This Week

Oooosh, seems like Xuan Liu is out at WPT Global but they are still using her image.

PokerNews takes a microscope to a 2015 WSOP Main Event hand between Daniel Negreanu and Omri Moga, asking if Negreanu was really playing GTO before it became the standard.

Weee! Last woman standing in GCP Tour mystery bounty tournament at 88 years of age!

From short stack to tequila shot.

Blake Vogdes turned the Borgata Winter Poker Open final table on its head, arriving as one of the shortest stacks and leaving with nearly half a million dollars. The key, according to PokerOrg, was a series of double-ups once play got four-handed. Vogdes took the lead, cut a deal with Jack Kwon heads-up, and claimed the trophy.

Vogdes has only been cashing tournaments since 2021, but his focus seems to be shifting. He told PokerOrg, “I’ve just been playing more live tournaments, just having fun with it. I used to play a lot online, but now I’m transitioning out of poker into doing some other things.”

The big win? Vogdes summed up his plans in five words: “I need a shot of Tequila.”

Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin didn’t see their WPT Global split coming.

As Dara told us, “We were not told about the announcement ahead of time and felt totally blindsided.” David was just as surprised, immediately erasing all signs of WPT Global from their podcasts and social media.

The drama unfolded around WPT Global’s decision to sign Ren “Tony” Lin, a player previously banned for cheating. This was, according to Lappin, a dealbreaker. “On the last episode of The Lock-In we criticized the GGPoker and the WSOP decision to allow [Lin] to play again so soon,” he told us.

The announcement was briefly pulled, giving the duo a flicker of hope, but it was reposted the next morning. The writing was on the wall and, after a final meeting, O’Kearney and Lappin began disentangling themselves from WPT Global for good.

If it’s March, it must be PokerStars in Philly.

PokerNews reports that PokerStars Open will return to Live! Casino Philadelphia this March.

The series is scheduled from March 16 to 23, with a slate of events that includes a $10,000 Women’s Event, a $50,000 PokerStars Cup, and a $500,000 guaranteed Main Event. Details on the full schedule are still under wraps, but the Main Event will look to match last year’s 1,154 entrants and $1.1 million prize pool.

GGPoker tries to win back hearts (and wallets) with a $10 million do-over.

After the abrupt cancellation of the GGMasters 5th Anniversary Freezeout in 2025 due to technical issues, GGPoker is hoping to regain players’ trust by launching the 6th Anniversary edition with a massive $10 million guarantee and a $150 buy-in.

The schedule is packed with multiple Day 1 flights and a Last Chance entry for those who want one more shot at the prize.

PokerStars wants to send you to Dublin!

PokerStars is running a new promo for the upcoming Irish Poker Open. The new Emerald Power Pass tacks on extra value for players, giving Silver Pass winners a shot at more than just the standard package.

Winners who upgrade to the Emerald Pass receive entry tickets to the Main Event, a side event, and now a €250 Mini Irish Open event. PokerStars is also covering extra cash for expenses.

The Irish Open itself is hyped as one of the most entertaining poker festivals worldwide, promising big guarantees and an even bigger crowd.

How inclined are you to play on the WPT? Be it live or online?

It’s go time over in Madrid for 888poker.

Oooh the WSOP Europe is headed to Prague.

The 2026 WSOP Europe will feature 15 gold bracelet events and kicks off at the end of March. Looks like it’s going to be a rather special affair.

“It’s an exciting rebirth of the World Series of Poker Europe in Prague. We have a big ambition to elevate this festival to one of the very best in the world and look forward to welcoming players to a great poker city next April.”

The Asian Poker Tour wrapped up 2025 with its Championship Main Event, boasting a $5m guarantee and a $10,000 buy-in.

According to the APT, the guarantee was handily beaten and the event helped cement their reputation as a global tour. Now we look back at some of the stories from an incredible year.

APT Championship 2025 was built on belief — from our players, our partners, and the team behind the scenes. The moment belonged to everyone who took the lead with us. Now, we turn our focus to celebrating 20 years of the APT.

Next up: #APTJejuClassic2026, running from January 30 to February 8.

MSPT: shuffling through the highlights and a few 2026 predictions.

According to PokerNews, Norberto Pardo and Yaiquel Mosqueda-Perez—two players with a reputation for card marking—were recognized at The Lodge Card Club in Texas.

