Story of The Poker Feud Between Phil Hellmuth and Isaac Haxton

In the latest poker drama, Phil Hellmuth has accused Isaac Haxton of getting an edge on the poker table due to his habit of wearing masks. Many well known poker stars like Daniel Negreanu, Shawn Deeb, Mike Matusow, Matt Berkey and Justin Bonomo have weighed in on this matter.
Negreanu Berkey Poker Controversy - • Intense Poker Drama Be...
#poker
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[@LevelofClarity]

I don't think Daniel is jealous of Ike. I think he genuinely found it ironic to see this dude wearing a mask and taking it off to smoke, or vape, or whatever.

[@KickStaff]

i think Ike disgusts Daniel on a personal level. Daniel is someone who at an advanced age decided to become a gym rat but before that he was vegan and always took health super seriously. it doesnt look like Ike exercises much plus he smokes or did smoke.....Daniel likely thinks its a joke that Ike is doing this for health reasons and is trying to be passive aggressive. The only problem is he's completely WRONG.....the germs you can catch from other people are a million times worse than some smoke and lack of exercise. I had RSV because i used to play with my nephews and they gave me the illness. I couldnt breathe i almost died. I havent seen ym nephews or family now for 6 years. And you know what i did love them and i still miss them but nothing was worth getting sick like that for. No person is worth taking that risk for.

[@LevelofClarity]

@@KickStaff I’m sorry to hear that. Terrible this happened to you. If Ike feels this strongly about it then it’s surprising that he playing is poker tournaments when so many chips and cards change hands. Not sure how much the mask is making a difference with all of the other points of contact in mind.

[@dalereinhold640]

NEVER did I think I’d take Phil Hellmuth side in anything…yet here I am!

[@xRakanishu]

It's because Hellmuth and your god Trump are cut from the same cloth 🤣

[@Imadethistocomment13]

Shaun Deeb is the last person that shouldn't ever come in any discussion regarding poker etiquette

[@pokerace420]

Why?

[@andrewdoctor6584]

@@pokerace420because he’s a low life POS trash talker 😂

[@ihateaqsuited]

I just don’t get the point of wearing a mask for health reasons when you are swapping cards and chips for 12 hours a day with hundreds of other people.

[@RoCkShaDoWWaLkEr]

Virtue signaling at it's worst.

[@rawmean8989]

Does he want 6 feet distance too? 😂

[@georgejacob6563]

If he is licking the chips and cards then you have a point. But the mask is to ensure that he isn't inhaling viruses and other contaminants in the air that can compromise his health.

[@TheGeneral_LUFC]

It doesn't matter. If he is wants to wear one who cares. Why does it bother u yanks. Who gives a shit

[@randylahey8207]

​@@georgejacob6563he's in a casino, almost all of which have put in advanced air filtration systems post coof. And do you seriously think you have to lick your hands? 😂 C'mon now, let's not be ridiculous. The biggest issue with wearing a mask constantly is that you're not allowing your immune system to improve itself over time against potential attackers. So the message he's sending out is in reality potentially doing more harm than good. Let alone evidence continued to show that the vast majority of cases that people contract come from their home. Unless you're going to become a hermit and not contact anybody, you're going to have to engage with the outside world at some point. And if you're truly that sickly that you're putting yourself at risk, I'd say doing so to go play some cards is a bit silly, even if you are as good as Ike. Personally I don't care, wear whatever you want. But the science that's come out does not justify him wearing a mask every time he sits down, unless he's so potentially at risk that being there in the first place is head scratching at best...

[@frankyboy44444]

I think the mask looks dumb af. But if its within the rules, what can ya do.

[@MrScaramoosh]

Just makes him look dumb and ignorant, and proves money is no disguise.

[@xaviererickson3351]

Change the rules.

[@mcfly7]

Off course it looks dumb. It's a sign that you are a sheep.

[@joshfoster6189]

Honestly though who cares how it looks? It ain't a fashion show

[@andrewdoctor6584]

@@xaviererickson3351exactly

[@PissyKnish]

Has anyone noticed how all this drama in poker started the day X started paying for post engagement?

[@mcfly7]

How do you get paid?

