Allen Kessler and Mike Matusow Slam 2025 WSOP Fantasy Draft Snub

“A Total Lack of Respect”: WSOP Veterans Vent After Being Overlooked in Fantasy Draft

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Fantasy Draft 2025—a long-standing tradition that blends poker passion with fantasy sports flair—delivered its usual dose of drama, but not from the felt this time. Instead, it was poker veterans Allen Kessler and Mike “The Mouth” Matusow making headlines after they were left undrafted, triggering a wave of social media backlash and poker community debate.

Both players, who boast decades of experience and seven-figure career earnings, were stunned to be left off the draft board—a decision they interpret not just as a strategic oversight, but as a public slight.

“It’s pure disrespect,” Kessler posted, following the May 28 event. Matusow echoed the sentiment, stating, “When people don’t respect greatness, poker dies.”

A Closer Look: WSOP Fantasy Draft 2025

Each year, the WSOP $25K Fantasy Draft assembles high-stakes players, stakers, and poker enthusiasts to build teams based on who they believe will crush the WSOP summer series. Players are auctioned off like fantasy football stars, with deep knowledge and long-term value being the currency of choice.

In 2025, the draft was hosted by Daniel Negreanu at Horseshoe Las Vegas and streamed live on PokerGO, attracting thousands of fans and investors. A total of 125 players were selected across teams, including the usual suspects: Shaun Deeb, Josh Arieh, and breakout stars like Jeremy Becker and Darius Samual. But two names were conspicuously missing—Kessler and Matusow.

Why the Snub Hurts

Allen Kessler, affectionately known as “Chainsaw,” has been one of the most consistent grinders in WSOP history. He has 100+ WSOP cashes to his name and over $4 million in lifetime earnings. While he might not have the flashy bracelets of some top-tier pros, his ROI in lower buy-in mixed events and Championship formats is well-documented.

Mike Matusow, meanwhile, is a four-time WSOP bracelet winner and one of the most colorful personalities in the game. His decades-long poker career includes appearances on the legendary “High Stakes Poker” and deep WSOP Main Event runs.

For both men, this isn’t about ego—it’s about legacy. Being left out of the draft felt to them like a dismissal of their contributions to the game.

The Poker Community Reacts

The community reaction was split. While some agreed that Kessler and Matusow were victims of “recency bias,” others pointed to practical concerns: age, recent form, and volatility.

“Fantasy drafts are about current value, not nostalgia,” one fan commented on Twitter. “Both guys are legends, but you can’t blame teams for betting on young volume crushers.”

Others defended the veterans, especially Kessler, who has been cashing at WSOP events with consistency that most players would envy.

Shaun Deeb, a mainstay of the $25K Draft, offered a balanced view: “I get why some people were left out. But there’s always one or two surprises. It doesn’t mean they can’t prove people wrong on the felt.”

Matusow’s Meltdown: “Poker Is Dying”

Matusow, never shy with his emotions, took things further in a series of social media posts and livestreams. He declared that modern poker is “dying” because of what he perceives as a lack of respect for experience, personality, and longevity.

“When the guys who built poker are discarded like trash, what do you think happens?” he said during a heated live session on his YouTube channel.

He also hinted that the game is becoming more robotic, with younger pros “memorizing charts” rather than playing with instinct and flair.

A Motivated Summer Ahead?

Whether or not their omission was justified, one thing is clear: both Kessler and Matusow are heading into the 2025 WSOP with chips on their shoulders.

“Let’s see who’s laughing at the end of the summer,” Kessler tweeted defiantly. The 2025 WSOP is already shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with record prize pools expected and more mixed events than ever before.

Don’t be surprised if either of these poker legends turns their frustration into fuel—and ends up making the drafters regret their choices.

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Source: PokerNews – Kessler and Matusow Furious After WSOP Fantasy Draft