Doug Polk’s Racist Comment Overshadows High Stakes Poker Series

Professional poker player Doug Polk is facing widespread criticism after making a racist remark during a livestreamed heads-up match against Finnish online casino owner and entrepreneur Ossi Ketola, known in the online community as Monarch. The incident, which unfolded during a series of high-stakes games streamed live to thousands of viewers, has drawn condemnation from players, commentators, and fans across the industry.

The series, organized as a winner-takes-all heads-up challenge, began with a buy-in of $400,000. Polk won the first two sessions, Ketola took the third, and the pair agreed to double the stakes for a final $800,000 showdown. In the decisive game, Polk secured victory after catching a fortunate river card that completed a flush against Ketola’s pocket aces. The result brought Polk’s total winnings to approximately 1.2 million dollars across the series.

Unfortunately, the historical high-stakes poker series was overshadowed by Polk’s racist behavior during the broadcast. At one stage in the stream, Ketola asked if his coach could take over for a single hand. Polk agreed, and Ketola’s Sudanese poker coach stepped into the frame, smiling toward the camera. The room was somewhat dimly lit, but the coach’s face remained clearly visible on the stream. As the brief exchange took place, Polk reportedly remarked that he “couldn’t see” the coach, a comment widely interpreted as a racial joke referring to the coach’s dark skin.

The remark was audible on the livestream and circulated rapidly across social media platforms. Viewers expressed shock and disappointment, calling the comment racist and unacceptable. Within hours, clips of the exchange had been reposted and debated across major poker forums and streaming communities. Many prominent players described the remark as an example of casual racism that undermines the game’s increasingly international and diverse culture.

Ketola and his coach did not respond publicly during the stream. However, witnesses reported that the coach appeared visibly uncomfortable following the comment. In the days since the broadcast, neither Polk nor his representatives have issued an official statement or apology regarding the incident.

As of publication, no disciplinary measures have been announced, and the platforms involved in broadcasting the match have not commented on whether the video will remain publicly available. For now, the poker community continues to debate the implications of the incident — not only for Polk’s reputation, but for the image of the game itself.