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A public disagreement between poker vlogger Ethan “Rampage” Yau and veteran grinder Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler turned heated on social media, with Yau labeling Kessler a “cancer to this industry” amid a back-and-forth over comments and heads-up poker.
The dispute began after Yau responded to YouTube viewers who claimed they could beat him at the tables. Citing his recent form, Yau pointed to his win over Adrian Mateos heads-up for his second WSOP bracelet in the WSOP Online – Hybrid #16: $5K Championship, which earned him $228,825, along with a seven-figure upswing in live-streamed cash games.
Kessler then weighed in, claiming several well-known players would have an edge over Yau. This prompted Yau to propose a heads-up match at $100/$200 stakes or higher, spanning 100,000 hands.
Kessler, who focuses on mixed games rather than No-Limit Hold’em, declined the specific challenge but offered to arrange other players willing to face Yau instead.
The conversation quickly grew personal, with Yau criticizing Kessler’s online conduct and accusing him of lacking conviction, while Kessler maintained he would only play Yau in mixed-game formats. Yau also dismissed the idea of facing the substitute players Kessler suggested, calling the offer a publicity stunt.
Despite the clash, both players had strong showings during the 2026 WSOP, with Yau capturing his second bracelet and notable cash game results, while Kessler recorded two top-four finishes in bracelet events.
