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Every poker player knows how it feels to miss every hand while the steam pressure intensifies. Eventually something – a bad beat, what an opponent says or a bad play – will trigger an explosion and you find yourself in the middle of a poker blow-up. Here we list the 10 biggest blow-ups of the century, at least among those caught on tape.

10. Mike Matusow Cries

I think that many poker players blow up just to hide their true emotions. Therefore it’s kind of cute to see Mike Matusow’s reactions when he gets three-outed in WSOP Main Event 2004. He is not afraid to show that “strong men also cry… strong men also cry,” to quote Lebowski. And the fact that Matusow was going to jail for six months after this tournament makes the bad beat even sadder.

9. The Bully Gets Bullied

We’ve all seen Phil Hellmuth’s classic blow ups over and over again. He thinks he is the best player in the world, and I’m not saying he’s wrong, but when he constantly claims everyone he’s up against are idiots while he’s incredible it gets a bit tiring. What’s interesting in this blow-up from 2008 is that he has everyone around the table against him. Isn’t that what always happens to bullies after a while?

8. Freddy Deeb Goes South

Taking money off the table in a cash game – or “going south” – is a serious violation in poker, and accusing someone of going south can really stir up the feelings. In this hand, Freddy Deeb is accused of doing that and gets quite upset.

7. A Bad Streak Gets to Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu is very mild mannered compared to most poker players. But after a series of bad beats and a stone cold deck also Negreanu has to start steaming at some point.  In this High Stakes Poker clip he had a rough couple of sessions on behind him which resulted in this questionable play. The blow-up, however, takes place on the inside.

6. Sean Sheikhan vs. Mike Mathusow

This hand is cute. Sean Sheikhan and Mike Mathusow act like two schoolboys sent up to the principal’s office; “He said this, he did that.” It’s obvious that these two players are not the best of friends – something that both get punished for.

5. Phil Ivey Is Furious

Phil Ivey is one of the most composed players on the poker circuit and in his world this hand must be considered a major blow-up.

4. Scotty Nguyen Is Shit-Faced and Out of Line

Scotty Nguyen prepared for the final table in 2008 WSOP H.O.R.S.E by knocking down a case of beer and at the table he acted inappropriate on so many levels. To be honest, he sounds more like a mental patient than one of the world’s best players and when he says: “It’s no fun when Scotty got a gun.” The scary thing is that I believe him.

3. Steamed Devilfish Tastes Great

David ”Devilfish” Ulliot is not only one of the most badly dressed poker players, he also knows how to steam. In this hand from 2007 WSOP, Burt Boutin makes a weak call after Devilfish pushed all-in, and when Boutin gets his card on the turn we get to hear some proper British swearing.

2. Tony G vs. Russia

You can’t help to wonder where the grudge between Ralph Perry and Tony G comes from. Is it just an act from Tony G’s side or does he actually hate Perry … or perhaps all Russians?  Blowing up when you lose a hand can be out of line, but blowing up when you win is even worse.

1. Epic Hellmuth Blow-up in Two Parts

In the Tournament of Champions, ten of the world’s best players were invited to play for $2 million – all money to the first-place finisher and nothing to second place. After Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson and a few others had been defeated; Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke were heads up. Guess who won and guess what happened.