More from this week
Today
Get ready for an action-packed weekend ahead.
With commentary from Nick Wright and Jared Bleznick, the No Gamble No Future show features an amazing lineup, with Tom Dwan, Alan Keating, Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker, and other super-stars.
What more could a poker fan possibly ask for?
The debate around the new system for rating WSOP dealers continues.
Jeremy Ausmus is the latest player to chime in with his opinion on this rather controversial topic, digging under the surface and sharing his ideas how the series could attract high quality dealers.Allen Kessler is bringing more mixed game fun to Las Vegas this week.
A new edition of the Chainsaw Mixed Series of Poker is underway, taking place at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
Featured on the schedule are H.O.R.S.E, Omaha 8, T.O.R.S.E, Big O, 2-7 Triple Draw, and more, plus there is a $10,000 added Player of the Series package up for grabs.
Bernhard Binder is chasing history in the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event.
With only 20 players left in the Main, the Austrian player has an opportunity to become the first EPT champion from his country. There is still a lot of work to be done, as the action continues today, and you can watch it all live on the PokerStars YouTube channel.Vegas Matt runs deep in a celebrity poker tournament.
One of FanDuel’s largest ambassadors, is much better known for his casino and slot exploits, but he dabbles with poker here and there.
Just a couple of days ago, Vegas Matt managed a deep run in the Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational event, finishing in second place. Will this inspire the popular casino streamer to play more Hold’em and perhaps join the action over at FanDuel Poker?
More poker fun is coming to Dublin in July.
As the World Series of Poker winds down, players will be looking for next opportunities to put their bankrolls to work. Irish Poker Tour will be landing in Dublin at the end of July, featuring the €300 Main Event with a €200k guarantee, so it might be a great opportunity to wind down from all the bracelet chasing and get back to the normal routine.Yesterday
Tune in for the High Stakes Friday tonight on HCL.
It looks like a fun lineup, and if you don’t have any big plans for tonight, watching some live high stakes cash game action is always a decent way to kill some time.Jeremy Ausmus shares his 2026 WSOP plans.
For anyone planning their picks for the WSOP Fantasy Draft, Jeremy Ausmus has revealed his plans for the summer, and it looks like he’ll be going at it pretty hard, although he won’t be there right from the start.
It looks like his focus will primarily be on larger buy-ins with smaller fields but tougher competition, so there are some pros and cons to consider.
Registration for the World Series is now live in the WSOP LIVE App.
Without any special announcement, registration for the 2026 WSOP has become available in the WSOP LIVE app, and you can use quite a few methods to pay for it.
However, it seems that players who haven’t completed in-person verification previously are still having issues, although mobile verification should be an option. Could just be a technical issue to do with the app version, but it looks like no one can say for sure.
PokerStars counts down the most iconic poker players over the past 25 years.
You can only access the article if you are in the UK, but guess who is number one?
In industry lingo, he has an “effect” named after him…
Triton Poker is bringing its high-stakes circus back to Montenegro, and PokerNews has all the details.
The 18-event festival runs May 13 to May 28 at the Maestral Resort & Casino and features some eye-watering buy-ins, including the $200k Invitational and a $150k 10th Anniversary Special.
The invitational is the main event to watch: 'The confirmed pairings already read like a dream lineup. Poker GOAT Phil Ivey teams up with Triton founding player Paul Phua, fresh off his victory in the $150,000 10th Anniversary Special in Jeju, while Ebony Kenney and Kristen Foxen make for one of the most eye-catching duos in the field.’
Fedor Holz is coming out of semi-retirement, Ethan 'Rampage’ Yau is teaming up with Alex Foxen, and there’s a Player of the Year race to keep things interesting.
Dan 'Jungleman’ Cates has never exactly played things safe, but his new 'Raising Hell’ vlog takes things to a new level, according to PokerOrg.
The series opens with Cates arriving in Prague for the WSOP Europe series, planning to win $2 million. Instead, he promptly loses $1.4 million—and that is just the start.
