The Rail Week starting November 10
November 14
The Global Poker Awards is no more.
After over a decade of hosting the Global Poker Awards in Las Vegas, and years prior to that in Europe, the Global Poker Index and The Hendon Mob are ending the annual industry event. Per Eric Danis, President of the GPI:
Weāre a very small team and the awards process as a whole takes two members of our team out of the day-to-day operations for two months every year. If you had told a younger me that Iād be part of a team organizing awards ceremonies in France, Monte Carlo, Malta, the Sunset Strip just blocks away from The Viper Room and Whisky a Go Go, and finally Las Vegas, I wouldnāt have believed you. Weāre certainly going to miss putting on a great show, but we have other projects that have taken priority over the awards.
We’re sad to see it go. The GPI Awards were always a highlight for those in and around this small industry. Team Pokerfuse were lucky to attend a couple of times (and even be in the running for a couple of awards), and it was always a fantastic event put on with passion and care. We want to thank everyone on the team for all their efforts over the years. ā¤ļø
Kevin Martin makes u-turn on people who can comment on his live streams.
How long before it descends into a cesspit?Players banned during GGMillion$.
PokerNews reports that GGPoker banned two players, including the final table chip leader, for alleged ghosting just before the GGMillion$ tournament finale. The site says it was about maintaining game integrity, even if it meant a dramatic exit for the top stack.NAPT Main Event winner faces jail time. Wait, what?
This important piece of news completely passed us by when we talked about Yifrach winning the NAPT Main Event yesterday.
Per PokerStrategy, Gal Yifrachās win at the NAPT Main Event is overshadowed by looming legal trouble.
With a federal indictment hanging over him, Yifrach barely has time to celebrate his biggest career victory before heading to court to face serious charges for allegedly running an illegal gambling businessāand for money laundering.
Just another quiet evening risking a million and change.
Doug Polk’s latest video covers a tense $1.6 million heads-up poker showdown against “Monarch”.A coaching session of a lifetime.
What do you get when you add Chance Kornuth, Alex Foxen, and Kristen Foxen together? The Chip Leader Coaching Bootcamp! Mark your calendars and get yourself signed up.The WSOP prestige debate continues.
Following Phil Hellmuth’s post on X stating that the WSOP should reduce its bracelet count to 100 per year, I dug out our article on the matter from a year ago.
With the number of WSOP bracelet events reaching an all-time high of 245ānearly half of which are onlineāthe debate continues over whether the bracelet’s prestige is fading.
After 10 years, industry awards from the GPI are no more.
The Global Poker Awards was the brainchild of Eric Danis and served as a way of bringing the often fractured poker community together once a year. He worked so hard on the awards ceremony and often was at the coalface of feedback, both good and bad.
It was also a great thing to show to our parents, who are still not 100% sure what we do for a living.
Latecomer turns poker rankings into a three-way race. The latest ep from the WSOP No Limit documentary drops.
Thereās a last-minute shake-up in the fight for the number one poker ranking, as Ren Lin joins front-runners Jesse Lonis and Adrian Mateos in the final days of the year. NO LIMIT episode 4 tracks how this unexpected rivalry could change who finishes on top.Jeff Gross sits down with Tony G.
They roll it back to when Tony bought PokerNews back in the year 2000 for $8,000. But did they ever really make $2 million a month in revenue? š§Big pots and bigger claims at the poker table.
Brad Owen finds himself in a $10,000+ five-bet all-in hand, where not everyone is being honest about their holdings. His most recent vlog (the second in one week) captures the drama, with Brad showing how to handle big pots and even bigger stories at the poker table.Hellmuth calling for a cap on WSOP bracelets.
The poker brat is calling for the WSOP to cap the number of bracelets that can be won at 100. We’ve been discussing whether too many bracelets have been diluting the brand of the WSOP for a while now. What do you think?Gal Yifrach wins big as Shahade posts career high.
Gal Yifrach emerged on top of a tough field at the PokerStars NAPT Las Vegas Main Event for over $543k, as reported by pokerfuse.com. Jennifer Shahade notched her best live result yet, finishing third and taking home nearly $292k.New PokerGO partnership announced.
Now, players can play on Global Poker via the PokerGO app. It’s another feather in PokerGO’s cap as it continues to expand its partnership options.November 13
PSA from the WPT.
If you are a WPT player check out the new steps you need to take before attending an event in real life.Pads with the burning questions.
What is your poker pet peeve?Sometimes Vegas does deliver on birthdays.
PokerNews reports that Gal Yifrach took down the NAPT Las Vegas Main Event on his birthday weekend, outlasting 738 players for over half a million dollars. Despite a complicated off-the-felt life, Yifrach brought home what might be his best birthday present yet.Is Doug Polk as famous as he thinks?
Almost certainly not š¤£Win your way to paradise.
PokerOrg is offering a $30K package for the 2025 WSOP Paradise, and the entry fee won’t cost you a thing.
Just record a video showing you’re a poker playerāwithout actually saying 'poker'āand post it on social media for a shot at the big game in The Bahamas.
Watch Konnikova’s winning NAPT hand.
