Mike Matusow

Mike Matusow, also known as “The Mouth,” is a well-known American professional poker player. Mike is known at the poker table for his straightforwardness and barbed remarks for his opponents and also for pranking around. He was born on April 30, 1968, in Los Angeles, California. He currently resides in Henderson, Nevada. Mike now has over $10.3 million in live tournament earnings and four WSOP bracelets.

He is also a regular on Hustler Casino Live Poker, appearing 7 times in the live show. Mike has a cumulative winnings of $52,645 from his participation in HCL. He also hosts his own podcast, “The Mouthpiece Podcast,” and is the 2013 NBC National Heads-Up Poker champion. He won the first-place prize of over $750,000. Together with Amy Calistri and Tim Lavalli, Mike wrote his own eye-opening autobiography in 2009, Check-raising the Devil.

Mike Matusow: Early Life

Mike Matusow was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He was frequently bullied when he was younger. He stood up against the biggest and toughest kids in the neighborhood. Also, he enjoyed bowling, shooting pool, and building cars. He completed high school and aspired to be a mechanic. However, he ended up working in a furniture store and became interested in gambling over time.

At the age of 18, he spent hours playing video poker at the Las Vegas Maxim Casino until he developed repetitive strain injuries in both his arms and shoulders. Matusow developed a minor obsession to the point where he had to steal money from his mother’s wallet in order to continue playing. He eventually ended up in gamblers’ anonymous meetings. This obsession turned out to be helpful as it prepared him for future poker success.

Mike Matusow later became a dealer at Sam’s Town Hotel, which helped his game by allowing him to carefully observe and pick up tips from the players. He spent his time at the table studying the players and their techniques. His game quickly improved, and he eventually participated in a small poker tournament, which he promptly won.

Mike Matusow’s Journey on Hustler Casino Live Poker

Mike Matusow is an active HCL player who has faced off against well-known poker players such as JBoogs, Sashimi, Francisco, and many more. He is one of the most entertaining players to watch in the league. During HCL Episode 363, he suffered his biggest loss of -$5,735 while Alec Torelli won the largest prize of $55,685 during that episode.

Mike’s first appearance was on HCL’s Episode 11 Crazy Action Ante Game streamed last August 17, 2021. He played $5/5 + $50BB Ante No Limit Hold ‘em and took home $6,330.

Hustler Casino Live Episode 17 aired on August 24, 2021, and featured a $5/5 + $50 No Limit Hold’em game. He went through the game’s highs and lows and earned $3,590.

Matusow’s poker night was a spectacle in the January 2023 episode, which was marked as HCL Episode 361. Beginning with a chip count of $16,400, he skillfully navigated the game, and by the end of the stream, his chip count had risen to a whopping $74,550. “The mouth” finished his game with a total of $58,150 in winnings.

Mike Matusow: Live Tournament Participation

Mike “The Mouth” Matusow has earned over $10.3 million from his participation in live tournaments and has won four WSOP bracelets. He first competed in the Four Queens Poker Classic in September 1996 in Las Vegas, where he finished 3rd and earned $7,547. His last appearance was at the 54th World Series of Poker in July 2023 in Las Vegas, where he earned $5,330.

Conclusion

Mike Matusow is undeniably one of the world’s best professional poker players. He made a name for himself through his live tournaments and appearances on Hustler Casino Live. Matusow consistently demonstrates that no matter how many times he is kicked down, he always manages to get back on his feet. Many people believe that he and his accomplishments in HCL will continue to grow.