May 18, 2026

I think I am also coming round to the WSOP rating system.

But only a bit.

May 23

Lon and Norman are back in the booth.

The legendary commentating duo that is Lon McEachern and Norman Chad is back in the fold for the 2026 World Series of Poker coverage. We don’t have all the details, but this feels like the kind of throwback the poker world needs.

Here’s some actionable preflop tips to guide your decision-making process.

Instead of simply relying on charts, here’s a six-point process that you can use to make your decisions before the flop and come up with the right plan of action.

Doug Polk is happy to have come out on the other side and looking forward to what comes next.

After a scary ordeal that the Lodge Card Club in Austin has been through, the future looks bright, and Doug Polk, one of the club’s majority owners, is happy and relieved to close this chapter and move on.

The Lodge is set to reopen on Tuesday, and Polk has took to X to invite everyone to the big event.

The action in PokerStars Anniversary Series continues.

On the menu tonight, there are a couple of PKO events as well as some Mystery Bounty tournaments to fit every bankroll. So far, the series has been a great value for the players, so don’t miss out.

Doug Polk ends his HCL adventure on a high note.

It was a proper rollercoaster of a session, but Doug Polk managed to finish his excursion to the Hustler Casino Live multi-day session with a solid five-figure profit.

It’s a key weekend for the GG Ontario festival.

GGPoker Ontario is running a host of major events for its GG Ontario festival, including a selection of high buy-in tournaments with over $500k in combined guarantees, as well as dozens of lower-tier events to fit every budget.

Shaun Deeb is a man on a mission…

With the $25k Fantasy Draft around the corner, Shaun Deeb is trying to add some order to the chaos, inviting players to share their plans and draft amounts. It’s a valid effort, but organizing poker players for pretty much anything is challenging, to say the least.

Blackjack ban in California cardrooms postponed – at least for now.

A recent court ruling has temporarily put a stop on the controversial blackjack ban in California cardrooms, but the battle continues.

The new gaming regulation, introduced by Attorney General Rob Bonta, seeks to make it illegal for state’s cardrooms to offer blackjack-style games. If it comes to pass, this decision would significantly impact the venues’ bottom lines, leading to job losses and, quite likely, reducing the number of places offering poker.

Don’t forget GGPoker Ontario is still running its Festival Series.

The series runs until June 9 and is giving away $8 million Canadian dollars in guarantees.

Go check it out at GGPoker Ontario if you are interested in playing in the province.

Remember, PokerStars ON is currently offline, so this is your best bet for regulated online poker in the market!

There’s only one right answer when it comes to Jennifer Tilly.

And that’s a yes.

If you need a primer on PokerStars on FanDuel this one is for you.

We’ve put together a guide on everything you need to know about the new platform. You’re welcome.

May 22

There is a new poker room in Texas!

Champions Social Club opened its doors for business in Dallas, Texas. The whole process wasn’t without its challenges, but the club managed to win several key battles, and now, there is yet another poker room in the North Texas metropolitan area.

Simple words to live by…

Alex Fitzgerald brings a small nugget of poker wisdom that can help save you a lot of money in the long run. Don’t let your mind play tricks on you – just fold and move on.

Doug Polk and Mariano clashing in a huge pot on HCL Live.

Just like he announced, Doug Polk went over to Hustler Casino Live to play some high stakes poker, and, as expected, he got himself in a fair few interesting spots.

One of those came in a hand against the popular poker vlogger Mariano, when Polk’s pocket kings came second best to Mariano’s jacks. But can Polk find a fold on this turn?

Check out this heart-warming interview with Lilian Welch, the 83-year old UKPT Blackpool winner.

A few days ago, Lilian Welch, a regular at Grosvenor casino, took down the UKPT Blackpool Main Event for the biggest score of her career. Welch is 83 and a textbook definition of a recreational player, but she enjoys every minute spent at the tables.

888poker caught up with the winner to briefly talk about her journey to the title and what it felt like to be in that spot. This one will bring a smile on your face.

Jeremy Ausmus is sharing his thoughts on the 2026 WSOP Player of the Year race.

With all three major WSOP stops now counting toward the Player of the Year race (Europe, Las Vegas, and Bahamas), it is a bit of a tough spot for those who decided to skip Prague.

Players like Shaun Deeb have already made a significant headway, which could potentially lower the motivation to go after points for those who’ll start their WSOP journey this summer.

But, the whole situation could also be a great catalyst for next year’s WSOP Europe, which has already seen a significant spike in numbers having moved to Prague.

Kevin Martin, known for his stints on Big Brother Canada and Game of Gold, is launching a reality show called Poker Wars, airing live on his YouTube and Twitch channels from May 21 to 24 at 1pm PT each day.