Cates’ wild ride is part comedy, part tragedy, and part existential meltdown. The article highlights his vanishing act on WSOP staff, near-miss at a feature table, and a now-iconic declaration to those nearby:
“I just want to lose a million dollars in peace.”
Apparently, the world of high-stakes poker is as chaotic as it is captivating. If you ever wondered what the downs of the high roller life look like, PokerOrg suggests you start here.
The latest PokerNews Podcast tries to answer whether CoinPoker is a safe bet or just another headache for online grinders.
According to Chad, Mike, and Ben, the recent controversy around CoinPoker has players asking tough questions. The team spends time dissecting the issue, though the conversation quickly shifts to Alan Keating’s seven-figure pot and the ongoing saga in Texas poker.Absolute legends.
And that gold jacket 💫.Looks like 30min breaks to happen in the WSOP Main Event, down from 75mins.
Kevmath is noticing changes to the structure that weren’t there before 👀.According to Anuj’s report on pokerfuse, PokerStars’ Ignite Series on FanDuel Poker ended with an expensive lesson in setting guarantees.
Of the 90 tournaments, 80 failed to meet their guarantees, resulting in more than $1 million in overlays. That means PokerStars on FanDuel had to contribute close to 15 percent of the total prize pool from its own pocket.
This was one of the best value series players have seen in years in the regulated US market. The biggest miss came in the $300 Main Event, which had a $500,000 guarantee but failed to get there.
BetRivers Poker has rolled out its newest software upgrade just before launching its Summer Warm-Up Series.
The update went live on April 30 and brings changes to both desktop and mobile clients. The most notable tweak is a major overhaul to the tournament lobby, making it lighter, easier to read, and more user-friendly.
The redesign swaps out the old dark background for a lighter one and introduces new icons to help players quickly spot tournament formats. According to the article, these adjustments aim to reduce eye strain and improve the overall player experience.
The new dealer rating system at the WSOP seems like something out of Black Mirror.
I am sure there was an episode a few years back where everyone was rated on an app in all aspects of their lives, and it didn’t end well.
Dylan Linde thinks the new system is a cruel idea, and I tend to agree.
May 07
Shaun Deeb is already flexing his early lead in the 2026 WSOP Player of the Year race, according to PokerOrg.
After finishing runner-up three times and grabbing an eighth bracelet at the 2025 WSOP, Deeb says he has already completed 20 percent of his POY scoring.
Deeb says the points jump from second to first is massive, and with three top finishes from Prague already in his pocket, he is feeling good about his chances.
“If somehow those scores aren’t in my top 15, I’ve won the POY a hundred times over.”
The summer is still to come, but Deeb seems confident that just a couple more deep runs or a bracelet in Vegas will put him out of reach.
The latest episode of Hellmuth’s Home Game, according to PokerNews, was full of action—and not always the kind Hellmuth probably wanted.
In the opening hand, P3 found himself felted after a risky call against 3Coin, while Kelly Lucas’s aggressive all-in bluff kept things unpredictable.
But the real highlight came when Mike Matusow made quads, giving the usually talkative table something to really discuss. As PokerNews points out, the lack of commentary on the show means every reaction is raw and unfiltered, especially when a big hand like this comes up.
WSOP officially confirms new live dealer rating system for WSOP Live app.
Ok we knew WSOP was going to introduce a live dealer rating system on their WSOP Live app, and now it has been officially confirmed. Thanks to their latest tweet, Jeff Platt explained everything about this new feature, how the system works, how ratings will be shared internally with tournament staff, and how dealers with the highest ratings will earn rewards throughout the series.
This looks like a big step toward improving the overall player experience while also recognizing and rewarding top-performing dealers during the WSOP.
WSOP coverage gets a reboot for 2026.
The 2026 World Series of Poker is aiming to fix last year’s coverage missteps by putting all its daily coverage on YouTube for free—no paywalls, no drama. Starting May 29, fans get daily English and French streams from featured tables and final tables, plus a recap show to catch up on the chaos.👏 Aaron’s not wrong.
Surely that’s the only credible reason. 🤷🏻♀️PokerNews reports that Texas is now officially a heavyweight in the poker world.
