Texas Mike apologized for his behavior after a big hand on High Stakes Poker

Michael 'Texas Mike' Monchek publicly apologized for his emotions after losing $4.26 million on High Stakes Poker. Find out the details of the incident and the players' reactions.

Michael "Texas Mike" Moncek issued a public apology for his behavior following the record-breaking hand on High Stakes Poker, in which he lost a $4.26 million pot. Who are Michael Moncek and Eric Wasserson? Michael Moncek, known in the poker community as "Texas Mike," is a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner. He is not known for being aggressive at the table or for emotional outbursts after big losses. His opponent in this hand, Eric Wasserson, is also an experienced professional who, that night, was involved in the largest hand in High Stakes Poker history. How did the historic hand play out? The pivotal hand took place on Monday’s episode of High Stakes Poker. The pot reached $4.26 million—a record for the show. By the river, the pot had already grown to $1,046,000 after heavy betting on the flop and turn. Moncek had ten-high, while Wasserson held 9♦7♦. Before the river, Wasserson had $1.6 million left in his stack, while Moncek covered him. The board ran out 9♣ K♦ A♦ 4♥ 5♦. Not wanting to surrender such a massive pot without a fight, Moncek moved all-in, putting Wasserson to a tough decision for all his chips. Had a diamond not hit the river, Moncek’s bluff might have worked, but the river completed a nine-high flush for Wasserson. Accusations of "nit-roll" and players’ reactions After the river, Wasserson tanked for about two minutes before making his decision. During this time, he talked through the situation out loud, acknowledging he had a "huge hand" but expressing concern that he could be up against a higher flush. In poker slang, a "nit-roll" is when a player with a very strong hand takes an excessive amount of time before making an obvious call, which is often seen as disrespectful to the opponent. Immediately after the call, Texas Mike said, "That might be the biggest nit-roll of all time." Wasserson replied that he had immediately stated the strength of his hand and had never played for such big pots before. The players exchanged a few words: Moncek criticized his opponent for a lack of aggression despite having a huge stack, and also for taking so long to call. On social media, opinions were divided: some viewers felt Wasserson’s tank was indeed excessive, but most saw nothing wrong with Texas Mike’s reaction, given the size of the pot and the tension of the moment. Public apology and community reaction Later, Michael Moncek publicly apologized for his words and behavior on his X account (formerly Twitter). Wasserson accepted the apology, emphasizing that he was not offended and considered Moncek’s reaction completely normal given the stakes involved. "You have nothing to apologize for. Anyone who says otherwise has simply never played for stakes like this," Wasserson said. Session results and outcomes Eric Wasserson won $3.2 million over four sessions on High Stakes Poker live streams over the past weekend. Michael Moncek, despite the massive $4.26 million loss, managed to recover and nearly break even for the week, largely thanks to a big $2.3 million win against Andrew Robl immediately after the unlucky hand. Leaderboard and payouts (High Stakes Poker results): Eric Wasserson — +$3,200,000 (over four sessions) Michael Moncek — nearly even for the week (exact amount not specified), including a $4,260,000 loss and a $2,300,000 win against Andrew Robl Context: What is High Stakes Poker and why is this hand important? High Stakes Poker is a popular poker show where some of the most famous and successful players gather at the table to play for truly high stakes. The hand between Moncek and Wasserson became the largest in the show’s history, drawing attention from both professionals and poker fans around the world. Such moments become major talking points in the community, as they showcase not only skill but also the psychological resilience required to play at the highest levels. What this means for PPPoker club players For PPPoker club members, this story is a vivid example of how important it is to keep your composure even in the most stressful situations. Even experienced professionals like Michael Moncek can make emotional remarks, but poker culture demands respect for opponents and a willingness to admit mistakes. Additionally, the "nit-roll" situation serves as a reminder: taking too long to act with an obviously strong hand can be seen as disrespectful, especially in big pots. It’s a reason to reflect on your own playing style and attitude toward opponents to maintain a healthy atmosphere at the table. Finally, Moncek’s story proves that even after major losses, you can regroup and recover if you keep your cool and stick to your strategy. This is a valuable lesson for everyone striving for success in PPPoker clubs.