Unconventional Move by "Texas Mike" in WSOP High Roller's Soft Bubble Situation
Michael "Texas Mike" Moncek, fearless on the poker table, didn't hesitate to make a big move even against hefty stacks during the money bubble of a high-roller tournament at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Born in Chicago but a University of Texas alum, Moncek demonstrated his poker prowess in the $25,000 buy-in tournament's soft bubble, taking on one of the top tournament players in the world - Stephen Chidwick.
Gaming for Stacks on the Bubble
The Event #16: $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed drew 245 entrants, many of the best in the game. But on Tuesday's Day 2 session, only 39 remained, just two away from the money.
With the blinds at 10,000/20,000, Moncek, holding approximately 50 big blinds, was well-equipped to navigate the bubble. Yet, this isn't an average modern poker player we're discussing; Texas Mike isn't shy about swinging for the fences in high-rollers.
John Hennigan initiated a no-limit hold'em raise to 40,000 from middle position. Undeterred, Moncek merely called from the small blind with K♥Q♦. Chidwick, a consistent chip leader, three-bet to 180,000 from the big blind with 9♠9♦. Hennigan, without revealing his hand, folded. Seizing the opportunity, Moncek pushed all-in, committing his entire stack of 990,000 chips. Despite the risk, his opponent, holding about 2.2 million chips, decided to call.
The flop and turn produced J♥5♥3♦10♦, giving Moncek a strong hand with two overcards and an open-ended straight draw. The A♠ on the river completed his straight, leaving him with a formidable 2,040,000 chips, over 100 big blinds.
Moncek boasts a live tournament cash total exceeding $5.2 million, according to The Hendon Mob. His success is largely attributed to playing aggressively, as evidenced by numerous high-stakes pots in cash games, notably on Hustler Casino Live'sMillion Dollar Game.
Texas Mike's All-In Bet at WSOP Hits Snag, Runs into Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces
Known for his multitabling abilities and high-risk, high-reward plays, Texas Mike is a formidable competitor in the fast-paced environment of poker tournaments. Despite a lack of detailed information about his performance in the 2025 WSOP or PokerGO Cup, his reputation as a skilled and bold poker player continues to grow.
During the money bubble of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Michael "Texas Mike" Moncek, known for his aggressive styles, made a daring all-in move with K♥Q♦ against Stephen Chidwick's 9♠9♦ in a high-stakes no-limit hold'em game. Despite Chidwick holding a significant chip lead, he called, but the table turned when Moncek hit a straight with the river card, A*♠. This, once again, showcased Texas Mike's prowess in the casino-games sector, notably in casino-and-gambling events, including poker and sports betting.
