In back-to-back years, Matt Affleck was chip leader deep in the WSOP Main Event.
In 2010, with 15 players left and ~40% of the chips in play, he got it in with aces vs. jacks against Jonathan Duhamel… and watched the river end his dream on ESPN.

The image of him walking out — water bottle flying, pain on his face — became one of poker’s most replayed clips.
This is the story before and after that moment.

🎮 From a $480K SCOOP win in college to a high school where seven classmates became million-dollar poker winners.
🃏 The truth about back-to-back Main Event deep runs — including the hand.
🌎 Life after ESPN heartbreak: live cash grinds, world travel, and becoming one of poker’s top coaches.

If you only know Matt Affleck from that river card, you don’t know the full story.

Show Notes

• 0:00 – Intro
• 11:30 – Early poker life: high school full of future pros, online beginnings, first big wins
• 24:01 – Qualifying for majors & discovering the thrill of international travel
• 41:32 – Revisiting Main Event heartbreak & the story behind the famous hand
• 45:04 – Legendary Seattle cash games & their colorful personalities
• 47:05 – Moving for poker & adapting to new scenes
• 51:46 – COVID poker boom, coaching surge, and changes in approach

Matt’s Links

• Email: [email protected]
• MattAffleck.com
• PokerCoaching.com
• @mcmattopoker

Table 1 Links

• Play with us Online
• Play with us at Table 1
• August $175/week giveaway

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