According to PokerOrg, Martin is funding the $50,000 prize himself and bringing together a group of six contestants including Abby Merk, Jon Pardy, Haven Taylor, and Hesham 'Kiero Loves You’ Elkhouly, along with non-poker wildcards Jake Straus and Ali Kebritchi.

The show promises a chaotic blend of poker strategy and reality TV drama, with social deception and special twists inspired by Survivor and Big Brother.

The podcast you didn’t know you needed.

The Late Reg Podcast with Phil Laak and Brian Rast is excellent. Go check it out!

Folding pocket aces is crazy, but sometimes necessary?

Jonathan Little brings an interesting hand from the bubble of Triton Poker’s $40k Mystery Bounty, where Alex Theologis finds himself with pocket aces on a dynamic board, facing a big turn raise from Fedor Holz.

Eventually, he finds a fold, and he’s right, but how was he able to arrive at this difficult decision? Little breaks down every part of the hand to explain it.

Competition alert! PokerStars on FanDuel is offering tournament tickets for very little effort on your end.

All you have to do is tell them the name of one player in the new episodes of the Big Game on Tour. Spoiler: we have tons of coverage on this, so if you need an assist, go to our up-to-date guide on it, linked above.

May 21

Doug Polk says poker players are… delusional?

An interesting vlog from Doug Polk, resulting from an online survey conducted on a sample of 1,000+ poker players.

Polk and Mike Brady go through and comment on survey responses, and there is some interesting data about what players think about their level of play, what tilts them the most at the tables, how bluffing frequency relates to winning, and more.

PokerStars Fanduel is going strong in the New Jersey market.

After the first full month of operating in New Jersey, the new PokerStars on FanDuel platform claimed the crown of the largest online poker in the state.

Under a new branding, the operator saw a huge upward trend, overtaking the three competitors and generating close to $770k in revenue.

Leo Margets! Leo Margets! Leo Margets!

Her run last year was EXTRAORDINARY and I would love to know what she’s thinking going into this year’s series.

Its go time. The Reddit x GGPoker WSOP Main Event ticket giveaway is underway.

The r/poker Goes To WSOP Las Vegas tournament series is here. It will send one player to the 2026 WSOP Main Event for FREE.

It’s easy to forget with all the WSOP hype that other great things are happening in the poker world.

Please all stand for the Anniversary Series from PokerStars.

They are offering a massive $50 million in prize money across the series that is running now until June 3.

Want to know how Phil Ivey got into poker?

The WPT has got you!

Poker Wars, the new poker reality show from Kmart, aka Canadian Big Brother alum Kevin Martin, is set to air on live stream May 21 to 24.

That’s today! The show, which has been bank rolled exclusively by Martin airs 2pm MST.

What’s your opinion on headphones at the poker tables?

This one actually doesn’t bother me one way or the other, but I understand it’s polarizing.

Fan favorite Ali Nejad back in the WSOP commentary box for 2026.

Like we said yesterday, the WSOP is not playing with their new hires. They are in it to 🚀.

PokerStars on FanDuel is giving away freeroll tickets this week as part of an ongoing promotion.

Check out their Aces Cracked promo, which you can find out more about in their Dynasty Builder Rewards system.

BetRivers covers the gap and keeps the summer rolling.

Ivan lays out the numbers from the BetRivers Poker’s Summer Warm-Up Series.

The operator ran 68 events over two weeks, drawing more than 11,000 entries and paying out a total of $524,201, just above their $500,000 guarantee.

Some events featured overlays, most notably the $200 Main Event, which fell short with BetRivers covering the $5,000 gap.

May 20

What is this new poker reality show?

KMart is talking about a new poker reality show, called Poker Wars – and it’s not just about poker. Could be interesting?

WPT heads back to Australia for more big-money poker.

The World Poker Tour is making another trip to Australia this September, with The Star Sydney playing host to a festival of events. The headline acts are the AUD $5,000 WPT Australia Championship and the AUD $1,500 WPT Prime Australia Championship, both of which will be streamed live. There’s also a Ladies Championship and plenty of side action for those who like their tournaments varied.

Natural8 thinks emotional pain is your greatest edge in playing poker.

I feel like it is much too early in the day for me to have an opinion on this!

If you love Doyle Brunson, this video is for you.

He didn’t just survive the wild west of poker; he thrived. From dodging shady Texas road gamblers to scooping up ten WSOP bracelets, “Texas Dolly” made the felt his home and was perennially loved by all.

The WSOP 2026 is really just around the corner now.

Our player guide has been designed to give you all the info you might need to know if you are planning to head to Vegas.