The first-ever WSOP Circuit series in the state promised $2.1 million in prizes and ended up quadrupling that with over $7.1 million paid out to players. The Main Event set a new state record with 1,709 entrants and a $2.5 million prize pool.The EPT Monte Carlo update of the day.
It’s all gooooo!The Aussie Millions Main Event numbers are in.
And just wow💥!Daniel Negreanu sat down with Chance Kornuth for a sprawling conversation covering everything from the latest WSOP controversies to the enduring art of reading live tells.
He doesn’t shy away from naming names, discussing Martin Kabrhel, William Kassouf, and even his own beef with Phil Hellmuth. According to Negreanu, the modern era of solver-driven strategy is a far cry from the golden days.
He goes into detail about studying with younger players, the shifting prestige of WSOP bracelets, and what it takes to stay on top. As for the cheating scandals and online poker integrity, Negreanu is blunt about the challenges the industry faces.
“The best way to study poker today is not the same as it was ten years ago. You have to adapt if you want to win.”
By the end, he offers advice to aspiring grinders and reflects on his own legacy, all with the practiced candor you’d expect from a poker legend.
There is always hype around The Triton Invitational.
And for good reason. Every year it is a stellar lineup. We love being a fly on the wall to this one.Absolute insane line up.
And those lifetime tournament earnings are also mental!PokerStars Ontario hits snooze before its glow-up.
PokerStars Ontario is taking a short nap before its FanDuel-powered reboot. According to Ivan, players can still withdraw their funds until June 4, but after that, it’s paper checks in the mail…Phil Hellmuth is offering you the chance to bust him for only $250, which is probably less than one of his signature hats.
The Hellmuth Deepstack Turbo Black Chip Bounty Tournament hits Rivers Casino Philly on May 14, and you can even win your way in with a $100 daily qualifier. If you bust Phil, just try not to trigger a full lecture on your questionable play.May 06
Phil Hellmuth is doing an AMA on Reddit – get in the mix!
If there is a question you’ve always wanted to ask Phil Hellmuth, this might be your best shot at actually getting an answer.
The poker legend is doing an AMA on Reddit, the first one in over ten years, to celebrate his latest partnership with Octopi Poker, a fast-growing poker training platform.
All questions are fair game (within reason, of course), and there is even a giveaway going on, with some free Octopi memberships thrown into the mix.
Jason Koon triumphs in the €100k Invitational event at EPT Monte Carlo.
Yesterday, Jason Koon posted on X that he’s about to play against the toughest lineup imaginable in the €100k Invitational Sit & Go event at EPT Monte Carlo.
Today, he is the last player standing in that lineup, picking up another amazing win to add to his resume and another cool million to bump his lifetime tournament winnings and bring the total over $73,000,000.
Nine figures seem well within Koon’s reach!
PokerNews has put together a list of five poker pros who, in their words, could finally get their moment in the spotlight at the 2026 WSOP.
Shaun Deeb is the reigning Player of the Year, but he’s not the only one in the mix. The article highlights Chino Rheem, who has 14 WSOP final tables but is still looking for that elusive first bracelet. Rheem has already notched up $900,000 in live tournament cashes this year and has made 13 final tables in 2026 alone.How good is Andrew Neeme at poker – according to Charlie Carrel.
Charlie Carrel is back with his series where he rates poker players and their abilities. In the spotlight this time around is Andrew Neeme, one of the original poker vloggers.
There is no doubt that Neeme inspired dozens, if not hundreds, of players to try their hand at vlogging, but how good is he at the green felt, really? (According to Carrel, at least).
Dara O’Kearney is planning ahead for the 2026 WSOP, and his approach is all about embracing the science.
He says that studying ICM and multi-way pots is the latest edge, thanks to solvers finally catching up to multi-way complexity.
According to Dara, “If you play by these, you’re going to win.”
He’s also working on his mental game and how he’s perceived at the table, admitting he used to treat poker a bit too much like a social event. “When you’re in a hand, you should give your entire focus to making the best decision that you can.”
The XL Spring Series is underway on 888poker.
