There’s a curious thing in the poker world: these days, pros at the high-stakes tables barely crack a smile even when they scoop millions or snag a major title. Are they just emotionless robots? Not quite. Seth Davies, who’s been crushing it in 2025, spilled the beans in a video from EPT Barcelona, explaining how the brutal grind of tournament poker shapes their reactions.
Seth Davies’ Take on It
This year has been a breakout for Seth Davies. He grabbed his first WSOP bracelet in the $250,000 Super High Roller, pocketing $4,752,551, and followed up with a $6 million haul at Triton Montenegro, including his debut Triton title. With over $12 million in earnings so far, he’s climbed to #16 on the Hendon Mob All-Time Money List. But in his X video from the EPT, Davies got real about why wins don’t always spark fireworks.
He pushed back on the “robot” label: people think high-stakes players show no emotion even for million-dollar pots, but the reality is tournament poker is mostly about losing—dropping hundreds of thousands at a clip until you finally go deep and cash big enough to cover it all and then some. “Don’t get it twisted,” he said. “Enduring thousands of hours of losses stirs up all kinds of feelings, but when you win, the biggest one might catch you off guard. It’s not pure joy—it’s empathy and respect. You’ve been the loser most of your career, so you feel for the guy on the other side.” Davies even shared his own rough patch: five events at EPT with multiple bullets, down €350,000. That’s where the table etiquette comes from, he explained.
For Davies, staying composed isn’t about looking cool; it’s a hard-earned mindset from the endless ups and downs.
Is This Hurting the Game?
Davies owns that muted reactions might not be great for poker’s appeal. “Yeah, it’s probably bad for the game if folks don’t show emotion. Fans crave drama, rivalries, and raw reactions—that’s valid. But high-stakes tourney pros aren’t grinding thousands of hours to go viral on X. They respect the game, chase trophies, and live for the competition. Most are pros first, not entertainers.”
His words lit a fire under the community, drawing responses from heavy hitters like Dan “Jungleman” Cates and Daniel Negreanu on the pro-entertainment divide.
What the Big Names Are Saying
Cates, coming off a $15 million score in massive cash games, argued you don’t have to choose: “You can be a pro and an entertainer at the same time. Ignoring the value in entertaining is shortsighted and honestly not very pro.”
Negreanu, always vocal on poker culture, stressed that emotion fuels top-tier sports and games: “Every major sport or competition thrives on elites showing passion.” He broke it down by stakes: “I’d say professionalism matters more at low stakes—like not celebrating when some grandma busts out. For amateurs, it’s real money on the line, not just another day at the office. But high stakes? It’s cutthroat. If you can’t handle your opponent pumping fists on a big win, toughen up.”
Drawing from icons, Negreanu added: “The key is being authentic. Picture Tiger Woods skipping the fist pump, or Michael Jordan stone-faced after a buzzer-beater out of empathy for the losers? Or Magnus Carlsen not slamming the table in chess frustration? Those moments hook people. The WSOP Main Event final table shines because of the crowd’s energy and players’ vibes. If a river card fires you up for a fist pump, there’s nothing wrong or disrespectful about it.”
Poker’s Emotional Evolution
Negreanu rose to fame in the 2000s TV poker boom, when top pros were as much personalities as players. Think Tony G yelling “on your bike” after busting Ralph Perry on air, or Doug Polk going nuts in the 2023 WSOP $25K Heads-Up semis after a river two-outer. Emotion has always been poker’s hook.
Still, as Davies noted, context is everything. You’ll see real feels when a tournament wraps, but less so in a five-handed flip where skill takes a backseat. This debate—authenticity vs. professionalism—highlights poker’s modern tug-of-war, influencing how stars connect with fans. Maybe down the line, high-stakes poker finds that sweet spot where it’s fierce yet fun to watch.