PokerNews were on the ground at the series and have the footage!WSOP-C in full swing over at the Commerce.
The WSOP Circuit returns to Commerce Casino with 18 ring events, including a $1 million guaranteed Main Event. With a ticket to the WSOP Paradise and substantial prize pools up for grabs, it’s a full house of poker action.What an amazing run by Jen Shahade at the NAPT.
Chess and poker whiz Shahade secures 3rd place at the NAPT Main Event for $291,800. Huge congrats to Jen!Maria Konnikova takes down NAPT High Roller Second Chance event.
The PokerStars Ambassador got a $66K payday! This caps off a great year for the pro and acclaimed author, but it is her first first-place win of 2025.New documentary from GG follows high stakes poker pro Alex Theologis during Episode 1.
In this first episode, GG follows Theologisās journey from a humble laptop grinder to a fixture in GGPokerās high-stakes games. His story covers daily routines, tough downswings, and finding purpose beyond the tables.
After Episode 1, I am not sure it has done enough to leave us wanting more…
It’s going to be a poker-packed December over in Las Vegas.
Maureen over on Globe Trotting Poker highlights December as the prime time for poker in Vegas, with big series like DeepStack Extravaganza and WPT World Championships all taking place. She rounds up everything you need to know.
- DeepStack Extravaganza, at the Venetian Poker Room, November 24 – December 23
- The Orleans Winter Open at the Orleans, November 28 – December 21
- WPT World Championship at The Wynn Las Vegas, December 2 – 22
- Aria Poker Open at the Aria Poker Room, December 3 -20
- Women in Poker Winter Festival at Resorts World, December 8-12
November 12
The story of a Russian clergyman, the misuse of funds and a love of poker.
The church has dismissed one of its top bishops over a poker scandal.
According to PokerNews, Metropolitan Nestor, one of the Russian Orthodox Churchās top figures in Western Europe, has been dismissed amid rumors of misused church funds and a notable poker habit.
The investigation comes as his tournament successes and softer stance on Ukraine put him in the spotlight.
Watch: NO LIMIT Episode 3.
When building your audience matters as much as building your chip stack.
Three poker personalities show that building a brand can be more complex than reading a bluff. From viral clips to big wins and real-life pressure, the episode captures how modern poker is played as much on Instagram as on the felt.
Watch: NO LIMIT Episode 2.
In this episode of NO LIMIT, poker dreams and redemption are on the table, alongside some questionable luck. The docuseries peels back the curtain on the WSOP’s $25K Super Main Event, serving up personal stories, strategies, and the occasional poker face-off between spouses.Watch: NO LIMIT Episode 1 (as we forgot the embedded the video the first time around).
ICYMI this new documentary takes viewers beyond the tables at the WSOP $25K Super Main Event, spotlighting poker heavyweights like Negreanu, Hellmuth, and Foxen. The series focuses on the personal stories, rivalries, and struggles that are rarely shown on wsop.com.Pokerās finest are set to take centre stage for 4 days.
No Gamble, No Future will go live for four straight days with a lineup featuring Phil Hellmuth, Jennifer Tilly, and a mix of big names and rising stars, according to PokerOrg’s write-up.
The action starts November 13 (that’s tomorrow, folks) and can be watched on PokerGO or its YouTube channel, with more players expected to be added to the roster.
Kevmath shares his take on what Resorts World should do with their card room.
Check the comments for more on the debate.We caught up with acclaimed author and PokerStars Ambassador, Maria Konnikova, during the NAPT last week.
We got into the weeds, diving into poker’s darker corners, where cheating scandals arenāt just wild tales but real human drama. With indictments involving mobsters and celebrities, Konnikovaās new book on cheating promises to be a must-read for poker fans.A poker camp to shake up the status quo.
Applications are now open at Vcamp Poker. Early bird pricing is available for the next ~30 days.Jen Shahade reaches final table of NAPT Main Event!
Jen’s incredible run continues! LFGooooo!The latest episode from the WSOP docuseries 'No Limit’ has dropped.
This episode takes a look at how new poker personalities like WolfgangPoker and Lexy Gavin Mather are navigating both content creation and high-stakes tournaments. Itās a revealing look at how building a brand is as much a part of the modern game as playing your cards right.You can now apply for a seat at Tritonās exclusive WSOP Paradise poker event.
Applications are open for the next Triton Invitational at the Atlantis in the Bahamas. New and existing players can apply to join this curated, high-stakes poker event and potentially earn their spot among the elite.The Asian Poker Tour turns 20.
The 2026 dates have been announced for the APT.November 11
Another huge hand everyone is talking about.
This time on Hustler Casino Live on Max Pain Monday. See if for yourself.
Super exiting hand, but why does poker commentary always leave me feeling a bit underwhelmed?
Kabrhel vs Kassouf. Remember when table talk got a little too real at the WSOP this year?
Rolling the clock back to the WSOP’s video examining whether Martin Kabrhel and Will Kassouf’s table talk is sharp strategy or crossing the line.
Kassouf went on to be banned by the WSOP due to his antics but that will be lifted in time for WSOP Paradise.
