There are some poker players who are flat out boring to watch on TV, and then there are those guys who always make a game worth watching. Some of the old characters remain popular to this day, namely guys like Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth. Aside from these players, there is a new generation of players who are also quite exciting to watch. Different players are fun to watch for different reasons, though. For example, Mike Matusow is loud and obnoxious, while Tom Dwan is just a great, creative player. Each player attracts a different audience and helps to keep TV poker afloat.
The original TV pros are still some of the best to watch. Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, and Phil Laak all do their part in livening up any table. Of course, a player like Phil Laak is popular for his crazy antics, but Ivey often remains completely silent, so what makes them so popular?
There are two different primary reasons that a player will regularly appear on TV, they are either fun to watch, or they are exciting to watch. There are few players who fit into the Dennis Phillips category of “bad at poker and boring.” These types of players usually get the boot after a handful of appearance. With the right lineup of players, even the most dull game could be worth watching.
Entertaining Poker Players
Phil Laak, Mike Matusow, and Phil Hellmuth are the kings of poker entertainment. They don’t have to win a single hand for an entire episode, but could still easily manage to be the center of attention. Few players can say that they were the main attraction without ever winning, but these guys can. Daniel Negreanu could also be considered part of this group, but he is just a bit more skillful than this crowd.
Almost every poker fan is familiar with Mike Matusow’s antics. After all, his name is “The Mouth,” so his vocal ramblings at the table should come as no surprise. Matusow often picks on Phil Hellmuth, another player who is most well known for his talk. Hellmuth would whine about winning the bad beat jackpot if he didn’t get the bigger cut, that is just how ridiculous he is. Hellmuth hates to ever put the blame on himself for a bad play, even when it is blatantly obvious that it was his fault, and Matusow acts in the very same way. Lots of poker players whine about their losses, but no one does it like these two.
On the other end of the Matusow-Hellmuth spectrum is Phil Laak. Laak is always making jokes or trying to have fun when he is playing, whether he is winning or losing. He is never afraid to be the center of attention, even if the other players in the game are making fun of him. In most TV appearances, Laak is playing alongside one of his best friends, Antonio Esfandiari. When these two are at the same table, it usually creates a more jovial atmosphere, even if Matusow or Hellmuth are there to ruin it.
Great Players Who are Also Entertaining
The first group of players are on TV to help keep the general public from getting bored. Many TV poker fans do not care a whole lot about the actual strategy involved in any plays, but there is a segment of people who only tune in to watch the best players in the world duke it out. You will most likely find a solid combination of entertaining and great poker players in any TV event. If the games weren’t set up this way, ratings would almost certainly take a dive. So, with that, we can take a look at the best players who make it a point to run over the competition.
Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, and even Doyle Brunson remain the top televised poker pros. There are a handful of other players who are also near the elite level, but these three are definitely the most recognizable. Phil Ivey holds it down for the original TV poker players, while Tom Dwan represents the new wave of poker players. Then, of course, there is Doyle Brunson. Brunson is a legend in every form of poker, and was an icon even before poker exploded. Despite his age relative to the competition, he is still able to more than hold his own.
All three of these players could also fall into the generally entertaining category. They are most well-known for their actual play, but they also crack their fair share of jokes. Dwan isn’t normally too shy, and Ivey is always ready to make fun of Patrik Antonius or another one of his high stakes friends. Brunson always has a sarcastic comment lined up for whoever wants it, so even the elder of the table is ready and willing to launch a verbal assault. What’s separates these guys, and is one of the reasons they are so good, is that they don’t whine and complain about their losses. They might say something in passing, but it is never the focal point of their session, and this will always make a player more likable, even if it isn’t great for ratings.
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Written by Jonathan Wanchalk on October 17th, 2010