[@cbrreezzyy69]

Bro, that Bane audio clip at the beginning had me dying

[@cial67]

Phil ranting constantly is bad for poker 🤦‍♂️ He's made people think it's okay to belittle people at the table and you see that in all poker rooms now and it's pathetic

[@spectreshot8536]

Oh. Hellmuth is an absolute scumbag and in fifteen years, I've never agreed with anything he's done, but this one? Yeah. The mask thing is just a btch move.

[@cantankerouspatriarch4981]

Many people love to hate watch Helmuth, so his behaviour has likely been a net + for poker.

[@LiamDiack]

I think that if someone claims to wear a mask for health reasons and yet they vape/smoke and do not work out, they are likely being insincere.

[@charlesdicus6451]

Jaffe coming out and making it all about Phil's ego was kind of hilarious, the only person making it about ego is you bro

[@TheGeneral_LUFC]

Phil is the only one talking about it...of.course it's about his ego. Ike is on some tear.

[@chris2003ize]

Helmuth complaining that "it's not in the spirit of poker" you couldn't make it up.

[@cial67]

Belittling everyone else's play at the table apparently is in the spirit of poker 😅😅

[@untouchable360x]

Haxton is actually Harry Potter. That's why he's wearing a mask. He's been using his magic to cheat.

[@naswiipp]

Great content as always.

[@Podobed]

As someone who genuinely likes Ike as a poker player, I think him wearing as mask is 100% for the edge. Those high rollers are so close in equity between the top 10 players, it's a HUGE edge at times.

[@ACougarHunter]

This take is absolutely horrible. Exactly what edge are you talking about? He can’t eat Oreos with the mask on? Gtfo bro.

[@Podobed]

@@ACougarHunter wtf are you talking about Oreos? The edge is hiding his face while at a live poker event.

[@ACougarHunter]

@@Podobed if you don’t get the Oreo reference you clearly won’t understand anything else I type on the matter.

[@Podobed]

@@ACougarHunter I get the rounders reference, but you are still stupid

[@crackmiler9127]

At Ike's next final table, everyone should turn up in balaclavas just to even the playing field, Ike Haxton, Justin Bonamo, Dan Smith and Bryn Kenny have about as much charisma as Dnegs has in his little finger, they turn people away from poker, they reap the rewards of what people like Helmuth and Dnegs have built.

[@BrettMcNary]

well said!

[@gha7376]

This is an absolutely horrible take. Those guys reap the benefits of their hard work and talent. Poker existed before DNegs or Hellmuth knew what poker was. And who cares about charisma? They aren't entertainers, they are poker players.

[@andrewdinns1746]

@@gha7376 get a clue. the reason why poker has existed before dnegs and will always exist is because poker players are entertainers. You're supposed to make sure the fun players enjoy losing money to you. Eli Elzera loved playing cards with Doyle and Chip. Ask yourself why? it's because it was entertaining for him.

[@crackmiler9127]

@gha7376 how do you think new people come into the game? It's certainly not from watching robotic, mask wearing, virtue signalling incels play gto for 3 days straight, of course it's about charisma and entertainment, what would get more people into a game, a table with Tony G, Dnegs and Martin Kabrhel or one with Dan Smith, Ike Haxton and Justin Bonono? I see them as thieves, the entertaining players come up with new innovative ways to build a huge new player base simultaneously keeping the new players involved by doing some crazy stuff to give people a chance, meanwhile scrooge mcduck and his associates are concocting sinister plans to scrounge every measly penny then can take off the new player base and butcher them so they never want to see a pack of cards again, I think the saying goes, "you can shear a sheep many times but skin it only once" these are the modern day Apaches, scalping left, right and centre.

[@BrettMcNary]

@@crackmiler9127 well said....they are lifeless culture vultures

[@antzooma]

This has got to be the weakest drama ever 'I saw you smoking!' 'No, I was vaping!' 'Ok! I am mistaken then'

[@Tritiuminducedfusion]

The whole argument seemed to have gone way over your head... although I doubt there isn't much that isn’t over your pea brain. The point was that he wears a mask for lung issues and was seen smoking, dullard.

