Health > Wealth: Texas Mike Questions Stamina After “4-Bet Jam Nuclear Punt” in $100K

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Dec 12, 2024 4 min read

What is a player to do when they love tournament poker, their mind allows them to compete against the best of the best, but their body doesn’t want to cooperate? That’s a question “Texas” Mike Moncek, who suffers from a heart condition, asked himself Wednesday night after playing in the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Event #7: $100,000 Triton Main Event.

The tournament, which is being live reported by PokerNews, attracted 182 entrants and offered up an $18,200,000 prize pool. On Day 2, a little over 40 players remained when Texas Mike, in his own words, “punted.”

As reporter David Salituro wrote in Level 16 (15,000/30,000/30,000), action folded to Alexander Zubov who limped in from the small blind. Moncek then raised to 120,000 from the big blind and Zubov came back with a reraise to 350,000. Moncek quickly slid forward his entire stack and Zubov snap-called for 1,405,000 to create the biggest pot of the tournament up to that point.

Alexander Zubov: Q♣Q♦
Michael Moncek: K♦3♥

Moncek, who days earlier finished ninth in the Triton Million for a career-high $1.2 million, had been caught making a big move as he had most of his chips at risk against Zubov's queens. The 9♦7♠2♣J♠7♥ board provided Moncek no help as Zubov earned the massive double up, leaving Moncek with just one big blind.

Moncek was all in the next hand with Q♦9♣ and up against Stephen Song's 8♥8♣. Moncek hit two pair on a board of Q♣9♠7♣5♣, but Song spiked the 8♠ on the river to make a set and send Moncek to the rail.

Not long after, Texas Mike took to X to vent, opening up an existential poker conversation.

In a second tweet, he added: “Idk what the move is. Blind out? Double then blind out? Play ridiculous unnecessary big pots to become chip leader some of the time and get to leave most of the time? Felt fine entering tournament but will never be able to anticipate endless hours or future days of heart health. So dumb and so frustrating. Top 10 with 40 left in triton main and have to commit poker suicide.

“Don’t even know what’s more embarrassing blinding out on tv table or 4b jam nuclear punt. Probably vpip’ing bottom 10% of 500k and 100k tourney post late reg. If I randomly 4b rip K3o its not because I think its a good move sigh.”

A two-time WSOP bracelet winner and four-time Circuit ring winner with just shy of $4 million in lifetime earnings according to the Hendon Mob, Texas Mike continued: “Even worse not feeling well on tv table. Would be awful to have an emergency on camera. IDK man … Def learning this and starting to accept it. My fault for playing I just love it and optimistically hope I’ll make it through.”

The poker community seemed to sympathize with Texas Mike, many encouraging him to go the cash game route as it allows for him to come and go as he pleases.

Fellow poker pro Dan Colpoys said, “Tournaments and unpredictable health situations don't mix well. I stepped away roughly 18 months ago for this reason. Was curious as to why you were doing this. Avoiding stressful environments/ decisions like this seems like the move. Light environment cash when feeling well.”

Morgan Petro shared, “Feel you man. Play mtts full time with MS and wondering how long I can keep it up with not knowing if I'm gonna be ok or feel awful for some big day 2 or worse.”

Jeff Boski summed it up best:

The good news is that on Thursday Texas Mike seemed ready to get back on the horse when he shared, “Woke up feeling like 70% better. Might hop in day 2 of the PLO tourney, prob best game to play if you might need a break since equities run way closer preflop.”

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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