The Rail This Week
January 09
The 2026 Borgata WPO – BetMGM Hybrid Championship has whittled 246 online hopefuls down to just seven, now set to play it out live at Borgata’s Event Center.
Aubrey “RiverMeDaddy” Williams enters with a commanding chip lead, holding 6,225,000, while Casey “KCcaine” Malinowski is in for a long night with just 490,000.
There’s $52,540 up top and, for the rest, at least $9,625 to cushion any heartbreak. The action resumes at 6:00 PM, with blinds at 45,000/90,000 and a big blind ante of 90,000, so expect some fireworks.
All in on binge mode: PokerGO drops the whole HSP season at once.
High Stakes Poker is back for its 15th season. The big twist this year? PokerGO released the entire season at once, so you don’t have to wait a week just to see who gets stacked next.
Kevin Hart takes a break from Hollywood to join the table, sitting down with $200,000 and a lot of confidence. Andrew Robl shows up with $350,000 to cover the table, while a mix of pros, tech execs, and a few wild cards fill out the lineup.
Doug Polk, co-owner of The Lodge Card Club near Austin, took customer appreciation to the next level this week.
According to PokerNews, Polk sent a staffer out to hand every seated player $100 in chips, telling them, “As a token of our gratitude to have you here at Lodge Card Club, everyone gets a free hundred.” Around 75 players cheered as they got their surprise windfall.
This isn’t the first time The Lodge has gone big with giveaways. The club is currently running a $15,000 weekly promotion, and last year, a player walked away with $100,000 from a random drawing.
“I played solely on PokerStars for 17 years, so you just forget how everything else works.”
After almost two decades as a PokerStars ambassador, Lex Veldhuis has decided to mix things up.
PokerOrg reports that the Dutch poker streamer is embracing his free agent status and enjoying the chance to experiment—both in where he plays and how he streams. His first GGPoker tournament went well, and he was quick to point out the positive vibes:
“It’s been 17 good years. I figured after so long it would be cool to see what’s out there, try different things, spice up the stream, try being a free agent in the poker world. New beginnings.”
Fintan Hand has a great day at the office.
He’s still a way off from making $50K this month, but he is well on his way!So many big hands, wild flips, and great plays. Hope you guys enjoy the sweat!
Follow along as Kevin Martin navigates a run packed with big hands, wild flips, and some questionable fashion choices at the table, culminating in a heads-up match against Greg Goes All In.Going to call it now. Lex Veldhuis will be offered a GG patch before the year is out.
After 17 years with PokerStars, Veldhuis probably won’t be in a rush to sign with another poker operator any time soon, but it’s hard to imagine he won’t have some very tempting offers coming his way.PokerNews Podcast #933 tries its hand at predicting the poker world of 2026.
As well as predicting the future, Chad and Mike catch up on the resolution of the Maurice Hawkins arbitration and joke about the return of Lex Veldhuis. They debate whether 'poker ambassadors’ still matter or if the title is just a nice way to get a patch and free entry.January 08
Another one bites the dust.
Alejandro “Papo MC” Lococo has become the latest PokerStars Team member to part ways with the operator, as he revealed on X.
The Argentinian freestyle rapper and poker player uniquely represented PokerStars.net, the brand’s play-money platform, and was reportedly its first-ever ambassador. His tenure included a career-defining run in late 2024 at WSOP Paradise, where he won his first Triton title, his first WSOP bracelet, and a staggering $12.7 million, one of the largest prizes in poker history.
Papo MC joins recent PokerStars departures Lex Veldhuis and Caitlin Comeskey.
Campione goes big again: PokerStars Open returns for 2026
PokerStars Open Campione is kicking off the 2026 live season at Casino di Campione in Italy. The festival runs January 23 to February 1 and includes a €1,100 Main Event with a €1 million guarantee.
There are also High Roller and Super High Roller events for those feeling flush, and a Second Chance and Mystery Bounty Cup.
The new season of High Stakes Poker wastes no time, throwing Kevin Hart and Señor Tilt into a $424,500 showdown.
Hart, known more for his comedy than his card skills, is apparently not shy about putting a small fortune on the line. According to PokerGO, it’s all part of the spectacle, with viewers promised 'authentic poker anytime, anywhere.’