[@Humanprototype-wh8qr]

lol its just reasonable If someone is semminglx concerned about health There is a argument about face covering and you see that guy smoking and none workout Its just ridiculous and pretty questionable But ike got a wife with bad immune system

[@KickStaff]

@@Humanprototype-wh8qr what does smoking and not exercising have to do with masking?? I caught RSV from not making some asshole spit right in my mouth (by accident) but he was sick and i caught it i almost died i couldnt breathe well for 2 weeks. Smoking is nothing compared to catching an airborne illness from someone. Not masking is like walking to the worst part of town and then being surprised that you got mugged. Yeah its possible you might have been mugged anywhere but you increased those odds by where you traveled. Same with masking.....by not masking you increase chances of catching sickness of any type not only Covid.

[@Humanprototype-wh8qr]

@@KickStaff it is just about immune system, if one is very concerned to the extend that he has to hide the face, and is smoking and not working out its just ridiculous. and masking is like 5% helpful it was all a lie its a dustmask i got guys working in steel industry , they needed to make stress test, bec they wear theese masks and its very hot. they needed to sign that its non effective vs virus, gas, ... its just very little barrier

[@user-me3np9cx2d]

Why the heck is he still wearing a mask? That makes no sense

[@KickStaff]

Ive been wearing a mask since 2018 long time before covid even happened and ive never looked back. I never caught covid and i havent been sick for almost a decade (knock on wood)

[@DNRchist]

​@@KickStaffunless your immune system is already too weak, there is nothing wrong with catching a virus once in a while, as it activates and strengthens your immune system.

[@balbomb]

Ike saying barstool was bad for poker because he didn't want to play with more bros is still the worst take of all time. Also Bonomo is a tool.

[@ricky.3326]

I absolutely stand with Phil on this one. I find it hilarious that Haxton is a chain smoker

[@RaditzAus]

ike is 100% the biggest tool in the poker scene today

[@digitalwarfarerecords6532]

Dont touch the poker Chips whatever you do Issacc!

[@Tritiuminducedfusion]

Of course, that clown is doing it for an edge, it's even more ironic that Ike smokes. Pure clown status.

[@RoCkShaDoWWaLkEr]

That and he's touching cards and chips that everyone else is touching as well.

[@cial67]

If it's an edge then why don't they all do it with that much money on the line?? 🤡

[@Tritiuminducedfusion]

@cial67 Because not everyone is desperate for any little edge and is confident in their skill? Not to mention not wanting to look like a retard? If only a very small percentage of people do it, obviously there are a plethora of reasons... all of which are probably above a mules' level of comprehension. Imagine calling someone a clown when you have single digit I.Q. and do nothing in life. Comical.

[@Tritiuminducedfusion]

@@cial67 Tell us you're one of those goofball, socially autistic bozos like Haxton without telling us. 😆

[@idaholandwhore]

Will Jaffe thought viewers cared about his opinion.

[@ag6248]

Haxton is so unlikeable

[@johnnypoker46]

I like Hellmuth and Negreanu but I have to side with Haxton on this one

[@shubhamshrestha3227]

Totally agree with hellmuth here,FYI Vogelsang Is the worst

[@naj5999]

At this point when I see Haxton in a mask I think ‘man, this guy is a bit of a douche’ because at this point, it’s clearly not about health concerns anymore. But at the top level of play I find it difficult to believe the mask is the difference between Haxton finishing in position X vs Y. But I’m a cash game pro, tournaments bore the life out of me, so what do I know?

[@jaksdt]

5:50, Jaffe must be high, because Phil's 17 bracelets would disagree and Daniel is above Ike on the all time money list and has 5 bracelets more.

[@Six6legz]

Wills point is so spot on. I’m so sick of people with lax positions on covid judging others. I’m immunocompromised, so are my family, don’t judge me if I want to mask up and be ‘over the top’ with the safety of my heath. Until it’s against the rules, I’m gonna continue playing like that. Honestly, I don’t know how Phil is still staying relevant with these min buy-in, nitted up games. You peaked kid, back to 5-10

[@Humanprototype-wh8qr]

Makes no sense unless playin shr to expose so much with bad immune system Mask is ineffective compared to just not exposing

[@gmoney4577]

Masks have been proven to be useless, get it right.

[@itsblizzxrd]

I don’t get why people are thinking Daniel is taking shots at Ike. He made a fairly lighthearted joke due to the irony of Ike smoking. It is common knowledge that Daniel does not care if people wear masks due to the affects of covid.

