A video of professional poker player Justin Smith is becoming popular online, even though it was filmed over a decade ago. It shows him injuring his ACL while celebrating winning $1.1 million at the 2009 World Poker Tour’s Bellagio Cup V.
It’s common for athletes to get injured, but you might be surprised to learn that even poker players can suffer serious injuries while playing.
In 2009, poker player Justin Smith had an incredible win at the Bellagio Cup V in Las Vegas, taking home $1.1 million in a single hand against well-known player Bertrand Grospellier.
Smith’s win was remarkable not only for the large prize he received, but also because he beat several well-known and highly-skilled poker players, making it one of his most significant victories yet.
Poker pro Justin Smith’s ACL tear goes viral 17 years later
Smith celebrated his win with his typical enthusiasm – jumping, hugging fans, and giving high-fives. Unfortunately, in the excitement, he injured his ACL and had to return to the table limping.
As a fan, I immediately noticed something was off with Justin. Everyone else did too – you could just feel the concern in the crowd, and the commentators even pointed out that his posture looked wrong. It was really worrying to watch.
One of the performers said something was seriously wrong, pointing out that the other performer was doubled over and clearly in a lot of pain. He insisted it wasn’t an act.
Smith told tournament officials he was optimistic about being able to finish the competition. “I can play,” he said, “and I plan to.”
Imagine tearing your ACL playing poker
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) February 20, 2026
A video of the event recently reappeared on social media, and people are surprised to learn that Will Smith actually tore his ACL while playing in a poker tournament.
“Bro won $6M and got a career-ending injury. It’s a win in my books,” one joked on X.
Someone joked that getting injured, like tearing your ACL, could quickly eat into any prize money you’ve won, comparing it to losing life points in the game Yu-Gi-Oh.
After the 2009 tournament, Smith announced he had torn his ACL. He believes the injury was likely a recurrence of an old injury sustained in a previous motorcycle accident.
After a successful run in poker during the late 2000s, Smith stepped away from the game due to burnout. However, he made a comeback in 2024 and is still a competitive player, regularly participating in major high-stakes games.
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2026-02-21 01:19