The match isn’t just a numbers game. Hart’s presence brings a certain energy to the felt, and Señor Tilt, as the founder of Monkey Tilt, seems eager to test his mettle. The video doesn’t just show the hands, it highlights the psychological back-and-forth that makes high stakes poker so compelling.
3 days left on the hoodie giveaway from the Irish Poker Open.
Everyone loves free merch, and the IPO is delivering. Until Jan 11, they are giving away an Irish Poker Open hoodie each day. Follow the instructions over on Instagram to be in with a chance of winning one.🍀All your Phenom Poker facts answered.
In a bid to give clarity to their community (there have been some changes over on the crypto site recently), they have reminded people that you can find their 'road map’ to avoid any future surprises.Want a poker bootcamp like no other?
Head over to Run it Once for details on their upcoming January 13 bootcamp which features advice from top pros such as Phil Galfond and Seth Davies.Fintan Hand giving away $5K if he doesn’t make $50K this month.
From what he says, there’s a pretty good chance he will be paying out. Make sure you follow along on his Twitch channel for more details.All the WSOP-c events currently underway.
Circuit events are running in America, Canada and Prague!Patrick Leonard just keeps adding to his poker resume, this time by snatching the PGT Last Chance Event #2 for $315,000.
According to PokerNews, Leonard’s win not only boosts his bankroll, but also pretty much guarantees his ticket to the $1 million freeroll at the season-ending PGT Championship.
The final table had a few twists, including Nick Schulman making quads and still not taking the title. David Coleman survived a chip-and-a-chair moment to finish runner-up, outlasting notable names like Jeremy Ausmus and Joao Simao.
Leonard now sits in 27th on the PGT leaderboard. Ausmus, last year’s champ, might sneak back into the top 40 if he can find another big finish, but for now, Leonard is the one booking his seat for the big one.
How Señor Tilt built a multi-million dollar crypto casino.
In his own words, Sam describes learning the ropes on the casino floors of Vegas before founding Monkey Tilt, an online crypto casino aimed at players and risk-takers. The path from Las Vegas local to crypto casino founder is paved with risk, losses, and a willingness to bet on yourself.
He frames the story as more than just gambling. It is about mindset, entrepreneurship, and building something bigger than yourself. The video positions Monkey Tilt as a next-gen platform for those who see opportunity in risk. As Sam puts it:
This isn’t just about gambling — it’s about mindset, entrepreneurship, and taking calculated risks to build something bigger than yourself.
For those curious about how casino culture meets crypto, this might be worth a watch.
GPI Player’s of the Year crowned.
Per David Lappin’s article over Vegas Slots Online, Thailand’s Punnat Punsri has been named the 2025 Global Poker Index Player of the Year, narrowly beating out Jesse Lonis after a strong finish at the World Poker Tour $25,000 High Roller.
According to the GPI, Punsri is the first Asian player to receive the honor, and he also continues his streak as Thailand’s National Player of the Year.
Kristen Foxen took home the Female Player of the Year award for the fifth time in eight years, and also secured her second Canadian National PoY.
January 07
The 888 streaming schedule is getting an overhaul.
For fans of the 888 channel, check out all the changes to the Twitch and YouTube streams below.The Phenom Poker changes in full.
Straight from the mouth of poker hall of famer Brian Rast.Andreas Froehli takes viewers through tales of poker cons and tricksters, warning players about the dangers of moving money with people they barely know.
He recounts personal stories and those from the community, painting a picture of a poker world where the real sharks might be the ones offering to help with currency exchanges.
“This should be a textbook that every poker player needs for moving money across currencies.”
From small stacks to million-dollar sessions: Mariano’s year in review.
Mariano Grandoli’s 2025 results are in, and they are hard to ignore. According to PokerNews, the vlogger went from low-stakes hustler to high-stakes regular, making over $1.25 million in just 557 hours last year. That averages out to more than $2,200 an hour, which is not a bad rate for a job that started with $300 at a $1/$3 table.
Grandoli himself reflected on the meteoric rise of his channel and career, saying:
“This was the best year I’ve ever had. I won $1.25 million. This is a number that I’m super, super happy with and not something that I ever expected to accomplish, especially when this channel started as a $1/$3 and $1/$2 vlog.”
