoying and obnoxious.

Opinons?

[Dan Druff]

I feel that the WSOP should start handing out penalties and bans for "behavior against the spirit of the tournament".

Such behavior can include:

- Angle shooting

- Intentional slowplay

- Intentional obnoxious behavior meant to irritate everyone at the table


This can all be at the discretion of the floor/management, and it can start with warnings, and escalate from there.

If everyone hates playing with Kabrhel, this can easily be addressed if the WSOP wants it addressed. The WSOP does not need to prove anything in a court of law in order to ban him.

This includes the weird thing he does with his fingernails to the cards:

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/Vano567656675/status/1670549260985565185

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/Vano567656675/status/1670561702159568897



Jack Effel can simply tell Kabrhel that he needs to both play faster and stop rubbing his nails on the card, or he's banned for good. Similar warnings can be given to other players who cause an issue (such as Christoph Vogelsang, with his stalling and face-blocking hoodie).

Enough is enough.

[Dan Druff]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/JustinBonomo/status/1670568392703741952

[Sloppy Joe]

Kabrhel is god, obv cheating and giving no fucks.

Druff reports this guy has been a dirtbag since at least 2017 and nothing has happened, including flagrantly angling for millions?

[sah_24]

Some of the videos show pretty obvious cheating ... sad people still get away with shit like this

[brutal_thinker]

I think that the video captured absolute card marking. Couple that with the weird calls and hitting some pretty hard to hit hands, I think that the cheating was obvious. I also think action can be taken against the WSOP for failure to supervise the games, negligence, etc. At the very least, his buy in should be forfeited and put into the overall prize pool. I also think players who were knocked out by this ass clown should also be given their buy ins back on WSOP's dime. Just sayin.

[Sidewinder]

Some of the videos show pretty obvious cheating ... sad people still get away with shit like this

Hes so good at marking cards that when the cards are examined no one can see/decipher the marks? lol

[sonatine]

Kabrhel is god, obv cheating and giving no fucks.

Druff reports this guy has been a dirtbag since at least 2017 and nothing has happened, including flagrantly angling for millions?

qft.

the aggregate lifetime winnings of every single person sounding off on his flagrant cheating are likely a fraction of what he binked in this tourn.

everyone clutching pearls at the sanctiude and honor of poker should ask sam grizzle's wife and kids how much sanctitude and honor the power company accepted to turn their lights back on.

[JeffDime]

They should have stopped the tournament. Checked the cards and asked this asshole if they could check him. If he refused, then say he will be blinded off until he consents. But the WSOP doesn’t give two shits and rather just sweep it under the rug. The circumstantial evidence was pretty overwhelming.

Casinos have experts to check for cheating on table games and slots. But they don’t care about the poker. Every tournament series should employ an expert or even a team that can investigate such a situation. But again, they would probably see that as a waste of money because they don’t give a shit.

Also, I see ex PokerGo critic, turned PokerGo apologist Will Jaffe saying how great this shit is for the viewer. My suspicion is his take would be 180 degrees different if he weren’t in their employ. Just always follow the money.

[Serial Fail]

I feel that the WSOP should start handing out penalties and bans for "behavior against the spirit of the tournament".

Such behavior can include:

- Angle shooting

- Intentional slowplay

- Intentional obnoxious behavior meant to irritate everyone at the table


This can all be at the discretion of the floor/management, and it can start with warnings, and escalate from there.

If everyone hates playing with Kabrhel, this can easily be addressed if the WSOP wants it addressed. The WSOP does not need to prove anything in a court of law in order to ban him.

This includes the weird thing he does with his fingernails to the cards:

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/Vano567656675/status/1670549260985565185

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/Vano567656675/status/1670561702159568897



Jack Effel can simply tell Kabrhel that he needs to both play faster and stop rubbing his nails on the card, or he's banned for good. Similar warnings can be given to other players who cause an issue (such as Christoph Vogelsang, with his stalling and face-blocking hoodie).

Enough is enough.

I was going to give my opinion, but this hit it pretty square on the head. Antics like this are bad for the game and they need to be addressed rather than just giving players carte blanche to ruin the game and act in a way that puts the game in a bad light.

[NickyPipes]

I have never seen somebody act like that at a poker table. The standing and obviously staring at cards is beyond unusual.

Where’s the floor? Should have just walked up to the sun of a bitch and told him to knock it off!

I didn’t watch, Dork Dan Smith was the only one who said a word? No floor or official said look pal what’s the deal with the antics?

What’s the story of Dan Druff being disruptive at a tv final table?

[nunbeater]

Kabrhel is god, obv cheating and giving no fucks.

Druff reports this guy has been a dirtbag since at least 2017 and nothing has happened, including flagrantly angling for millions?

qft.

the aggregate lifetime winnings of every single person sounding off on his flagrant cheating are likely a fraction of what he binked in this tourn.

everyone clutching pearls at the sanctiude and honor of poker should ask sam grizzle's wife and kids how much sanctitude and honor the power company accepted to turn their lights back on.

[dwai]

best tweet ITT

[ftpjesus]

Given the nature of this thread and more stuff coming out. Suggest move to Scams Shadiness asap.

[ftpjesus]

I feel that the WSOP should start handing out penalties and bans for "behavior against the spirit of the tournament".

Such behavior can include:

- Angle shooting

- Intentional slowplay

- Intentional obnoxious behavior meant to irritate everyone at the table


This can all be at the discretion of the floor/management, and it can start with warnings, and escalate from there.

If everyone hates playing with Kabrhel, this can easily be addressed if the WSOP wants it addressed. The WSOP does not need to prove anything in a court of law in order to ban him.

This includes the weird thing he does with his fingernails to the cards:

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/Vano567656675/status/1670549260985565185

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/Vano567656675/status/1670561702159568897



Jack Effel can simply tell Kabrhel that he needs to both play faster and stop rubbing his nails on the card, or he's banned for good. Similar warnings can be given to other players who cause an issue (such as Christoph Vogelsang, with his stalling and face-blocking hoodie).

Enough is enough.

Gonna throw this out as troll bait Druff Im sure you saw my comment to ODBs bitching about Vogelsong when he didnt say him by name originally. I still maintain players wearing a mask at the table and who take it off when they leave and walking about the Casino are clearly angleshooting with the mask ala Ike Haxton and Bonomo specifically, I begrudge nobody wearing a mask if its legit for concerns for Covid but if your taking it off as soon as you leave the table its not due to covid worries because the risk is clearly much higher wandering around a full room of 1000+ players vs the handful at a single table just saying. But im also sure Splitthis will agree and its just common sense or its an angle shooting there really is not much in between there.

[Sloppy Joe]

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https://twitter.com/martinkabrhell/status/1670970801540173825

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https://twitter.com/martinkabrhell/status/1670970805587693568


Brother Martin come on PFA radio

[Dan Druff]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/JustinBonomo/status/1670913716613959680

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https://twitter.com/JustinBonomo/status/1670914359818878977

[Dan Druff]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/GingePoker/status/1671005240638976000

[ftpjesus]

Just saw this on FB and twitter. Per the LV Journal WSOP has launched a full on investigation into the issues of possible card marking and other possible cheating by the Czech.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports...zgbHglkVspLn7k

Oh and in true Postle fashion the Czech is threatening to sue Andrew Robl over his accusations. This could get interesting quickly. If they get evidence would this be enough to invoke criminal action by the NGC and potential a threat for an entry into THE Book if convicted.

[garrett]

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/martinkabrhell/status/1670970801540173825

Embedded Tweet

https://twitter.com/martinkabrhell/status/1670970805587693568


Brother Martin come on PFA radio