Will Kassouf Escorted and Banned After Chaotic WSOP Main Event Exit

Will Kassouf has been escorted from the WSOP premises and banned from playing for the remainder of this year’s series after a fiery and chaotic exit on Day 7 of the Main Event.

WSOP US Circuit Tournament Director Dennis Jones would inform Kassouf after his 33rd-place finish that he would be escorted to collect his payout and let him know he wouldn’t be welcomed back for the remainder of the 2025 WSOP, which ends on Wednesday.

Kassouf would respond by immediately asking to speak with WSOP Vice President Jack Effel – when and if that conversation takes place remains to be seen.

The Englishman, who was sent to the rail after an all in showdown with chip leader Kenny Hallaert, would exit the Event Center to a cacophony of booing, singing, and cheering at a fired-up Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas.

Controversy has followed Kassouf throughout this year’s Main Event, from blaming Americans for being unable to handle his trash talk, to tanking for ten minutes with the second nuts, Kassouf’s run, like his table talk, has been anything but quiet.

But his face won’t be on the next banner raised in the Event Center at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas when a new world champion is crowned on July 16.

Kassouf would make his final exit to a triumphant chorus of “sha-la-la, hey hey, goodbye” from the rail, before security would escort the player from the premises after a round of media interviews.

Chip Leader Hallaert Ends Kassouf’s Main Event

PokerNews’ David Salituro captured Kassouf’s final hand, with the action unfolding as follows.

Hallaert raised to 850,000 in the cutoff as action went on Kassouf in the small blind. “I have a hand. I’ll bet you $10,000. Put your money where your mouth is,” Kassouf said to Pedro Padilha, who again took issue with how long Kassouf was taking. Kassouf eventually tossed in his last 2,700,000.

Will Kassouf: 7♠7♦
Kenny Hallaert: K♥5♥

“He called me with king-five,” Kassouf said after Hallaert revealed his hand. The A♣J♠10♦ flop gave Hallaert a straight draw, while he spiked the K♣ on the turn to take the lead.

“Queen on the river. Disgusting. Seven or a queen, dealer’s choice,” Kassouf pleaded, but he missed the J♥ river and was sent to the rail.

Kassouf would tell the rest of the table, “I’ll remember all of your faces” and “I’ll see you next year”, before exiting the stage to be escorted by security to the payout desk for his $300,000 prize.

Follow PokerNews Live Coverage of the 2025 WSOP Main Event

Eliot Thomas is a Content Executive at PokerNews, specializing in casino and poker coverage. He has reported from major events including the European Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker.