Irish poker podcast The Chip Race has announced that its upcoming episode on March 3 will debut under new dual sponsorship from PokerStars and Paddy Power Poker. The collaboration follows a period of independent production and coincides with new personal ambassador deals for co-hosts David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney.

Launched in 2015, The Chip Race has grown into one of the most respected podcasts in poker. Its blend of strategy, humor, and player-focused conversation has built a loyal following across the industry and of course among players. The new co-sponsorship represents a milestone for the show, aligning two of the biggest names in poker with two of its most trusted voices.

While the dual sponsorship introduces a fresh commercial element, the creative control remains firmly in the hands of its hosts. Lappin said both brands were clear that the show’s identity would not change. “That was really important to us—and very brave of them as brands,” he told pokerfuse. “We’re known for calling things as we see them, and we needed to keep that independence. They both told us that’s exactly what they want—for us to remain authentic voices in the industry.”

A New Chapter for an Established Brand

“It will now be co-sponsored by two partner brands,” Lappin explained. “Dara signed with Paddy Power Poker a few days ago, and I joined PokerStars earlier this week. We each play our roles through those relationships, and now the show reflects that same partnership dynamic.”

He added that the blend of personalities and sponsors could even spark some playful competition. “We might have a bit of fun between us—seeing who can sneak the most brand mentions into each episode!” he laughed. “But for both of us, the priority is maintaining the same tone and approach that built our audience in the first place.”

Independence Above All

Fans can rest assured that The Chip Race will continue in its familiar format. “Of course, we’ll give a little extra love to PokerStars events or things happening in Paddy Power Poker land,” Lappin said. “But we’re still going to explore the whole industry as we always have.”

He praised both brands for understanding the importance of independence. “If they were to neuter us or change that, the show would quickly become less impactful. They understand that the independence is central to our appeal,” he said.

A Strong March 3 Episode

The March 3 episode marks the start of the new partnership and features one of the show’s strongest lineups yet. “We’re coming back with a really strong episode,” Lappin said. “Maria Konnikova is our headline guest, Chris Litch—an absolute legend in mixed games—is joining, along with Sid Suna Gunter, who just won the PartyPoker Sheffield Main Event. We also have a strategy segment with the runner-up from the recent WPT Main Event final table.”

Expanding the Content Slate

Lappin confirmed that alongside The Chip Race, the team will continue producing strategy videos and episodes of The Lock-In, the popular spinoff show. “We’ll make about 20 full Chip Race episodes this year, along with 12 to 15 Lock-Ins,” he said. “That structure works well for us—around four pieces of content every five weeks.”

He also said the new sponsorships will help the show maintain its commitment to regular, high-quality production. “There was a version of the future where we didn’t sign with anyone,” he said. “But we wanted The Chip Race to keep moving forward—and to do that, it needed sponsors we trust.”

Shared Values Across Brands

Both hosts have new personal ambassadorships that mirror the show’s partnerships—Lappin with PokerStars and O’Kearney with Paddy Power Poker. The connections underline how the co-sponsorship naturally reflects their own careers. “For both of us, being ambassadors for brands we believe in was essential,” Lappin said. “These are companies that respect the poker community and value the integrity of the game.”

The partnership also comes after Lappin and O’Kearney recently stepped away from WPT Global after signing under a year ago, citing integrity concerns—a decision that underscored their commitment to transparency. Now, both say they are excited to build a future with companies they trust.

Looking Ahead

As The Chip Race enters its new era, Lappin said he expects it will still feel familiar to longtime listeners. “It’ll still be the same show—just with maybe a bit of a PokerStars lick of paint and a Paddy lick of paint,” he said. “What’s great is that both companies want us to do exactly what we’ve always done: make honest, entertaining poker content.”

Listeners can expect the same chemistry, insight, and humor that have made The Chip Race a standout in the poker media landscape. The new co-sponsorship officially begins with the March 3 episode—available on all major podcast platforms—and signals strong support for independent poker media built on trust and authenticity.