Poker vlogger Anthony Martino spotted the pair and tipped off the staff. After inspecting the deck, the club confirmed the cards were marked, and both players were promptly banned.

Martino recounted in his video, “We had these two Cuban players that sat in Seats 1 and Seat 6, diagonal from one another, and each of them was very consistent in which one was in Seat 1 and which one is in Seat 6.”

The duo, already banned from other card rooms, apparently stuck to their methods. But this time, Texas staff and players were ready. PokerNews confirmed both are now permanently banned from The Lodge Card Club, joining the list of places they can’t revisit.

Foxen and Eveslage cap off a not-so-average PGT season.

The PokerGO Tour wrapped up with Alex Foxen securing Player of the Year after a dominant final event win.

Chad Eveslage took down the season-ending $1,000,000 Championship, beating out 53 others to claim $500,000 and the tour’s top title.

Eveslage entered the heads-up battle with Andrew Lichtenberger holding a commanding chip lead. The win capped off a strong year for Eveslage, highlighted by his earlier $1.2 million score in the Super High Roller Bowl Mixed Games.

A poker dispute resolved, so what now?

The latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast brings closure to one of poker’s recent player disputes. Maurice Hawkins and Denise Pratt, who had been at odds, have reportedly resolved their issues.

The clip is short and to the point, focusing on the fact that both parties have settled up and are moving on.

Rest easy, poker fans. There’s one less grudge match to keep track of this week.

The PokerGO Tour Championship has assembled a final table that reads like a who’s who of tournament grinders.

Daniel Negreanu headlines, but he starts at a disadvantage, trailing the chip leaders as the action unfolds.

According to the video, Negreanu is looking to kick off 2026 with a $500,000 payday, but he’ll need to outmaneuver Chad Eveslage, Andrew Lichtenberger, Michael Wang, John Riordan, and Dream Seat Qualifier Aaron Kupin.

The stakes are high and so is the pressure. The video points out the challenge of overcoming a chip deficit in such a stacked field.

PokerOrg’s recap of High Stakes Poker Season 15’s latest episodes focuses on the new lineup led by Andrew Robl and Antonio Esfandiari.

With Kevin Hart gone, Robl wasted no time making himself the main character, pushing around chips and opponents alike.

The biggest moment came when Esfandiari, aka 'The Magician,’ found himself in a monster pot against Robl. After some pre-flop fireworks, Robl check-blinded the flop, leading to a quick-fire all in. Esfandiari couldn’t find a call with queen-high, and Robl happily showed down his monster hand to everyone’s amusement.

WPT: available in four confusing flavors.

The World Poker Tour really wants to make sure you never play poker the same way twice. With WPT, ClubWPT, WPT Global, and ClubWPT Gold all on the table, you can pick between live tournaments, subscription-based play, real money action, or even poker coaching disguised as a sweepstakes.

If you can remember which brand is which, you probably deserve a prize yourself.

A masterclass in starting the year on tilt.

Some people start the new year with a gym membership or a new diet. According to Doug Polk they started 2026 by dropping almost $200,000 on a single stream at The Lodge Live. Not exactly the motivational storyboards are made of, but certainly memorable.

The video points out that it was a “rough start to the year” and that the deck just would not cooperate. Losing nearly $200,000 in front of a live audience is not everyone’s idea of fun, but someone has to do it.

“I had a rough start to the year on a recent @TheLodgeLive stream. The deck didn’t cooperate, and I lost almost $200,000.”

I mean, he’s not wrong.

Daniel “Jungleman” Cates, known for his poker prowess, is stepping into a new kind of arena: the boxing ring.

Jungleman explains how what started as a casual idea has now spiraled into a real, potentially bloody fight. Cates talks about the challenges of preparing for combat, balancing training with high-stakes poker, and the surprises he’s encountered along the way.

He’s quick to note that boxing isn’t just about strength. “It’s far more dangerous than I expected,” Cates admits, reflecting on the real risks involved. He also draws parallels between the mind games of poker and the psychological battles in boxing, suggesting that the two worlds are more similar than they appear.

The fight is scheduled for January 22 in Beverly Hills, and Cates is training in boxing, striking, and self-defense. Whether this move is gutsy or just reckless is up for debate, and Cates himself seems to be weighing both possibilities.