The Hellmuths kept it in the family this week, both making final tables in separate Las Vegas events.
Seventeen-time WSOP champ Phil Hellmuth finished fourth at the PokerGO Tour’s Last Chance Series for $98,000, but didn’t seem thrilled, telling X followers he was “really kinda not happy all day.”
Meanwhile, his son Phillip described his own 10th-place finish out of 541 players in the $600 Monster Stack as “bittersweet.” Phillip pocketed $3,600, bringing his career earnings just past $35,000.
As PokerOrg notes, he’s only about $30 million behind his dad.
After 17 years playing on Stars, Lex now has to get to grips with how other sites are laid out.
And I have never felt more seen.WPT Global has introduced two new MTT formats, designed for ultra-fast play.
The SNG Dash is a new SNG format, which starts anytime an 8-handed table is filled. The format features 3-minute blind levels, expected playing time of 45 minutes, and three payouts.
🚀 The Rocket Dash is a new hourly Hyper Turbo PKO tournament that starts 15 minutes past every full hour, with buyins ranging from just $1.10 to $55.
Eric Seidel sits down with Dina Titus to talk the big beautiful bill.
And as we all know, the bill is not beautiful—especially if you enjoy gambling.PartyPoker turns 25!
In that time, PartyPoker has gone from being a tour de force in the poker world to a somewhat minor brand.
It hasn’t been an easy few years, but let’s see if they lay on anything special for their 25th year.
Looks like Phenom Poker might be running into hot water, due to mass token redemption.
For those unfamiliar, Phenom Poker is a crypto-based poker platform that launched in late 2024.
It operates as an unregulated, “decentralized” site, using its own cryptocurrency “PHNM” and a complex revenue-sharing model that incentivizes players to hold a stake in the platform.
Recently, the operator announced a big change to how the token functions, triggering widespread concern and a rush by holders to redeem their tokens.
January 06
End of year poker results for Bench.
In his latest video Bencb has put a bow on 2025 and is here to share every last detail of his poker year.
He’s offering a full breakdown of all his results across every site, making this a one-stop shop for anyone who’s ever wondered what a year in professional poker actually looks like.
'2025 is a WRAP! And here are my Poker results for the entire year. All scores, all sites. Enjoy the breakdown!’
The holiday break didn’t stop the action at Venetian Poker Live, where Michael Mizrachi, aka The Grinder, squared off against comedian Morgan Jay.
The hand in question saw Jay open big with 7-2, chasing bounties, and Mizrachi springing a trap with A-K. Frankie C and others joined the fray, but the real drama was Jay shoving all-in with the worst hand at the table.The Choctaw WSOP-c stop starts tomorrow.
The WSOP Circuit is making its annual pilgrimage to Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma, from January 7 to 19, 2026.
According to WSOP, this stop is a favorite among players, with eighteen events and a $1 million guarantee headlining the $1,700 Main Event. The Main Event has two starting flights on January 16 and 17, both at 11 AM local time, so players have more than one shot at the big money.
“The 2026 WSOP Circuit season is officially underway, with poker players all over the world already punching their ticket to the WSOP Circuit Championships at both WSOP Europe and WSOP Paradise 2026.”
Dara O’Kearney calls his trip to the Party Poker UK Tour in London one of his live highlights of 2025.
Find out why he liked the London stop so much and how it took the top spot in his yearly rankings. It is a very recreational-player-friendly stop, so if you are tempted after reading his take, there are more stops scheduled for 2026.Talking poker, but mostly talking community.
Jim Reid and the Rec Poker crew bring on Tana Karn, the founder of the RunGood Poker Series, for a relaxed chat about the upcoming 2026 Passport Season. The conversation covers everything from the new lineup of 17 venues to their favorite ways to build community at the table.
Karn joins in for a fast-paced speed round and a round of Stake/Study Stack, injecting some fun into the usual discourse. The podcast also highlights their ongoing support for local food banks, raffling off prizes to live viewers in the YouTube chat.
