The chances that anyone reading this will strap on a WSOP bracelet are roughly equal to odds that Charlton Heston will come back from the dead and exercise his second amendment rights on the nicely maturing tomatoes in my vegtable garden. In short, it’s not bloody likely. This is no slight on the folks who come to LaunchPoker; that statement holds true whether you are a vacationing accountant who is dipping their toe into the WSOP or Phil Hellmuth. In short, it is hard to win a piece of WSOP jewelry. If you are lucky enough to strap one on your wrist you’re going to want to celebrate, but there are rules and etiquette that dictate just how much you can display your happiness.
Hevad Khan’s march through the WSOP Main Event in 2007 was a clinic in how to be a bad winner. Nobody would have been surprised if one of his “touchdown” dances included steps borrowed from a Michael Flatley production. This no longer flies in the WSOP (or anywhere in the civilized, poker playing, world). If you happen to win at the WSOP, keep your celebration, modest, respectful of your opponents, and don’t spike anything. You can go nuts later in your hotel room. This is also a good rule to remember when you are playing in any tournament and wind up taking the top spot.
Obviously this means trash talking to the vanquished is also frowned upon. Remember, in your time as a poker player, you are going to lose far more tournaments then you are ever going to win. Luck plays a big part in any tournament victory, and the person you beat today could walk all over you tomorrow if the luck aspect of the game tilts a little in their favor.