[@burkhartlaw1]

That wasn’t a shot at him? Of course it was. Daniel hates that Ike is better than him. Daniel has very very thin skin.

[@gabrielfigueroa8463]

Daniel is being passive aggressive. He’s a bitch that way!

[@michaellassen5659]

Hackstons own comments demonstrates clearly that he is the one with the biggest ego, and the least understanding of what is healthy. somebody interested in judging, could have a field day comparring his intelligence at the game of poker with his demonstrated very low intelligence in most other things he comments on or behavior wise and try to find a matching diagnosis

[@faismasterx]

Berkey is such a clown.

[@chrish8229]

Wait. So he wears a mask because of covid lol. Not other flus or colds? Can't you get sick by touching the cards or chips? Or touching door handles and such?

[@rudistorm3348]

Not unless your dirty hands touch your eyes mouth or nose.

[@johnphillips669]

Ike is super autistic and not very smart at that. He put all of his RAM in poker and is incapable of thinking logically about anything else.

[@alejandroabad-pablo7813]

Don’t b a gullible lil sht. He says that so that people can THINK it’s for that reason when In reality Haxton has a huge mouthing tell

[@KickStaff]

@@rudistorm3348 i carry hand sanitizer everywhere and mask 24/7. sometimes there really is nothing you can do though, some guy coughed at the gorcery store the other day i almost punched him. I take such precautions to avoid any illness and then some asshole ruins everything but im aware this is not my planet and we all have to share the world but its just so unfair for someone to go out in public when they are sick. I think it should become a crime to cough in public you should go to jail if you knew you were sick

[@newconditions6367]

touching things doesn't make you sick lol

[@jeffg6900]

What a bunch of needless BS

[@cial67]

Says the guy who wore sunglasses his whole career 😂😂

[@bigsteed007]

There’s no comparison between coming to an event in a costume once a year to add a little fun and wearing a face diaper. I also don’t think Phil wears the costumes in the following days of the tournament. Ike is actually posing for his winning photos with the diaper on. What a legacy!

[@joemanna491]

The last guy ( I think his name is Justin) is spot on on his point of view!

[@lunchbox6576]

Phil " I think it is ok for me to wear sunglasses and cover my face " but when someone wears a mask it is wrong. Phil as big a hypocrite as always.

[@Run187]

Hellmuth who used to wear sunglasses and cover his face, he literally said that lol . Well, Phil . If you ban masks then sunglasses need to go ( shouldn't be in the game to start with) hoods need to go ..

[@JuJu916JuJu]

Ike “ Wizard Potter IDGAF Mask Wearing Beast “ Haxton

[@raexhii]

A bunch of grown men being upset about a guy wearing a mask is such a sad way of living🤡

[@guillaumebelanger6993]

when haxton went on Rogan it created a reverse poker boom. the mask is the same shit you just turn off the vid it looks like a joke

[@loco4dogg]

What's he supposed to be protecting himself from, dust, cause that mask won't stop a virus.

[@casino777-]

he could at least take the photo without the mask,he look ridiculous.shame on you

[@raoulmcwenna6499]

Ike is a troll, thats all. He is smart and maybe he is feeding off the hate from the others. You make him stronger every time you get angry about him Phil!

[@gabrielfigueroa8463]

Ike doesn’t even have to give an explanation. It’s his right to wear a mask. The only time I’ve ever not watched poker on tv, it when hellmuth is on and I definitely find Daniel way more annoying than any mask! Poker players just love to complain.

[@jxrx3793]

Go back all the way to when Haxton had long hair, he was already whooping ass.....if Phil Hellmuth gets down off this throne to say youre a great player, then youre probably top 50 in the world.

[@guillaumebelanger6993]

If u cant beat a guy with a mask damn.

