'Gonna Be a Long Year': Martin Kabrhel Already Causing Trouble at WSOP Europe
Martin Kabrhel is in midseason form two months before the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas begins, at least when it comes to his behavior.
The polarizing but skilled high roller is currently competing in the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) series on his home turf in the Czech Republic, and not everyone is happy to have him around.
David "ODB" Baker, a four-time bracelet winner with nearly $10 million in The Hendon Mob cashes, seems to be at wits end with Kabrhel.
Enough is Enough?
Baker tweeted that Kabrhel has been "screaming every 2 minutes," which has led to player complaints and the floor managers to issue warnings. "ODB's" sentiments have been shared by many others, including Texas poker player Kimberly Stone who called for the WSOP to "please put him on official warning and start issuing immediate punishment."
Poker media veteran and grinder Blaise Bourgeois asked for tournament directors everywhere — not just at the WSOP — to start issuing penalties to players like Kabrhel, who often tanks and is rarely silent at the poker table.
Kabrhel is a five-time bracelet winner. He has $19 million in live tournament cashes, and is among the top performers at the WSOP in recent years. He was in contention for the 2025 WSOP Player of the Year award throughout the summer, but Shaun Deeb inevitably won.
Kabrhel, beyond his talents as a poker player, brings views and clicks to media outlets and the WSOP. Whether you love or hate him — and there are plenty in both camps — many poker fans find him to be entertaining because he's the type you either root for or root to get stacked by seven-deuce.
There's a reason why even the WSOP's social media accounts frequently feature him in videos. But should Kabrhel face suspensions or even a ban from the WSOP? That's open for debate, but unlikely the majority would answer yes. Kabrhel has many fans, but also plenty of detractors who do not appreciate his antics and would like to see the warnings turn into actual consequences, like Baker tweeted.
There are those who believe, much like with William Kassouf last summer, the incessant talking during hands and tanking is so obnoxious that actions need to be taken to put it to a stop. And there are those who can't get enough watching Kabrhel play poker.
Kabrhel entered Day 1a of the €5,300 WSOPE Main Event. You can follow his run through PokerNews live reporting coverage.