That one has got to hurt.

ClubWPT Gold has reopened to New York residents, following a brief absence.

The re-launch was teased by Doug Polk and confirmed via social media and email to registered players.

There’s no big shake-up for New York players this time. Unlike California, which got 'special Game Days’ after sweepstakes bans, New Yorkers just get to return to business as usual.

The main change is a new in-game currency: 'Chips,’ which replace the previous dual-currency system and now accompany tokens for hand analysis.

Turns out, the leaderboard isn’t everything.

Nothing says high drama like a $1 million freeroll where the leaderboard leaders don’t even make the final table. PokerOrg notes that Negreanu gets the headline, but it’s Wang leading the pack.

Sometimes the real story is just who managed to avoid busting early.

Deep runs and history-making final tables, amounted to 2025 really being the year women in poker captivated global audiences.

Leo Margets made a historic run at the WSOP Main Event, finishing seventh in a field of 9,735. That $1.5 million payday is now the highest ever for a woman in the Main Event’s history.

Epic runs by Natasha Mercier at WSOP Paradise, Jen Shahade during the European Poker Tour and Xuan Liu, who took a Triton title, all made for an incredible year.

According to BetMGM Poker, the 2026 Borgata Winter Poker Open is off to a strong start with millions in guarantees and a schedule that’s drawing players from far and wide.

The Almighty Million Winter Kick Off saw a huge turnout, with the guarantee smashed and the final table streamed on YouTube for anyone who missed the action in person.

Michael Renna, a well-known Borgata regular, overcame a chip deficit to claim his biggest payday yet—$190,740 and a shiny new trophy. The event’s hybrid championship also made waves, with online and live play bringing in hundreds of entries.

BetMGM is still running satellites for those who think they have what it takes. As the Borgata Winter Poker Open passes its halfway mark, there’s still plenty of poker left to play—and more trophies to be handed out.

Is the WPT brand going to be left in tatters?

The marketing team at ClubWPT Gold are intent on creating polarizing content, no matter the personal cost. But are they at risk of tainting the parent brand, the World Poker Tour, by association?

This time, they take aim at Vanessa Kade—who receives a fair amount of trolling on social media at the best of times—riffing that she’s the new 'autistic Barbie.’ Totally uncalled for.

At this rate, no one seems safe from the company’s ire, but will the parent brand (WPT) suffer as a result?

Victoria Coren Mitchell has entered the WPT Global chat.

Notably Victoria gave up her PokerStars ambassadorship as soon as the company started offering casino games — which was probably around 10+ years ago now. At the time, it was a line she was not prepared to cross.

Victoria gave kudos to Dara and David who have parted ways with WPT Global after the company signed Ren Lin on as an ambassador.

When card tricks meet cold cases, you get this documentary.

Lost in the Shuffle centers on world champion magician Shawn Farquhar and his quest to uncover hidden stories buried in the face cards of your standard deck. The film claims that the Jacks, Queens, and Kings we play with today may hold clues to a murder from the Middle Ages.

According to the trailer, Farquhar mixes his sleight-of-hand with investigative flair, piecing together the 'tantalizing clues’ that have supposedly been overlooked for centuries. It’s part history lesson, part magic show, and part true crime exploration.

PokerNews sat down with the director for an in-depth look at the documentary.

WPT Global’s full statement on the Ren 'Tony’ Lin hire.

It’s all about 'growth, accountability, and redemption’: their words, not ours. Below is just an extract of the full statement, which you can read on X.

The world of competitive poker is not only about winning hands, but also about personal evolution and the courage to face challenges with integrity. We are honored to welcome Tony Lin as our newest brand ambassador. Tony has openly addressed past controversies, taken full responsibility for his actions, and accepted the consequences with humility. His willingness to learn, improve, and move forward demonstrates a maturity that aligns with our values. His journey reflects resilience—a quality we admire and wish to highlight.

The Chip Race along with co-hosts Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin part ways with WPT Global.

The WSOP Online Super Circuit is back with $2 million in guarantees and 18 ring events for players in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Nevada.

The series runs from January 8 to 25, with a $250k guaranteed Main Event closing things out. If you’re into variety, there are 6-Max Hold’em, PLO, PKO, and Mystery Bounty events in the mix.