[@damonthomas2975]

Daniel has always been one of my favorite players and always will be but this whole make a statement with an obvious assertion only to later backtrack and pretend he was just joking is something he's done several times. And I've never even met the dude in person lol but multiple times I've seen him do that exact thing on camera. Anyone remember the high stakes episode where the guys started gossiping about Freddie Deeb going south? Ha good episode but during that whole thing Daniel genuinely asked Deeb how much he went south for trying to get an answer to the question of did he take chips off the table...and then later backtracked and said he was just joking when he said/asked that. No you weren't Daniel lol you genuinely didn't know and were genuinely curious and you didn't wanna look like an idiot if he didn't since it was all being recorded, simple as that. I love Daniel but c'mon brotha pick a lane 😂

[@BakerKC]

I'd side with Ike on this one. You can have lung issues that could make you concerned for your more immediate respiratory health and still be a smoker/vaper. I have weak lungs too, but catching up with me 30 years from now is a lot better than 30 days from now.

[@timthegem]

Poker or not, the person who gets angry when they see someone in a face mask is showing that they're weaker and more fragile than the person who's wearing it for whatever reason.

[@spectreshot8536]

The only time I'll ever take the side of Douche Hellmuth, ever. I can't think of a single time in fifteen years I've ever agreed with him. The mask thing is lame. Sorry. If I don't see them literally hand sanitizing every time they touch anything, then they aren't wearing it for health reasons.

[@susymay7831]

I like the last speaker in the video.

[@socalkylex]

Phil Laak started covering his face in hands 20 years ago. What’s the problem?

[@ivorscrotumic3556]

Does Helmuth think that berating people at the table is "good for poker"...? He's full of shit imo. Haxton can do whatever he wants.

[@brucelee5576]

Even if he’s trying to gain an edge , there’s no rules against it, if we ban mask then ban sunglasses too.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreStupid]

Ike isn't wearing the mask for health reasons. Differentiating between smoking and vaping. LMAO

[@brucelee5576]

I don’t know the science or research behind it if any but smoking is super harsh compared to vaping , I feel much healthier vaping.

[@smg7187]

So before covid, ike was not wearing a mask. There was still the flu and other respiratoty infections out there. Maybe covid made him become paranoid i guess🤷🏻‍♂️

[@michaelferguson7494]

If someone's behavior is within the rules of a tournament you have no room to complain about what they are doing. Don't start raking someone over the coals for wearing a mask, you should be complaining about the tournament directors who set the rules

[@davidg9036]

If he's so concerned about his health it would be 💯% better if he just played Online. All that chip grabbing, no social distancing, why chance it, just play Online.

[@mark5071]

Or, just play with a mask. Why do you care?

[@LifeisA_Dream]

Haxton may be able to hide tells but its hardly worth depriving your brain of oxygen!

[@TheGeneral_LUFC]

Who gives a shit if he wears one. That's his business..hellmuth saying its bad for poker is one of the most ridiculous takes I've heard in a long time. Hellmuth is just jealous of ikes success last year.

[@lipesa.1981]

If you are sick just stay at home

[@bretthowell8900]

Apparently he gives of a mouth tell which is why he wears the mask personally i find it really annoying to watch irritating even though im watching online

[@YouTubeNinga1]

If i never seen jaffe again commenting on poker it would be too soon. Good luck to him in his life. But i have zero time for him and his poker input.

[@richardbauman4731]

People can't see his face ? What about online ? Should that go also ? Who the freak made Hellmuth the poker czar ?

[@TheGeneral_LUFC]

It's ridiculous

[@faismasterx]

If you're wearing a mask, you should also be wearing latex gloves. Your exposed hands are much more likely to make you sick, than breathing in the air. It's also not airborne, btw, so I don't know what Haxton is really worried about here. If someone sick coughs on your face by accident, you have a non-zero chance of catching something communicable just from having your eyes exposed. Haxton should just come out and admit that he wants to hide any tells he might have.

[@joemanna491]

Just another excuse for his suboptimal play. Time to grow up and conduct yourself like a gentleman.

[@New-ye2fl]

Struggle to sleep tonight after all this drama

[@cbrreezzyy69]

Usually Phil is wrong, but I 100% agree with him here. It would be different if it was 2020 and we were in the thick of Covid, but we’re not. At this point, it’s ridiculous. Also, Jesus Christ, I didn’t know so many high level poker players can’t take a joke. What clowns.

[@MikeGervasi]

Come on. He never bitched when Phil Laak came on the scene with a hoodie tightened around his face like Kenny on South Park.

[@nikitakucherov5028]

I don’t agree that often with Hellmuth but here I do

[@nevillemignot1681]

Does Phil Hellmuth ever shut up, about anything?

