August 5, 2022 | by Crouse Linwood

Toto HK Final Table

 

I watched the World Series of Poker final table last night on ESPN, and I have to say that I was absolutely disgusted by the play and behavior.  The nine survivors survived over 6000 players and 6 days of play to get there, only to throw their chips around like idiots when they got there.  Maybe it was being on center stage and the soccer hooligan type crowd that accompanied it.  Maybe it was the potential fame and fortune that lied ahead.  The guy who won it, Jerry Yang, clearly had the strategy that he was going to bet everything and call everything, and whatever happened happened.  The chip leader heading into the final table, Philip Hilm, got into confrontations that were totally unnecessary, and ended up giving all of his chips to Yang, when he should have known that Yang didn’t know how to fold.  The most accomplished player at the final table, Lee Watkinson, ended his tournament by going all-in with A-7 and getting called with A-9.  Ugh.  Those two hands all-in preflop with millions on the line?

The most despicable part of watching it was when every time Yang was all-in, he’d kiss a picture of …