Worst Bad Beat Poker Hands in WSOP History

Poker Player with Head on Table Angry after Bad Beat

Bad beat poker hands are part of the brutal beauty of the game and when they happen at the WSOP, the stakes (and heartbreak) are sky-high. From busted full houses to one-outers on the river, bad beats can knock out legends, tilt careers, and become unforgettable moments in poker history. In this article, we’re looking at the most infamous WSOP bad beats ever caught on camera. You’ll see the hands, watch the videos, and feel the pain one beat at a time.

What Is a Bad Beat in Poker?

A bad beat is when a strong hand gets crushed by something that should’ve never hit. You’ve got the odds, you play it right and still lose. It’s not just any loss. It’s a punch in the gut, usually delivered by a wild river card or some miracle runner-runner.

It’s not the same as a “cooler,” where two big hands collide and someone’s bound to lose. Bad beats hit harder, especially at the WSOP. You’re deep in a tournament, the pressure’s high, and then boom you’re out, and you did almost nothing wrong. That’s variance. And in poker games, it comes with the territory.

The Top 5 Worst Bad Beats Poker Hands in WSOP History

Some bad beats sting for a day. Others get replayed for decades. The WSOP has delivered its share of heartbreak, where miracle cards changed everything and near-lock hands fell apart on the river. In this article, we’re breaking down five of the worst bad beats in WSOP history. Each hand includes a breakdown, video receipts, and just enough secondhand pain to relive every moment.

These moments will remind you just how brutal tournament poker can be. Here are the five that made the cut:

5. Isaac Baron vs. Evgenii Akimov (2024)
4. Justin Phillips vs Motoyuki Mabuchi (2008)
3. Bryce Yockey vs. Josh Arieh (2019)
2. Chris Moneymaker vs. Phil Ivey (2003)
1. Jonathan Duhamel vs. Matt Affleck (2010)

5. Isaac Baron vs. Evgenii Akimov - 2024 WSOP Online International Main Event

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Isaac Baron had K♠ K♦ and flopped top set on a dry board: K♣ 8♦ 2♠. Akimov held 6♣ 4♠ and paired his 4. Then came the miracle: 5♦ turn, 3♥ river—runner-runner straight to crack kings. The chips went in and Baron was gone, just like that.

Why it matters: Baron was over 97% to win the hand and in a strong position for a $1.8 million payday. Instead, a two-outer sealed his fate on one of the biggest stages of the year.
The impact: Baron was eliminated in fourth, and the clip quickly went viral. Even longtime pros called it one of the worst online bad beats they’d ever seen.

4. Justin Phillips vs. Motoyuki Mabuchi - 2008 WSOP Main Event

The hand looked over before it began. Mabuchi was dealt A♠ A♦, and Phillips held K♣ Q♣.
The flop came A♥ 9♣ 6♣—giving Mabuchi top set and Phillips only a backdoor flush draw. The turn? A♣, giving Mabuchi quad aces. The river? J♣—Phillips hits a royal flush to win one of the rarest hands in WSOP history.

Why it matters: This wasn’t just a bad beat it was one of the rarest outcomes possible. Royal flushes are hard enough to hit. Beating quad aces with one, and doing it in the WSOP Main Event? That’s the kind of hand that makes poker history.
The impact: Mabuchi was knocked out on the spot. The hand became an instant classic and is still one of the most talked-about bad beats the Main Event has ever seen.

3. Bryce Yockey vs. Josh Arieh - 2019 WSOP $50K Poker Players Championship

Bryce Yockey had a near perfect 7-6 low after two draws: 7♦ 6♣ 5♣ 3♠ 2♥—a monster in 2-7 Triple Draw. Josh Arieh, drawing three, was a longshot at best. But by the final draw, Arieh completed the only hand that could beat him: 7♣ 5♠ 4♦ 3♥ 2♠; the unbeatable wheel. It was a 0.157% chance. And it landed.

Why it matters: Being beaten with nearly a 100% chance to win is astonishing, especially in an elite WSOP event.
The impact: Yockey was eliminated in fourth. Poker legend Nick Schulman said it was “the bad beat to end all bad beats.”

2. Chris Moneymaker vs. Phil Ivey - 2003 WSOP Main Event

With ten players left in the 2003 WSOP Main Event, Phil Ivey held 9♣ 9♦ and flopped a set on a board of Q♦ 9♥ 6♠. Moneymaker held A♦ Q♠ and was way behind. The turn brought the 2♠. But then came the dagger: A♠ on the river—giving Moneymaker top two pair and sending Ivey out in 10th.
It was a shocking reversal at a critical moment and the hand that changed everything.

Why it matters: This helped launch the poker boom. Moneymaker’s win as an online qualifier inspired a new generation of players.
The impact: Ivey missed the final table. Moneymaker went on to win the Main Event, proving that an amateur could take on the pros and win.

1. Jonathan Duhamel vs. Matt Affleck - 2010 WSOP Main Event

With 15 players left in the 2010 Main Event, Affleck had A♠ A♣ and Duhamel held J♥ J♠. The board ran out 10♣ 9♦ 7♥ Q♦ and then the 8♦ on the river completed Duhamel’s straight. The chips were in before the river, and Affleck looked ready to take the chip lead into the final table.
But that one card changed everything.

Why it matters: This wasn’t just a bad beat it was an emotional gut punch. Affleck had played a near-perfect hand in the biggest spot of his career, and one card ended it all.
The impact: Duhamel went on to win the Main Event. Affleck’s exit became one of the most memorable in WSOP history not just for the hand, but for the stunned silence and visible heartbreak that followed.

Final Thoughts: Bad Beat Poker Hands in WSOP

Bad beats are part of the game and at the WSOP, they hit harder. The stakes are higher, the pressure is real, and one card can flip everything. But these hands don’t mean the players made mistakes. In most cases, they did everything right.

That’s the nature of tournament poker. Variance doesn’t care about good decisions. What matters is how you respond. Learn from the losses, stay focused, and keep showing up. Because every great poker story includes a bad beat or two it’s just part of getting better.

Ready to follow the live action? Check out the latest WSOP schedule to stay updated on upcoming events and Main Event coverage. Want to practice your skills? Check out the best online poker sites for real money and start playing today!

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Sandra Gaweda