Five Thoughts: Kassouf’s Fame, Ivey’s Split Decision and Becoming a Belieber

They called his personality abrasive. They labeled his table talk abusive.

In fact, most of the players left in the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event when William Kassouf finally busted couldn’t have been happier to see him go, but no matter what you think of him, there’s no doubt he left a mark on the 2016 WSOP and the game of poker this year. In this week’s Five Thoughts, we ask if it will be a lasting one.

Plus, we examine Phil Ivey’s latest legal battle, David Yan riding a high roller hot streak, Justin Bieber finding his way to the felt and Timofey “Trueteller” Kuznetsov telling his version of the truth on Twitter.

15 Minutes of Fame Ivey’s Split Yan Can Cook I’m A Belieber To Tell You The Truth

1. 15 Minutes of Fame William Kassouf

The World Series of William Kassouf is finally over. After dominating the ESPN coverage of the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event for weeks, the outspoken Brit’s dramatic final hand aired this week and he fell in 17th place.

It was Griffin Benger who got to do what the remaining field, clearly tired of his antics, wished they all could have. Not only was Benger on the right side of an aces over kings cooler, but he managed to turn Kassouf’s own speech play against him, calling him rude, mean, a verbally abusive bully and possibly even goading him into, what in the end, was probably an inevitable shove with an inferior hand.

Benger ultimately shut Kassouf up this time, ending his considerable time in the spotlight, but the question remains: Are his 15 minutes up?

After so much TV time, is Kassouf poker’s newest celebrity or just a one-hit wonder? We know he’s made the poker podcast rounds as this run aired, but will the media attention dry up now that it’s over? Will he be all over the circuit, making deep runs in big events and challenging the rules on speech play around the globe? Will he spawn a legion of followers, who try to emulate his vocal style in their attempts to book big scores?

Only time will tell.

2. Ivey’s Split Phil Ivey

It was more than a little disappointing to see a federal judge release a split decision in the $9.6 million edge-sorting case between Phil Ivey and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa last week.

The judge ruled Ivey was not guilty of fraud, but did breach a contract with the casino when he and a partner took it for almost $10 million, reading flaws on the backs of the cards to gain an edge playing baccarat. Appeals …

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