[@-maccabee]

Meanwhile hellmuth wears a hat to hide, and puts his hands in front of his face when making moves and even wears sunglasses.. lolol

[@Musashi12]

I never thought I would say this but I agree with Phil Hellmuth.

[@mezzodana]

I believed in individual choice when they started to force us to wear masks and I believe in those same principles now. It’s none of our business why a person chooses to wear a mask in public or not. However, the right thing to do is be empathetic for any reason someone does wear a mask. It’s best to be empathetic and understanding given all possibilities. Jumping to conclusions and just making flippant cheating allegations is absolutely wrong and does nothing for the poker community.

[@Charles.Wright]

Agreed. Cheating allegations are extremely inappropriate, considering that he most likely wears the mask because he is a beta NPC

[@Texasfishingfamily]

Helmuth doesn't wear a mask because he just loves for people to hear him talk. He covers his face in almost every hand he plays though. What kind of world would it be if we couldn't hear him rant his redundant and tired diatribe.

[@CanadianLoveKnot]

If he is worried about his health, he can play online poker.

[@bleedingrocks2910]

Who’s the gimp at the end

[@JackFate61]

Who is will jaffe?

[@crackmiler9127]

Some ego maniac that made a video calling out other players for having an ego, that's the thing with egotistical people, they don't have the self awareness to stop themselves, he also plays poker.

[@NoMoreAsterisks]

I think burqas would be good for poker.

[@airgunballistics1779]

They forced him to wear it during lockdown so now they are stuck with it! Deal with it 🤔🤦📢

[@hylens5111]

I turn the channel when I see Foxen.

[@Andrew-yf3lu]

If he was wearing a mask to hide tells, hed have sunglasses and a cap and cover his face with his hands. You know, like helmuth does

[@khiemtvuong]

Agreed

[@sebastienlandry7868]

If it gives you that big of an edge, you are free to wear one Phil

[@deemagico]

i agree with Phil, but for different reason. He´s even more annoying with mask 🤣

[@24Cristiandiaz]

Matt Berkey is a living joke!

[@MikeGervasi]

It wasn't carotid, that much I know.

[@18pablo88]

Will jaffe point was utterly rambling pointless crap.

[@bbbbBEOTCH]

wtf u smackin on about jaffe? PH gotta be the best to have an opinion? gotta play them 200Ks to have a voice thas respected 😂😂 *they are jelly of ike* 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Lang7]

Take off the mask, soft lad. If you're really that concerned about potential respiratory issues then you'd be nowhere near a poker table.

[@Charles.Wright]

And he wouldn't be wearing a mask

[@davidg9036]

Exactly

[@xaviererickson3351]

Right poker used to be a gentleman’s game now it’s just a bunch of weirdos.

[@KickStaff]

@@xaviererickson3351 i dont even play poker but ive been wearing a mask 24/7 for the past 8 years yes even before Covid. I saw a bunch of asians wearing masks and decided to be smart like them and save my lungs from pollution and diseases in the air. I even wear my mask when im alone in the car just in case. Are you calling me a weirdo? I support this man Ike for being a pioneer in the gaming world

[@Leifmommy]

Yah why wearing all the time Yah Phil Helmut is right about this eh I agree with Phil Helmut I noticed this man wearing a mask all the time

[@donmasacre4919]

This conversation isn't new. In 2006 or before people started using sunglasses and hoodies.

[@cial67]

Phil is one of the guys who always wore sunglasses too 😅

[@rmblnmn]

I suggest next final he's in that everybody wears that mask

[@HappyTofu2424]

Dumbest take ever from Phil. He spent the better part of 30 years playing with sunglasses on but now a guy wearing a mask is a problem? Wear a mask if you want the same "advantage" or shut up!

[@cial67]

If it is such an advantage many more players would do it with that much money on the line. It's no different than his ridiculous sunglasses. It is funny how he deems sunglasses fine but not masks 🤦‍♂️

[@oriondx72]

I wanna play a game! Jigsaw

[@jimsmith1856]

Ike Haxton has no lips.

[@Welcome-oj4qs]

The mask is so fcking lame if its for what he claims, it doesnt work anyway. It 100% is for advantage its poker and he covers half his face

[@johnnycash-tb3dg]

he is 100% right