When most people think about the FIFA World Cup, they think about moments. The winning goal. The last second save. The eruption of a stadium when a match changes in an instant. When people think about poker, they often imagine similar flashes of drama: a massive bluff, a critical hand, a tournament-clinching moment that changes everything.
But competitors in both worlds understand something spectators often don’t. The biggest moments are rarely about the moment itself. They’re about everything that came before it.
That spirit was on display during a recent Kicking Back watch party hosted by High Times, ACR Poker, and former professional football player (and Survivor winner) Ethan Zohn at Torches in New York City. Fans gathered to watch England take on Croatia, turning a single match into something bigger: a shared experience built around competition, community, and the world’s game.
“We’re excited to partner with ACR Poker, Ethan, and the football and cannabis communities around Kicking Back,” said Kyle Rosner, Director of Partnerships for High Times. “The watch party captured exactly what this moment is about: community, competition, and a once-in-a-lifetime World Cup experience.”
As Zohn sees it, those communities have more in common than people might think.
“Football and cannabis bring people together in a way that little else can,” said Zohn. “They give instant access to community, break down cultural stereotypes, and bring positivity to the world.”
While football is ultimately a physical game and poker is not, both reward competitors who can process information, adjust to changing circumstances, and make smart decisions under pressure. That same competitive mindset sits at the heart of tournament poker culture, including on ACR Poker where players regularly navigate large-field events that test patience, preparation, and decision-making over hours, and sometimes days, of play.
At the …
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Author: High Times / High Times