Sunday’s over on PokerStars on FanDuel just got bigger.

The Sunday schedule is worth checking out, as PokerStars has added lots of value to tournaments.

ClubWPT Gold is launching its Summer of Gold series from May 24 to June 28, right as the WSOP gets underway in Las Vegas.

The online series boasts a 50 million chip guarantee and will feature six Gold Millions events, 76 Crown Series tournaments, and four WPT trophy events.

The timing is no accident. ClubWPT Gold is clearly positioning itself as the online alternative for players during poker’s busiest season.

WSOP Patchgate continues.

As Kevmath gets flooded with questions, he shares rule 54c—that the WSOP is looking specifically to crack down on people wearing logos from select poker sites, rather than it being a blanket ban on all generic logos. We think.

Octopi Poker announced Phil Hellmuth and his two sons as their new brand ambassadors.

To mark the occasion, Octopi is giving all new users 20 percent off annual subscriptions if they use the code HELLMUTH. The deal drops the Personal Plan to $160 and the Professional Plan to $480 for a year.

If that is not enough, you can still stack the POKERFUSE code for two free months, letting you try out the solver before committing.

BetRivers Poker is running its Added Prizes Week from May 18 to May 24. Every daily major will be juiced up with some extra value.

You can spot the boosted tournaments by the green badge next to their name in the lobby.

The daily majors, all named after US presidents, now have even more reason to get your attention, with added prizes on top of the guarantees. For example:

$5 Lincoln – $550 GTD plus $50 in added value
$10 Hamilton – $1,800 GTD plus $150 in added value
$50 Grant – $2,750 GTD plus $250 in added value
$100 Benjamin – $6,000 GTD plus $500 in added value

Maria Ho joins WSOP team.

The WSOP are doubling down this year by signing up some of the best poker talent.

Congrats to Maria for the new chapter!

May 19

The WSOP floor plan you didn’t know you needed.

Get acquainted with the layout of the WSOP before you arrive in Vegas. Thanks Kevmath / WSOP Live app.

ClubWPT Gold is not letting the WSOP hog the summer spotlight.

Their new Summer of Gold series runs from May 24 to June 28, promising 50 million chips in guaranteed prizes. It overlaps with the WSOP and features six Gold Millions events, 76 Crown Series tournaments, and four WPT trophy events.

Poker Hall of Fame alum Brian Rast and Phil Laak on old school WSOP memories.

Never clicked on a video that quickly before!

Ended up on the Hendon Mob looking at Krissy Foxen’s 2026 run.

It’s only May and she’s already got $2 million in live winnings to her name.

(Although that doesn’t include the Triton second place finish from yesterday.)

Krissy remains an absolute force to be reckoned with at the tables! Can’t wait to see her results from the upcoming WSOP!

Coverage from the Triton Invitational is underway.

We can follow along for free over one their YouTube channel.

Krissy Foxen finds new partner for the Triton invitational.

It’s only Dusk Till Dawn founder Rob Yong. What a great pairing.

Yes, I was wondering, and this does clear it up.

Turns out Charlie Carrel was arrested in the US for having drugs on him. Yeah, that’ll be why he’s banned.

Patrik Antonius is giving the 2026 WSOP tournament schedule a miss, as he’s done for years.

He’s all about the early grind, just not the tournament variety. He keeps to a strict fitness and poker routine, starting his day before dawn and hitting the cash tables well before most players have even woken up.

He’s not ruling out a Main Event cameo, though: if the cash games lose their appeal, he might jump in. But for now, tournaments are just not his thing. As he puts it, “The tournament grind is just not for me. But maybe I will play the Main Event. It’s a tricky one.”

Per Joey Ingram in the comments, what is AI and what is life anymore?

Honestly, no clue.

If you want daily WSOP structures and schedules, follow the KevmathVegas account.

Kevmath has always had your back during the WSOP, but make sure to follow his second account for daily updates.

Just look at that final table. The 80s was a different time.

Now the WSOP Main Event looks a bit more polished, but these pictures are giving us all the feels.

🛎️ PokerOrg’s take on the latest WSOP drama.

And yes, the series hasn’t even started yet and we are already talking about the controversies. 🍿

Marle Spragg returns to vlogging with one of the best ones we’ve seen all year.

This documentary-style vlog is everything. The production quality is top-notch, and the storytelling had me hooked from the intro!

Bravo to Marle for being so raw and unfiltered—it made for a fantastic 20-minute watch!

I Quit Poker to have a Baby

Don't forget to turn on notifications! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlztv/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarleSpragg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marlztv0?lang=en "Friends don't let friends play tournaments" merch available at https://pokerrags.us/

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Maurice Hawkins keeps winning on the felt, even if his financial life is a bit more complicated than most.