There’s loads of action to be had this week over on 888, so go check it out if you are looking to claim a share of $1.5 million in guarantees.Winamax puts its pros to the punctuality test.
Ok, here’s a fun insider moment. Winamax scheduled a meeting for 14:30 and decided to put their team to the test.
What’s likely a regular catch-up suddenly doubles as a fun behind-the-scenes moment, with arrivals timed and recorded. Watch the video to see if Gus Hansen, Adrián Mateos Díaz, Davidi Kitai, Leo Margets, Mustapha Kanit, João Vieira, and others beat the clock ⏰
A quarter-century of clicking: PokerStars throws itself a $50 million bash.
PokerStars is marking its 25th anniversary with an ambitious $50 million guaranteed tournament series.
The series, called the Anniversary Series, runs from May 10 to June 3 and includes special editions of iconic PokerStars events. Buy-ins range from $5 to $15,000, meaning there’s something for most players, at least in theory.
Sundays are the centerpiece, with highlights like the Sunday Million and a 15th Anniversary Sunday Storm boasting a $500,000 guarantee for just $11. Qualifiers are already underway, with some starting as low as $0.50.
Did PokerOrg take down that Mike Dentale, Nick Palma video?
Todd Witteles seems to think so… maybe at the request of Borgata Poker?Another new poker show coming soon?
Jamie Kerstetter has the details…May 05
Poker player Shannon Elizabeth, best known for her role in American Pie, has found a new way to connect with her fans—and her bank account.
PokerNews reports that in her first week on OnlyFans, she brought in over one million dollars, dwarfing her $247,851 in career poker earnings.
Elizabeth told PokerNews, “I’ve only been doing it a week so far. But so far, so good. It’s been amazing.” She says the move was about staying close to her fans: “I just thought that this was a way that I could connect with them more and get closer to them.”
In between charity poker tournaments and wildlife conservation in South Africa, Elizabeth has made it clear that content creation fits her lifestyle. It seems the fans agree, and so does her bank account.
Chance Kornuth on his top WSOP tips.
It’s all about that analogue life.WSOP 2026 layout is here.
Well, Kevin Mathers, the go-to source for all things WSOP, has uncovered the layout for the upcoming 2026 edition. The details surfaced after he spotted a post circulating on Facebook.
As always, nothing stays hidden for long when Kevin’s on the case. Take a look at what to expect for this year’s setup.
PokerStars celebrates 25 years with a look at poker’s most iconic players.
As we know, PokerStars is marking its 25th anniversary this year, and the celebrations are already underway with a massive $50 million guaranteed Anniversary Series.
Today, the operator also shared its list of the 25 most iconic poker players from the past 25 years, names they consider among the most influential in the game’s history. We mostly agree with the selections. While the list isn’t particularly surprising, it’s definitely worth a look.
Many of the players have represented PokerStars as ambassadors over the years, but the list isn’t limited to just them; it spans a wide group of legends who’ve shaped the game.
Check it out and see if your favorites made the cut.
WSOP preparation: less solvers, more yoga mats.
Lexy Gavin-Mather is taking holistic prep for the WSOP to another level. As she told PokerOrg, her routine includes yoga, meditation, and a balanced, mostly unprocessed diet. She’s tried everything—vegan, keto, even a fruitarian stint—but now just focuses on balance.
She keeps her mindset steady with morning meditation and prayer, saying, “I really believe in manifestation and in telling myself, 'Today’s going to be a great day.’” Of course, poker still has ups and downs, but she tries to put things in perspective.
Her biggest thrill since last year’s WSOP? A deep run at WSOP Paradise, where she cashed $95K thanks to a strong finish and the vlogger program. And as for advice from her husband during deep runs: “He’s always telling me to get off my phone.”
To be or not to be (a poker player, or content creator)?
Barry Carter has the meme, Doug Polk has the answers.Brad Owen breaks silence on the Lodge as well as walking through some massive career wins.
Owen walks us through some of his most memorable hands and offers a glimpse into his thought process during each big moment.
The video is peppered with Owen’s trademark dry humor and a few moments where he seems genuinely surprised by his own success.
