PokerPlayer's all time 52 best poker videos: Blow ups & High Stakes Poker

Poker has provided moments of incredible tension, with mind-bending sums of money up for grabs on the turn of a card.

And, with the stakes so high, it can all get a bit much for some people. As well as showcasing top drawer poker skills and players will balls of steel, the TV cameras have caught the biggest bust-ups, the funniest moments and the most controversial calls the game has ever seen. YouTube is also a fantastic archive of poker’s history, with footage going all the way back to the early days of the World Series of Poker in the early 70s. Join us as we count down the best 52 moments caught on camera. From the biggest hands at the most prestigious tournaments on earth, to Phil Hellmuth blowing up, getting stacked and showing the world his more sensitive side.

Blow-ups

Hellmuth v Dwan

When Dwan sucks out on Hellmuth at the NBC Heads Up Championship, the Poker Brat erupts and a challenge is issued.

Hellmuth v Dragomir

Fireworks were expected with Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth on the same table at the 2008 Main Event, but it’s Cristian Dragomir who incurs his wrath when he dares to bust a move and show it

Hellmuth v Negreanu

Detecting a pattern here? This one could have gone in the comedy section as well – just try and watch it with a straight face.

Matusow v Sheikhan

This classic confrontation from the 2005 WSOP Main Event doesn’t end well for either of these two combustible players

Antegate

If you’re going to accuse someone of being a thief at the poker table–three times – you’d better make sure you’re right.

High Stakes Poker

Dwan v Greenstein v Eastgate

The genius of Tom Dwan was broadcast to the world on High Stakes Poker. This was an epic bluff

Hansen v Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu was pretty unlucky on HSP and ended the show’s biggest loser. Hands like this didn’t help.

Dwan v Greenstein

Barry Greenstein is used to playing high stakes but this monster $900k cooler visibly hurt him.

Farha v Greenstein

Aces weren’t good for Greenstein on HSP but this classic hand from Series 1 helped the show gain cult status.

Hellmuth’s 7-2

Phil Hellmuth has provided us with a lotof fun so it’s only fair we give him something back. This hand against Mike Matusow works out perfectly for him and earns him a good pot and bragging rights. Which he duly takes up.

Ivey v Dwan

This three-handed pot, from the aptly named Million Dollar Cash Game, is the biggest in TV history. When two huge hands collide on the turn, all the money goes in, with $1.1m up for grabs. They don’t make TV cash games like this any more!