@kkott 75th out of a starting field of 9,735 on Day 5 is outstanding. That’s not luck.

@hoosieralum07 I broke my arm in May of my junior year in high school. I had been planning to work on my golf game all summer long because I was on the golf team. I was in a cast for five months. Student students asked me the next fall. I’ve broken my arm again…

anyway, instead of golfing I played poker all summer long with a group of about five guys. Every single night of the summer. We started after dinner and played all night. Typically 12 to 14 hours a night. No breaks except when his mom would occasionally bring out tray full of hors d’oeuvres. I was jacked the entire time. Fatigue never entered the equation.

@hhlurker 

Looks like he's still alive after Day 5, but down a bit overall. Finished around 1.4m, and 159th. Think it said his payout is up to 60K. 202 left. Hope he gets a good pot or 2 early to relieve some pressure. 

It did say he was +90K, so guessing that means from the prior session, so apparently he was down even more and rebounded a bit in the last session. Hopefully some good mojo. 

@hoosieralum07 maybe you're being sarcastic, but if not, you're not giving nearly enough creedence to the mental drain they are under, I'd imagine. Your 12 hour drunken poker marathons in college, do not begin to equate to what they are doing. That's like saying an 8' put to halve or win a match at the Ryder Cup is no big deal because you've made several at the muni course. 

His Dad is out there now and I've asked him for a "state of the tournament" about the environment and how Mark is feeling after a session. 

Will Kassouf was at his table for one of the sessions yesterday and he finished the day top 10, and apparently had some heated/interesting exchanges. Sounds like maybe he got some of Marks chips too. 

His Mom subscribed to the PokerGo app so they could watch and sent a video of him winning a big hand. Opened w a pair of 7s, raised to $85K w 1 re-raise to $225K (Q, A), and Mark called. Flopped a set with a straight draw on the board, dodged the turn and the board paired for a full house. Other guy folded after Mark bet $300K. His name up on the screen just like you see on the broadcast and his Dad in the background the whole time. One of the coolest videos of your kid I can imagine having!

@kkott 

@kkott Will Kassouf is intense.  he rubbed me the wrong way back in 2016 “Like a boss” but now I like him. Freaking intelligent guy. But most of them are anyway.

I haven’t seen any of Mark playing, but I get the impression that he’s playing smart and steady so he has a chance with 17 big blinds remaining. All he needs is one good hand to make the top hundred I think. 

What’s interesting to me in this go-around is how much bluffing there is going on. 

Reading a bluff might be the hardest thing to do, but on the flip side it’s probably the easiest way to accumulate chips if you can do it. You don’t need a great hand, you don’t need to build up the pot. The bluffer does all the work for you. Especially a big bluff on the river.

@hhlurker Good job! I didn't want to share his full name without his parents permission, but I don't think they'll mind a bunch of Hoosiers rooting him on from afar! Got the update from his Dad and late in the last session he folded bullets, correctly because the other guy had hit a set of 7s. 7s helped him early and gutted him late, but he's still alive! I call him the Innocent Assassin in our group texts!

His Dad said he gets a workout in early and then is wrecked by the end of the day. 12-13 hr day: Five 2 hour sessions with 20 min breaks and 75 mins for dinner. But, he's still playing! Their big dilemna today was what to wear, because he didn't pack for this long a run! Hotel laundry service, or maybe his Dad's tshirt! 

I've only seen a couple clips, but I think you nailed his play. Feel like he's obviously coached himself to be guarded and at least appear well thought out. He hesitates and doesn't act quickly ever, and is consistent with it. During the full house hand he even checked his hole cards on the river, when you know damn well he knew he had a house! Too bad Mr AQ didn't hit one, or he could've padded his stack!

Classic Will Kassouf starting at about 30:35. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5ttTZUjIw&pp=ygUHUG9rZXJnbw%3D%3D

@kkott Yeah, he compromised his privacy by going this deep in the tournament.

@hhlurker What a prick.

@bradstevens yeah, he has this ability to talk incessantly. One-way flow. I’m not sure what the codified rules of etiquette are for the World Series of poker, but if I were at his table, I would learn them well or have a copy at hand.

Kid is on fire!!!! Just like that, he's up a mill! He's 100th right now with 2.5M

https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2025-wsop/event-81-10000-wsop-main-event/chips.766020.htm

Meanwhile Kassouf shows up late then gets pocket bullets against someone else’s kings and he’s up to 10 million now.