More delicious nostalgia from Chad Holloway.
His retro poker swag is everything!WSOP bracelet hunter bootcamp with some very famous faces.
Chance Kornuth and Alex and Krissy Foxen will be your coaches. Absolute legends.Jungleman schools us in making $15 million look casual.
Dan 'Jungleman’ Cates sat down for three sessions, walked away $15 million richer, and now he’s giving out the cheat codes. The video breaks down his biggest pots, questionable plays, and even admits when he bluffed too hard and got away with it. Poker mortals, take notes or just enjoy the ride.Phil Hellmuth headed to Philly.
Mark the calendars folks. The Poker Brat will be playing in the Deepstack Turbo Bounty Tournament on May 14 at the Rivers Poker room. The poker room is giving away tickets via their daily tournaments over on their app.Brian Rast and Phil Laak sit down with Eric Wasserson for the debut episode of Late Reg, where the high stakes world gets broken down in a few hours of stories and strategy.
The episode covers everything from the quirks of Antonio Esfandiari’s magic obsession to Wasserson’s own roots as a high school gambler.
They swap tales of wild hands, like playing 70 percent of pots and monster straddles with Kevin Hart. If you think poker is glamorous, Wasserson’s WSOP results and Brian’s missed Day 2 might change your mind. They debate whether poker should be a career, discuss the 'solver era’, and even touch on Neuralink and the possible end of live poker.
Kmart’s new poker venture is shaping up.
Not much is known about the format of Kmart’s “new poker entertainment product” — apart from it will be a reality show style livestream — but he’s got staff, and it looks legit.A new era is dawning for players in Ontario 🇨🇦.
On May 7 players will need to sign up to PokerStars on FanDuel Ontario in order to access online poker.May 04
The latest mixed game course from Alex Livingston is all you need to get you started.
In case you wanted to dip your toes into the scary waters of mixed games, this new course will help you get over those initial hurdles and give you all the fundamentals you need to be comfortable at the tables.
Livingston also touches upon many advanced concepts, so this one isn’t just for beginners, but it rates to be the best course out there to help you branch out beyond Texas Hold’em.
GGPoker is teaming up with Grosvenor Casinos.
The online poker giant GGPoker has teamed up with Grosvenor Casino, one of the biggest brands in live casino gaming in the United Kingdom.
With this deal, GGPoker will become the official sponsor of all live poker tournaments sponsored by the venue, taking the players’ experience to the next level.
Aussie Millions is back and its writing some amazing poker stories already.
After a long hiatus, Aussie Millions has returned in style, and, as any major poker tournament series should do, it is creating some extraordinary winners’ stories. It’s the moments like this that remind us that the poker dream, albeit changed, is still very much alive.Chance Kornuth is sharing some more tips on how to win at poker.
Over the last few days, Chance Kornuth has been quite active on his X profile, sharing some thoughts and tips on how to fix your mindset and improve your results at the table.
Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions about the game, but coming from someone who has close to $21 million in tournament winnings, it’s safe to assume Chance has a pretty good idea of what he’s talking about.
A brand new poker podcast is here, hosted by Brian Rast & Phil Laak.
Two absolute poker legends have joined forces to bring us yet another fun podcast, and, if you ask me, we can never have too many of these.
Phil Laak and Brian Rast have launched Late Reg Podcast, and the first episode has just dropped, featuring Eric Wasserson. Looking forward to what comes next out of these two!
Albert Daher is the last man standing in the EPT All In for One Drop High Roller.
Having outlasted the other 75 entries, Daher lifted the trophy for winning the prestigious event and added over €2,000,000 to his bankroll. Not a bad day at the office.Mike 'The Mouth’ joins Table 1 Podcast to share some interesting stories.
Table 1 Podcast rarely misses a beat when it comes to their guests. The latest episode features none other than Mike 'The Mouth’ Matusow, one of more controversial characters in the poker world who’s very vocal about his opinions (game-related and otherwise).
Justin and Art talk to Mike about his gambling and poker beginnings, his later struggles involving depression, medical issues, and even jail, and what his life looks like now.