May 12, 2026

Deeb recently claimed on No Gamble, No Future that Phil Hellmuth 'knows deep down’ his WSOP bracelet record is in jeopardy.

Even after losing nearly $100,000 in recent high-stakes cash games, Deeb remains undeterred.

“I always feel like me and Phil’s exact rapport, I’m the one person he can’t just bring up his accolades against and brag about all he’s done, because he knows deep down I’m going to pass him in bracelets,”

Hellmuth, who currently holds 17 bracelets, is still sitting pretty, especially after booking a $14,000 win while playing his trademark tight style. Deeb, with nine bracelets to go, is banking on time and his two WSOP Player of the Year awards to close the gap. The race is on, but Hellmuth’s lead is still safe for now.

Today

WSOP reveals that it will give $100k in bonuses to the top-performing dealers this summer.

The World Series of Poker has come out with more information about its latest dealer rating feature. There will be $100,000 in bonus cash added, spread across all 100 bracelet events.

The top three rated dealers in each event will get to split $1,000, and ratings refresh for every event, so every tournament starts with a clean slate.

Opinions are still divided within the poker community, but adding some extra cash for the hard-working folks that make the series tick certainly helps.

Yesterday

Curious about Allen Kessler? You need to check this out!

The crew at Table 1 Podcast came through once again with a great guest. Yes, it’s Allen Kessler, the man who’s been around poker and gambling for decades, and although people often question how good he is, he must be doing something right.

If you’re curious about the life of the man they call 'The Chainsaw,’ you’ll definitely want to tune in for some fun poker and slots stories, and much more.

What to do with a flopped top pair after getting check-raised?

This is a tricky spot that many players don’t handle that well. Jonathan Little offers some useful tips on how to navigate these situations like a pro.

Just another year of high-stakes drama for Tom Goldstein.

He was once a legal superstar and now is a convicted felon.

According to PokerNews, Goldstein won over $1.7 million gambling in 2025, but claims it was all before his January arraignment. Prosecutors are skeptical and have pointed out that he reported over $3 million in taxable income for the year, much of it from gambling.

Experience levels: 83. Table respect: infinite. It’s the best story of the week!

According to 888poker, Day 2 of the UKPL Blackpool Main Event featured an 83-year-old player who dominated the tables. There’s something quietly satisfying about watching a field of younger players getting outmaneuvered by someone with decades more life experience.

Josh Giddey isn’t just a rookie on the court. 🏀

Josh Giddey, the 23-year-old point guard for the Chicago Bulls, is better known for his vision on the basketball court than at the poker table. But that might be changing. As reported by PokerNews, Giddey made his first tournament appearance at the Aussie Millions in Melbourne, the city he calls home, but it may not be his last.

PokerOrg predicts who’s going to win the WSOP Main Event.

Maria Konnikova and Nate Silver’s hats are in the ring, but it feels like a bit of a stretch.

Some WSOP nostalgia.

This is everything 🔥

Players flocking to GGPoker Canada, whilst PokerStars remains down.

Without a clear timeline, players are headed elsewhere whilst Stars remains shuttered.

They better not wait too long too launch or it may be hard attracting people back…

Aria Poker Classic starts in time for the WSOP crowd.

If you are looking for more Vegas action, in addition to the WSOP, this one might be for you.

Enter Barny Boatman’s poll.

How do you rate sitting at tables without electronics being allowed? Let the man know!

I’m not crying, you’re crying.

Stapes’ fairwell video from PokerStars.

May 11

With PokerStars Ontario currently out of the picture, GGPoker is raking in the benefits.

PokerStars has temporarily left the Ontario market ahead of its big re-launch under a new brand. This left many players looking for a new online home in the province, and it sure looks like all paths lead to GGPoker Ontario.

Will headphones be banned at live poker events?

It’s not a definite, but it’s on the table thats for sure.

Free poker coverage? WSOP 2026 has got you covered.

Finally the WSOP realized people actually want to watch poker without jumping through subscription hoops. 2026 will see no more paywalls and lots of free YouTube streams. Bravo!

Overlay season is in full swing at 888poker.

The 888poker XL Spring Series Rakeless Main Event is shaping up to be a value spot for tournament grinders. The operator set a $500,000 guarantee but is falling short on entries, which means a big overlay is likely.

WSOP online registration is now open!

With the live 2026 event kicking off in two weeks’ time, now is the time to register. We have a guide to the WSOP Live app to help you navigate all it has to offer.

👏 This, this this.

Fair pay first. Rating systems second.

Night 2 of No Gamble, No Future Live put a spotlight on Chris Moneymaker, who ended the evening with $74,400 in profit, showing everyone that he is still a force to be reckoned with at the felt.

He reached nearly $160,000 in chips at one point before coming back to earth, but he kept his top spot on the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Phil Hellmuth managed a win, though PokerOrg points out it was a modest one.

Feel good story of the day. Blackpool’s most dedicated regular finally cashes in big.

Lilian Welch has been a familiar face at the Grosvenor G Casino in Blackpool for 14 years, but now she can add a new title to her collection: 888poker UKPL Blackpool Main Event champion.

At 83 years old, Welch outlasted a field of 318 entries to claim £31,390, the biggest score of her career.

The £560 buy-in event saw a prize pool of £151,050 and paid 38 spots, with notable players like Brandon Sheils and 888poker Ambassador Ian Simpson making the money. Welch’s win shows that sometimes, playing for fun is the best strategy of all.

Loving these card-nerd facts.

Did any one else know these?

I also liked the fact that a lot of common phrases come from playing cards, such as 'following suit’ or 'playing your cards close to your chest’.

It’s an end of an era for PokerStars and Stapes.

After almost twenty years at PokerStars, Joe Stapleton (who, pun not intended, really has been a staple in the ever-changing roster at Stars) has parted ways with the company. Where he lands next remains to be seen, but we are sure it won’t be long until an announcement is made.

GGPoker keeps shattering its own records, most recently hitting over 900,000 players online at the same time during the opening of its GG World Festival.

The site first announced 700,000 concurrent players, then 800,000, and finally crossed the 900,000 mark as the day went on.

The GG World Festival is offering $300 million in guaranteed prize money and runs through June 9. Even on weekdays, GGPoker is boasting over 400,000 concurrent players, a number its competitors can only dream of.

It’s a wrap on the Aussie Millions.

After the event went on hiatus for 6 years, it returned to the delight of the players. An announcement about their next event is apparently coming soon.

Two weeks until the start of the WSOP.

Where has the year gone? Asking for a friend.

The WSOP dealer rating debate rages on.

Sentiment on the internet is largely in favor of the new system, that is rolling out this summer. But I still hate it!

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