Did you know there’s Watch Parties for the NO LIMIT documentary.
GGPoker’s Daniel Negreanu is organizing group watch parties each time a documentary episode drops, organized under the hashtag #NoLimitWatch. And it seems like there’s extra incentives to attend – with DNegs dropping giveaways to those attending. If that sounds like your bag, you probably want to follow the negs (if you don’t already) or keep an eye on that hashtag.No big deal, just another quiet night dropping $30K pots.
Brad Owen documents his experience playing massive pots in Bobbyās Room, starting with kings on the very first hand. Owen’s vlog gives a close-up look at high-stakes action.PokerNews is calling it: the craziest hand of the year is here.
In a recent feature on PokerNews, Doug Polk, Jennifer Tilly, and Santosh Suvarna squared off in a three-way all in for $1.1 million on High Stakes Poker, running it out four times.
With all players deep in the action, the hand quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the season.
The MSPT Winter Poker Classic at Running Aces is set to be a cold showdown.
Umut Ozturk aims for a POY three-peat, while Jake Long and Josh Reichard lurk in the shadows.
According to PokerNews, the $1,110 Main Event and 17 other tournaments will help decide who bags the last gold card of Season 16, which takes place in Minnesota in December.
Check out the new trailer for GGPoker’s upcoming doc.
Dropping tomorrow, the series focuses on high stakes online grinders. We rate this one 8/10 for production, 6/10 for tease, 2/10 for the voice-over.What did I just watch?
Doug Polk continues his foray into comedy, and we canāt unsee it.Shahade still standing as the NAPT field narrows.
PokerOrg reports that PokerStars Ambassador Jen Shahade is among the final 16 at NAPT Las Vegas, returning with 550K in chips for Day 5.
She faces stiff competition, as the field races to the final six for Wednesday’s finale.
Lets gooooooooo!
PSA from Kevmath re: WSOP buy-ins.
With WSOP Paradise just round the corner, unofficial spokesman for all things poker — Kevmath— answers a question on the buy-ins and fees at the Bahaman event.Doug Polk gets million dollar pay day.
Polk took on Ossi Ketola in a set of high-stakes heads-up matches, winning three out of four and collecting $1.2 million, per David Lappin on VegasSlotsOnline.
The matches, while notable for their huge pots, seemed to lack the usual intensity or risk associated with such events.
Get Lappin’s take with his usual wry writing style below!
Online poker gets the documentary treatment.
GGPoker is launching a NEW docuseries focused on high stakes online grinders.
The first episode features Alex Theologis, giving viewers a look at his routine and mindset, with more interaction promised via YouTube and Reddit.
Premiere November 12, 2025.
November 10
Joey Ingram preps a new chapter, but says the drama is someone else’s hand now.
PokerOrg caught up with Joey Ingram, who reveals he’s recorded a batch of wild new podcasts and plans to focus on creative storytelling over investigative drama. Fans can expect his signature content soon, but he’s steering clear of the poker world’s messiest rabbit holes.Phil Hellmuth’s alter ego is back.
The poker brat is at it again, this time against Alan Keating.Ontario gets an exclusive deal as GGPoker’s microFestival skips the global stage.
In a move that’s unusual for the operator, GGPoker is running its microFestival only for Ontario, with no similar series on its dot-com site. Running through November 16 and sporting C$300,000 in guarantees, this is the largest micro series GGPoker Ontario has offered.A series for Knockout lovers on 888poker.
Players in dot-com markets look alive. 888poker is hosting the KO Games series again, offering over $500,000 in guarantees across several event formats from November 14ā18. The $200,000 guaranteed Rakeless Main Event is the highlight of the lineup.The long read of the day.
During the NAPT we caught up with PokerStars ambassador Caitlin Comeskey.
In our interview, she talks about merging her comedy chops with poker, focusing on making the table more welcoming and entertainingāespecially for women.
Her background in theater and improv, she notes, helps her prioritize fun and community over stats or grinding.
I didnāt know what to do, so I started barking at him like a dog…
More famous faces join WSOP Paradise line up.
It’s not long till WSOP Paradise that takes places in the Bahamas. The event attracts top players from all over the globe and this year is no different. Dusk til Dawn Casino owner Rob Young is now confirmed as attending the series.North American Poker Tour Main Event stats since 2023.
Our very own stats-man, Anuj Arora, has put together a look at the NAPT Main Event following its 12-year return.
2023: $1,650 buy-in ā 1,095 entries, $1,642,500
2024: $5,300 buy-in ā 895 entries, $4,340,800
2025: $5,300 buy-in ā 738 entries, $3,579,300
Over the weekend, debate sparks on tournament start times.
By the time we woke up, Seth Davies’ post on whether tournament start times need to change already had over 175K views.
The industry is due for a paradigm shift in tourney start times. Starting a tourney at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and playing really late is rough. Almost no one likes it, pros and recs alike. Let’s start tourneys at 10am. Finish at a reasonable time. If you bust early you can still have the evening free.
Lots of people are sharing their opinions, including poker’s safe pair of hands, Phil Galfond.