The chatter of the tournament room at PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague fills the air, a symphony of shuffling chips and quiet calculation. Among the regulars and rising stars, one familiar figure from UK football media leans into conversation with both humility and humor: Rory Jennings, broadcaster, pundit, and now PokerStars ambassador.
“I think I exist in a niche,” Jennings says with a laugh. “So, like Premier League football in the UK, there’s quite a lot I do. But that doesn’t necessarily translate through the world. I guess poker is a bit like that… Some of the most famous people in the world in this room wouldn’t be recognized outside. I think everybody kind of has their place.”
That sense of perspective has followed him from television studios to tournament rooms. Though best known for his football commentary, Jennings has been steadily making a name for himself in poker—a field he admits he only discovered five years ago. “It started off just as a professional relationship,” he said. “But then it developed into something far more of a passion… It’s certainly my favorite thing to do.”
Falling in Love with the Game
Rory’s introduction to poker came through his work, alongside fellow creator Adam McKola, on a project with PokerStars. “We started working together with PokerStars. It started off just as a professional relationship,” he explained. “But me and one of my good friends, Adam, we kept playing. We kept turning up. We kept coming to the events, and thankfully, yeah, we got the opportunity to remain ambassadors.”
For Jennings, what began as a side project has turned into something defining. “Like you mentioned, I kind of identify, even though it’s not strictly true, as a professional poker player. It’s definitely the thing I enjoy doing the most.”
Why Tournaments Feel Like Home
Tournament poker has become his preferred battlefield. “I like the structures,” he explains. “It isn’t about simply winning, it’s also about not losing, which I think suits my game a bit more. I’m not a particularly aggressive player, so it works for me to just try and survive.”
But there’s another draw. “At the end of the day, I think it’s the glamour that goes with them. If you were to win an EPT, I mean, I know I’m biased, but I would argue that it’s about as prestigious as it gets,” Jennings explains. “Winning an EPT title is so rare. There are only four this year… so I think the prestige that goes with it is huge.”
More than money, it’s about the stage and the story. “They’re great events,” he added. “Great structure, good people… I much prefer tournaments to cash.”
Learning the Game Among Giants
Jennings may have joined the professional circuit relatively recently, but he’s always been a student. “It’s obviously tough,” he says. “You get your seat in an EPT and you sit down, and there’s recognizable faces everywhere. It’s very intimidating, but that’s also a thrill.”
He recalled one particular highlight. “A couple of years ago in Barcelona, I had a hand where I busted a tournament, but it was on the TV table. It was like one of the best hands of the year. It was nominated for that, actually,” he said. “In the hand with me were Nicholas Astedt and Patrick Antonius. I was eventually busted by Patrick Antonius. Of course it’s difficult, but it’s also an honor. I see it as a good thing rather than a bad thing to be playing against such great players.”
When asked how much time he devotes to study, Jennings didn’t hesitate. “Poker videos far outweighed everything else that I watched this year,” he said, grinning. “I always watch Spraggy’s content. I always watch Brad Owen’s vlogs. I thoroughly enjoy them. I study as much as I can. I don’t have the brain capacity to learn the charts the way that people do, but I do my best.”
The Dream: Any Trophy Will Do
Despite his growing experience, Rory’s poker dreams remain refreshingly grounded. “What I would love more than anything, regardless of what the tournament would be, is to win anything,” he said with a laugh. “The dream is obviously an EPT, but I would just love to win a trophy, even a side event. To actually have your picture taken with the trophy. The cards at the front, the chips all mounted up, that would be the dream.”
He spoke fondly of the iconic PokerStars photographer who captures those celebrations. “There’s a photographer that you see here a lot, a guy called Danny Maxwell,” Jennings said with a smile. “One day I’ll tap Danny on the shoulder and say, ‘Take my picture with these two cards.’ That’s the goal.”
Part of the joy, though, is that poker allows for victories even without being the last player standing. “You can win without winning,” he added. “You don’t have to win to be a winning player—which is quite generous for someone like me.”
From Chelsea to the Felt
When conversation shifts to football, Jennings’ other great passion comes to life. “I’m a Chelsea fan,” he said proudly. “I’m terrible at Fantasy Premier League because I can’t not allow my football biases. I’m never going to put a Tottenham player in my team; even when Harry Kane was at Tottenham, and he’s the best player in the country, obviously I didn’t put him in there.”
That “tribal” side, as he puts it, also affects how he sees competition. “I’m sure there are transferable skills between poker and FPL, but I’m just too tribal,” he confessed, laughing. Still, his analytical side shows through. “When I watch Spraggy or whoever, I watch what they do in certain spots and try to make that relevant to situations I find myself in.”
Advice for New Players
Asked what advice he’d give newcomers, Jennings was clear. “Tournaments, lower buy-in tournaments, are a good place for a new person to start. People are always very kind and generous. If you are brand new, people will help you with your blinds, they’ll let you know when it’s your turn. It’s a very welcoming area.”
His secret? Pure immersion. “The only advice I’d give is just try and immerse yourself in it,” he says. “Just volume—volume of hands. Play online when you can, play live when you can. Sheer volume is very beneficial.”
When asked whether he prefers online or live, there’s no hesitation. “Live, way more. There’s nothing quite like the sound of the chips, the tactile experience, looking at people across the table. The feel of the felt, it’s a different experience, and one I far prefer.”
Heroes of Two Worlds
To close, we asked him to name his favorite players, one from football, one from poker. “Frank Lampard,” he says without missing a beat. “He’s my hero.” As for poker? “Sam Grafton,” he added warmly. “It’s amazing what he’s done. He’s a great representation of England. He lives in London now. I’m from London, so I think Sam Grafton is definitely somebody who I would put in the conversation as arguably England’s best.”
For Jennings, one thing is certain: football may have given him a voice, but poker gives him a new kind of focus, and perhaps one day soon, that his very own photo taken by Danny Maxwell to prove it.
