'Texas' Mike Moncek has apologised for his reaction after he lost the biggest pot in High Stakes Poker history on Monday night. You can watch the hand play out at the top of this article.
Texas Mike had 
on a board reading 
. The river had completed Eric Wasserson's flush and he'd checked for a third time. Texas Mike decided to empty his clip, leaving the pot at $2,653,000. Wasserson was covered and faced a call for his remaining $1.6 million.
Wasserson tanked for exactly two minutes before making the call.
Texas Mike looked disgusted and shook his head while Wasserson pushed his chips forward, and eventually said, "Maybe the biggest nit-roll of all time."
Wasserson immediately defended himself, saying, "I said immediately I have a huge hand. I've never played a pot that big before."
Texas Mike: 'I was very out of line'
Texas Mike engaged with fans on X over the 'nit-roll'. He agreed that a $1.6 million decision deserved some time (while pointing out, "But vs me??") and also argued that he was entitled to be salty about losing such a big pot.
However, on Wednesday night he offered an apology to Wasserson, writing, "I want to apologize to [Eric Wasserson] and all the viewers for how I acted on stream after the 97dd vs T7cc hand. I was completely in the wrong. I do not feel nit rolled. He also does not have to punt back to me and I was VERY out of line. I will not act like that in the future. GG!"
Eric Wasserson replied to say no apology was necessary: "You are my boy, I wasn't offended at all it was a completely normal reaction you have NOTHING to apologize for. Anyone saying differently has never really gambled for high stakes before."
More drama, please
Other poker notables reacted as well, including PokerGO CEO Brent Hanks: "Didn’t have to do that, and you did it anyways. Added to the legacy."
As for apologising to the viewers... I think I speak for the majority when I say that we want to see drama like this.
One of the best things about the early episodes of High Stakes Poker was the feeling that the big pots really hurt. Texas Mike is normally impassive at the table, and seeing a reaction like this adds a layer of humanity that's great to see.
Andrew Robl's placid veneer also broke on that stream – ironically in a huge hand with Texas Mike. Texas Mike bluffed the river again, but this time got Robl to fold the best hand in a pot that would have topped $4 million. Robl gave props to Texas Mike before slamming his palm down on the table in a very rare show of emotion.
Forget the apologies, we want more of that, please.
