Top 3 Heads-Up Battles of All Time
There have many legendary battles across the years, $millions and huge titles coming down to the mano-a-mano form of poker.
Known as ‘The Mouth’ due to his sometimes confrontational table talk, Mike Matusow is one of the most polarizing poker pros, but there is no doubting his talent on the felt.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Matusow’s first introduction to the game was a video poker machine, which he played to such an extent that he began to experience repetitive strain injuries in his arms and shoulders. Unsurprisingly this machine hurt his bankroll, so much so that he stole money from his mother’s purse and attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
It was not until Matusow was taught Texas Hold Em from a rounder in 1989 that his fortune started to change. In 1997 Matusow entered his first World Series of Poker event, an Omaha eight-or-better tournament, where he eventually finished second to Scotty Nguyen. The next year, convinced by Nguyen’s ability, Matusow staked Nguyen a third of his entry into a Main Event satellite. Nguyen would go on to win both the satellite and the Main Event itself, earning Matusow a third of his winnings, a cool $333,333.
Known as one of the strongest tournament players in the game, Matusow has experienced great success at the World Series of Poker. He has won four bracelets, spanning from 1999 to 2013, and has shown his versatility with each title coming from a different variation of poker. In addition to this, Matusow has also had several deep runs in the Main Event, finishing 6th in 2001, and 9th in 2005.
He rose to fame again winning the National Heads Up Poker Championship 2013 for $750,000. Matusow is infamous for his aggressive trash-talk at the table and can often be found taunting and mocking his opposition. This does not always work in his favour, as he is known to experience a ‘Mike Matusow Blow Up’, where one mistake can cost him all of his chips and hours of solid play.
Published 6 years ago
Folding a FULL HOUSE Heads-Up??It's a tense match up between Mike Matusow and Chris Ferguson in their 'Round of 16' game during the NBC National Heads-Up Poker C...
Published 6 years ago
Mike Matusow Cleans Up On Live At The BikeMike Matusow is back and this time he is running good, playing good and winning all of the money on Live At The Bike cash game! Fe...
Published 7 years ago
Gus Hansen is Mike Matusow's hero!Mike Matusow just cannot believe the luck and guts of Gus Hansen and is stunned, in this hand from the 3rd Poker Superstars Champi...
Published 7 years ago
Heads-Up Championship - Mike Matusow vs Phil HellmuthTwo of the most enjoyable poker players to watch, Phil Hellmuth and Mike Matusow, play heads-up for the title of the 2013 National...
Published 7 years ago
When Three Players Have the Same Hand!Mike Matusow, Phil Laak and Johnny Chan all have the same exact hand in this episode of Full Tilt's Poker After Dark series! Who w...
Published 7 years ago
Poker Players Left Hanging!Most of the times, poker players shake hands as a measure of good manners, before or after the end of a hand. There are times, how...
Published 7 years ago
The Best Poker RivalriesThere have been a number of rivalries on the poker tables over the years, here is a collection of some of the most memorable, incl...
Published 7 years ago
Mike Matusow's Epic ShowMike "The Mouth" Matusow puts up an epic show after busting against Geoff Shulman in the Poker Superstars Championship at the Gold...
Published 7 years ago
Poker Superstars - Matusow and Greenstein Heads-UpMike Matusow and Barry Greenstein play heads-up poker in the Superstars Tournament filmed at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas
Published 7 years ago
Mike Matusow - "Kiddy Games Down The Street"Mike "The Mouth" Matusow quips against amateur player Casper Christensen after he bluffs him out of a pot during the 2005 WSOP Mai...
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