Poker players find a new sweat: NFL survivor pools
We know we have already covered this story, but over on PokerOrg there is a deeper look at the group of poker players—including Jason Somerville, Galen Hall, and Matt Graham—who found themselves at the center of an $18.7 million sweat during the Circa Survivor VI NFL contest.
The format was simple: pick a winning team each week, don’t reuse picks, and hope you make it to the end. Six entries survived to the final week, five made it through, and each scored $3.7 million.
Somerville was part of the JUICY KEWCHI squad, led by Gabe Patgorski. Their fate rested on the Minnesota Vikings beating the Packers, which they did comfortably.
PSA: GGPoker is rolling out a big change to its player rewards.
The Fish Buffet loyalty system is being replaced by Ocean Rewards on January 30, 2026.
The main draw is the new cashback range: players can get up to 80 percent back, up from the previous 60 percent ceiling, and even the minimum cashback increases to about 24 percent.
Phil Galfond and Phil Hellmuth recount their career-defining victories.
All is revealed in the latest episode of Between Two Phils by BetRivers Poker.Lex Veldhuis running hot.
After his ambassador role with PokerStars ended, Lex Veldhuis made a strong return to streaming online poker on GGPoker. And he’s been crushing it! With two tournament wins and a third-place finish, he’s already banked nearly $25k in prize money in just three tournaments!ICYMI: Lex hits reset: PokerStars out, streaming (and chess) back in.
Lex Veldhuis is starting 2026 with a clean slate, officially leaving PokerStars after a 17-year partnership. According to PokerNews, he spent most of 2025 away from poker, only resurfacing for rare appearances like Lex Live in Bratislava and some Twitch streams heavy on chess and video games.
Veldhuis told his chat, “2025 is in the rear-view mirror. That’s where I want to keep it. I know you’re all curious about everything that transpired. I felt like it was time for a new chapter, a new beginning.”
He has yet to announce any new sponsorships and seems in no rush to sign with another site. As he put it, “The worst thing you can do after a long relationship is immediately enter another one.”
January 05
What is Jason Somerville up to these days?
Well, the legendary Twitch streamer, Jason Somerville, was among the select few poker players who chopped the NFL Circa Survivor with a jaw-dropping $18.7 million prize pool. Check out the video!The top five poker conversations you didn’t know you needed.
Paul Seaton over on Pokerati looks back at his top interviews of 2025, which include conversations with big names such as Chris Moneymaker, Erik Seidel, and Stephen Chidwick.Don’t know much about Wolfgang Poker?
Don’t worry, ClubWPT Gold have got you covered.We missed this interview with Patrik Antonius when it came out over a month ago.
Antonius talks through the not-so-glamorous grind of staying at the top of the poker world. He discusses how the real challenge is handling mental swings and the constant pressure to make perfect decisions.
Poker, he says, is as much about psychology and stamina as it is about the cards.
He draws a clear line between the freedom of cash games and the structure of tournaments, noting how travel and location can affect your game. Antonius also shares thoughts on adapting to different opponents, the growing role of technology like AI solvers, and his own work on digital projects such as First Line of Poker.
“You have to work on yourself a lot, stay healthy, stay focused, and be ready to adapt. That’s the only way to compete with the best,” Antonius says.
Awful structure for upcoming WSOP-C event at Planet Hollywood.
And of course, it’s a ladies’ event.Kevin Hart is a man of many talents, and apparently a taste for high-stakes drama.
He walks into High Stakes Poker, drops nearly a million dollars into the pot, and leaves everyone sweating harder than his stand-up audience.Mads Mikkelsen on Daniel Craig’s poker skills in Casino Royale.
And turns out Craig was the only one who didn’t know how to play poker.What can poker teach you? According to Konnikova, quite a lot.
Maria Konnikova has had quite the run lately, picking up wins across the EPT and NAPT, and surpassing $1 million in live tournament earnings. But for her, poker is more than just a way to make money.
In a chat with PokerOrg, she argues that its real value lies in how it sharpens your everyday thinking.
Konnikova claims the game is essentially a master class in decision-making and risk assessment.
“Poker gives you this really good rubric for how to think through that, how to do that payoff matrix, how to evaluate the risks associated with it, how to correctly read probabilities, and how to actually incorporate probabilistic thinking into those decisions.”