‘Texas Mike’ Makes Unconventional Play on Soft Bubble in WSOP High Roller

Michael “Texas Mike” Moncek shows no fear on the felt in any situation, even against big stacks on the money bubble of a high roller.

The University of Texas alum who is not actually from the Longhorn State — he’s from Chicago — made an aggressive move on the soft bubble of a $25,000 buy-in tournament at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) against one of the top tournament players in the world — Stephen Chidwick.

Gambling for Stacks on the Bubble

Event #16: $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed attracted 245 entrants, including many of the best in the game. But only 39 remained late during Tuesday’s Day 2 session, leaving the tournament two away from the money.

Moncek, with the blinds at 10,000/20,000, was sitting on about 50 big blinds, plenty of chips to make it through the bubble in good shape. But this isn’t your ordinary modern poker player we’re talking about. Texas Mike didn’t win two WSOP bracelets and dominate the 2025 PokerGO Cup playing the way most others do in high rollers.

John Hennigan, in no-limit hold’em, raised to 40,000 from middle position, according to a hand report from PokerNews’ Adam Lamers. Moncek decided to just call from the small blind with K♥Q♦.

Chidwick, who had been among the chip leaders throughout the session, three-bet to 180,000 from the big blind with 9♠9♦. Hennigan, whose hand wasn’t exposed, folded. But Moncek went for an aggressive play, jamming his entire 990,000 stack in the middle. That move didn’t get through, however, as his opponent, who had approximately 2.2 million chips, called, and off to the races they went.

The flop and turn ran out J♥5♥3♦10♦, giving Moncek all sorts of outs with the two over cards and an open-ended straight draw. He’d hit that straight when the A♠ appeared on the river, more than doubling up to 2,040,00, just over 100 big blinds.

Moncek has over $5.2 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob, and he’s done it by playing with similar aggression. He’s also played numerous monster pots in cash games, most notably on Hustler Casino Live’s Million Dollar Game the past couple of years.

Texas Mike Goes All In Blind at WSOP, Runs into Jacks, Queens, Kings & Aces