For seven years, 888poker has run an interview program on YouTube that masquerades as a ride-share service. Hosted by the voice of 888poker, David “TuckOnSports” Tuchman, the series features some of the top names from the game trapped in a vehicle with Tuchman grilling them on their thoughts on poker, business, and life in general.
Recently, the channel tried something new — a massive live stream featuring more than seven straight hours of chat with some of the biggest names in the game right now. Kicking off with Mariano and closing with the enigmatic Tom Dwan, other featured rides include Jeff Platt, Ali Nejad, Jesse Lonis, and Shaun Deeb.
Deeb, in particular, stands out with his honest, direct answers to some big questions. Widely known as a straight-shooter who is never afraid to state his opinion, then back it up with data and stand by it, Tuchman finds the top of that range covering issues like the Hall of Fame, the WSOP Player of the Year race, and the complexities of navigating a successful family life and pro poker career at the same time.
While the live stream featured compiled content that had been previously aired on the 888poker channel, the compilation provides a unique comparison between styles and approaches to life and the game. From Negreanu and Deeb to Nik Airball and Mariano with Ali Nejad thrown in, it is a seven-hour look at the poker world from pretty much every angle.
Greatest Hits of 888Ride
The live stream is a new format for the series, which has featured individual interviews with poker personalities conducted while Tuchman ostensibly drives them around like a ride-share driver. Being trapped in a vehicle with Tuchman provides the perfect space for in-depth and often very personal interviews with the people who make the game of poker what it is.
This compilation of highlights is an excellent showcase of the show’s range, which tries to get the industry perspective from as many angles as possible. Generally, the series can be broken into three categories of guests with a lot of straddling going on.
Seasoned Veterans and Top Pros
The highlight players for this kind of 888Ride during the seven-hour extravaganza are a great contrast in style and personality. Shaun Deeb and Daniel Negreanu are both seasoned veterans of the game by any standard and neither player has ever been afraid to speak their mind.
Neither holds back during their rides as Tuchman manages to find just the right questions to elicit in-depth responses. In particular, Negreanu and Deeb have a lot to say on issues like the Poker Hall of Fame and the WSOP Player of the Year race, but more than that, both players get deep into their very different backstories, providing an enlightening look at the rise of poker greatness on two very different paths.
While Deeb and Negreanu highlight the live stream, the 888Ride playlist features segments with the 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Brian Rast, online PLO beast Phil Galfond, Ben Lamb, and Jesse Lonis. That’s just a short list of top players who have taken their seats next to Tuchman in the 888Ride SUV.
Influencers and Celebrities
In addition to the top players in the game, the series features big-name players who came to the game from other pursuits in life and work to master the game. Among the featured segments here are Nik Airball and Mariano.
Mariano especially provides a humorous and honest look at rising up through the game of poker from life as a pizza delivery driver to vlogger. Some of the best lines from the whole seven hours come from Mariano, not least the exchange about his “system” for playing $1/$3 when he started.
“I had a system, Tuch,” he said with a smile. “I’m just gonna double-up and leave. Come again the next day, rinse and repeat.”
“How did that work out for you?”
“It didn’t work out,” Mariano replied with a big grin.
Other celebrity influencer guests from the series run include Big Brother Canada winner Kevin Martin, chess star Alexandra Botez, Brad Owen, and a pre-marriage Marle Spragg.
Media Personalities and Industry Giants
Ali Nejad is the featured interview chosen for the live stream that best highlights 888Ride’s look inside poker from the industry and media perspectives. Well known for his dry wit in the commentary booth, Nejad and his usual partner Nick Schulman play off each other to produce some of the best poker commentary in the business.
While both are very adept at analyzing the poker action, it is their witty banter, heavy with dry sarcasm, that make the pair, but don’t think Nejad needs a sidekick. His many years of hosting Poker After Dark, as well as the interview here, prove he is very capable of holding the show on his own.
Among the other media and industry giants the taxi service has driven around are Jeff Platt, whose exuberance over his place in the industry is a joy to behold, the dynamic WSOP duo of Lon McEachern & Norman Chad, and TDA guru Matt Savage.
Check out the full seven-hour stream for a great look into poker. Tuchman and 888Ride cover all the angles of poker and the live stream is an excellent showcase of that diversity.