According to PokerNews, Hawkins took down Event #9 at Harrah’s Cherokee for his record-extending 25th WSOP Circuit ring, topping a tough field of 631 players and pocketing over $113,000.

His win comes hot on the heels of news about his bankruptcy filing in Florida, a story that led to a heated discussion on the PokerNews Podcast. Co-host Mike Holtz didn’t hold back, accusing Hawkins of trying to 'squirm and wiggle your way out of all these debts.’

Still, Hawkins’ poker resume is hard to argue with. He now has five more rings than anyone else on the Circuit, and with over $7 million in live earnings, he’s not slowing down.

The Big Game returned for a new season and PokerStars did not bother with auditions this time.

Instead, the show’s Loose Cannons are candidates from previous seasons who were called up for a surprise chance at the table. The first to take the hot seat is Andy Taylor, an operations manager from Canada who also works with young athletes.

Great take on the WSOP patch/sponsorship drama.

It’s a long post, but actually very nuanced and I like the take very much. It’s well worth the read.

Patrick Leonard is clapping back at Blaise Bourgeois WSOP / CoinPoker take.

I don’t know why, but more intrigued by Charlie Carrol being banned from entering the US, rather than anything else mentioning in this post. 🤣

May 18

FanDuel Poker, riding the PokerStars brand, just wrapped up its Ignite Series with some hefty overlays, costing the operator around $1 million to meet guarantees.

Despite that, they’re going even bigger with their flagship Sunday tournaments.

The Sunday Dynasty’s guarantee is jumping from $75,000 to $100,000, and the Sunday Storm is getting a $10,000 bump as well. It seems one successful Sunday was enough to convince the team to go all-in on bigger numbers.

The Creator Poker Championship airs on CBS in partnership with the World Poker Tour, aiming to make poker more appealing to the masses by mixing pro-level competition with internet creator personalities.

The show airs in two parts on May 15, offering what the producers call higher production values, more action, and episodic storytelling compared to last December’s livestream.

It remains to be seen whether poker purists or mainstream audiences will buy in, but the experiment is definitely getting its shot in prime time.

GGPoker Ontario is enjoying a hot streak.

The operator is riding high thanks to its biggest tournament series yet, the GG Ontario Festival, with a fat C$8 million guarantee. But it’s not all down to their efforts— PokerStars Ontario shutting down ahead of its platform switch has shoved a lot of traffic GGPoker’s way.

Kevin Rabichow offering WSOP coaching spots for this coming summer.

But it doesn’t come cheap.

For $2,500 you get the same level of support that my private clients receive from May 26th to July 15th.

A poker table, a temper, and a set of characters.

Jennifer Tilly, Xuan Liu, Phil Hellmuth, Shaun Deeb, Daniel 'Jungleman’ Cates, and others gather for Hellmuth’s Home Game — hoping for big hands and bigger reactions.

The highlight is Phil Hellmuth storming off the set after flopping sets in back to back hands. This seems to be a recurring theme, with multiple video links included to Hellmuth losing his cool in various ways, from being slowrolled to having his aces cracked.

Kevin Martin set to launch his new poker show, this coming Thursday.

The man loves a reality show, maybe on some pathological level at this point. It will be interesting to see how this one works and if it captures audiences.

All the love for the Irish Open. 💚

It’s amazing to see that stats of how many people, from so many countries, turned up to the Irish Open this past spring.

GGPoker is keeping up its tradition of sending r/poker members to the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.

Last year, Remi Alamin took his shot at poker glory, surviving Day 1. This year, Aleksandar Kozomara went deeper in Prague, making it to Day 3 and cashing €12,500.

This time, GGPoker is hosting three turbo freerolls for the r/poker community. The winner gets a $10,000 WSOP Main Event pass. All you need is an active r/poker account, a verified GGPoker account, and to be at least 21.

The Big Game on Tour Season 3 has landed.

It’s a favorite of the team here. All available to watch for free on YouTube which makes it even better.

Is Chris Moneymaker the ultimate crusher?

His results on ACR are undeniable, not to mention his $8.6 million in live tournament cashes. 🐐

Fedor Holz wins fifth Triton title.

Does this mark the beginning of another epic run, the likes of which were last seen back in 2016?

That was the year Fedor booked six wins from January to December. Accolades included winning nearly $5 million for the WSOP No-Limit Hold’em High Roller for One Drop, $3.5 million for a second-place finish in a Super High Roller Bowl event, and collecting over $3 million for a Triton win.

How did this post from Phil Nagy get 12 million likes?

Honestly, we still have no idea!

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