Top 5 Greatest Poker Trash Talkers of All Time

Mike Matusow

There’s only one person in our list who earned the nickname “The Mouth.” He got it for his frequent and sometimes confrontational table talk and trash-talking at the poker table. 

He never hides his emotions. Mike Matusow was one of the brightest TV personalities of the 2000s poker era — a confident, loud, and fearless pro who inspired thousands of players around the world.

He began shaping this image in the early 2000s. During the 2004 WSOP Main Event, he leaned over to Greg Raymer and said:

A few hands later, Matusow busted from the tournament and ended up crying on Phil Hellmuth’s shoulder. Raymer went on to win the Main Event.

In 2005, Matusow returned to the WSOP Main Event broadcast — this time clashing with Shawn Sheikhan. Sheikhan finished 11th ($600K), and it was Matusow who knocked him out. Matusow took 9th place for $1M.

Notice how Matusow shakes Sheikhan’s hand at the end. Most of the time, Matusow is just being overly emotional about a hand’s outcome and eventually makes peace with his opponent. Here’s another short clip from the 2011 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star to prove it:

To understand Matusow better, we recommend watching the 2024 documentary “Matusow”. You’ll see a whole new side of The Mouth.

Tony G

Three years ago, Reddit users were asked: “Who do you think is the best trash talker at the table?” Out of 899 votes, 656 went to Tony G. These days, Tony G behaves calmly and respectfully on Triton streams — but it wasn’t always this way.

Tony G was one of those personalities who made poker entertaining to watch. The internet is full of “Tony G trash talking” videos. These two are probably the best ones:

Notice Tony’s snap-call with pocket fives — and of course, his legendary line:

Another iconic TV moment came from The Big Game between Tony G and Phil Hellmuth:

And who could forget this one: 

If that’s still not enough Tony G for you, PokerStars’ YouTube channel has a 150-minute compilation of his greatest moments.

At the end of the day, Tony G remains a gentleman — and one of the most beloved figures in poker entertainment. Viewers agree: poker needs more players like Tony G.

Eric Persson

A recreational player and owner of dozens of casinos across the U.S., Eric Persson made his name as “the King of Trash Talk” during the 2022 $25K PGT Heads-Up Showdown. The poker gods blessed viewers with the perfect matchup — Persson vs. Phil Hellmuth in the Round of 32. It became the most epic match of the tournament.

Persson bluffed Hellmuth, showed the bluff, and flashed him a double middle finger (at 11:35). He talked nonstop for the entire match. Hellmuth tilted and eventually lost the duel.

After the match, Persson said it was all part of his strategy — to “get under Hellmuth’s skin.” He did it so effectively that both players received a warning from the tournament director.

A year later, Persson faced Daniel Negreanu in the $50K High Stakes Duel 4. Negreanu showed up dressed as Persson and gave him a taste of his own medicine — complete with the same double-finger gesture. Persson respected the move but declined a rematch.

Persson has also been seen trash-talking on Hustler Casino Live and High Stakes Poker.

Martin Kabrhel

The most successful Czech tournament player with over $16M in winnings and 4 WSOP bracelets, Martin Kabrhel fully deserves his spot here. Just look at the titles of popular YouTube videos featuring him: MOST TOXIC Poker Player TILTS Everyone at WSOP & The Most Controversial Trash Talking Poker Player Shuts Up.

Kabrhel is known for taking a long time to make decisions, using awkward chip denominations, and handling chips in confusing ways. But his main weapon is constant, relentless chatter.

His biggest controversy came after the $250K WSOP Super High Roller in 2023, when he was accused of cheating — specifically, marking cards with his fingernails. After an investigation, Kabrhel was cleared of all accusations.

On Doug Polk’s podcast, Kabrhel explained that he can’t control his fidgeting and physical gestures but always plays fair.

Will Kassouf

All previous players seem like angels compared to our final boss. Sitting next to Will Kassouf is a true endurance test — he never stops talking.

During the 2025 WSOP Main Event, Kassouf made it to Day 7. He spent about three hours at the TV table without a single minute of silence. He annoyed everyone so much that Adam Hendrix bought earplugs and handed them out to the rest of the table.

Kassouf also received multiple penalties — one for calling another player an idiot, another for referring to his opponents as “little bitches.” He eventually busted in 33rd place for $300K — but stayed at the table arguing with the tournament director for another three minutes. For his behavior, Kassouf was banned from the rest of the WSOP series.

Who’s the worst trash talker in poker—Kassouf or Kabrhel? You can judge for yourself:

• Also read: Top 10 Best Poker Shows