For players looking for something less high-stakes, there are $100 and $215 buy-in events, while high rollers can aim for the $1k and $2k tournaments on January 20 and 13. Several events boast six-figure prize pools, including the $100k NLH Deepstack and $150k Mystery Bounty tournaments.

Alex Foxen has been named the 2025 PGT Player of the Year, wrapping up a season that saw him notch 27 cashes and over $6.2 million in winnings.

PGT notes he wasn’t just winning—he hit some career milestones too, becoming the first player to log 100 PGT cashes and 10,000 points.

Foxen’s year started with a couple of cashes at the PokerGO Cup and just kept rolling. He picked up his twelfth PGT title at the Last Chance series and nearly took home the PLO Series title before narrowly missing out to Jesse Lonis.

David Lappin’s journey to poker wasn’t exactly the stuff of classic poker movies.

As he tells the Table 1 Podcast, his path ran from a screenwriting degree to a philosophy PhD track, with a failed TV pitch thrown in for good measure. According to Lappin, this string of rejections was the perfect training for poker’s relentless swings.

He talks about how growing up in a creative family gave him a taste for storytelling, but it was the world of late-night UK poker TV and low-stakes online games that ultimately caught his attention. Lappin and co-host Dara O’Kearney built 'The Chip Race’ podcast by treating interviews like game trees, always searching for the next branch of conversation.

“Writers, poker players, and creatives all deal with rejection, confidence, and meaning,” Lappin reflects.

The episode covers everything from the transformation of the Irish Poker Open to the problems of modern tournament structures.

Meme king Barry Carter reacts to WPT “omnishambles”.

Now you see me, now you don’t.

Ren Lin might be the only person to get banned, unbanned, signed, disowned, and then signed again by three poker brands in under two months.

For anyone just catching up now on the whys and wherefores of the story, here is a great roundup from the PokerOrg team on what is actually happening over at the World Poker Tour.

Lifting the paywall on Anuj’s take on the Ren “Tony” Lin cheating scandal.

Published in October 2025 on Poker Industry PRO, Anuj reported that Tony Lin (who, at the time, was a GGPoker ambassador) and player RealOA were at the centre of controversy.

The pair were caught in a real-time coaching scandal during the GGMillion$ final.

After evidence emerged on social media, including Lin’s own apology, GGPoker wasted no time: RealOA was banned and Lin was indefinitely suspended (although, in reality, this wouldn’t last long).

The operator refunded nearly $350,000 to impacted players, with Lin himself covering almost $100,000 out of pocket to make things right.

Before the official word was out, Lin was also shown the door at the WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus Main Event. However, he was seen at WSOP Paradise, which took place in the Bahamas back in December of last year.

In a further twist, Lin is now signed to WPT Global as an ambassador for the brand.

This will certainly be David Lappin’s reaction at Lin getting signed to WPT Global.

David Lappin has been an outspoken critic of Ren Lin for quite some time now. It stems from Lin being banned and then reinstated at the WSOP and GGPoker tables, despite being a central character in a ghosting controversy that took place on their site.

Now Lin has been signed on as the latest WPT Global ambassador. And guess who else represents the same brand?

Yep, you guessed it. None other than Lappin himself.

Someone grab the popcorn.

So as it turns out WPT Global has signed Ren “Tony” Lin after all.

Phil Galfond talks Hellmuth, Canada, and the future of BetRivers.

Phil Galfond joined Chad Holloway and Keith Becker for the first episode of BetRivers’ Table Talk podcast, where the trio covered a little bit of everything in the poker world. Galfond discussed his relationship with Phil Hellmuth, calling Hellmuth “a beast” when it comes to bracelet counts. The conversation also touched on BetRivers’ ambitions in the Canadian market and how players can get involved in the BetRivers community.

Later in the episode, Galfond teased a major online tournament series and the curiously named GobbleKnocker Series. For those wondering what to expect from BetRivers and Galfond in 2026, the podcast offers a few hints, though nothing too concrete.

$24,000: gone in the time it takes to hit 'refresh’.

Dan 'Jungleman’ Cates has never backed down from a challenge at the poker table, and now he’s taking that attitude into the ring.

Later this month, Cates will face off against 'Elf’, a content creator and recreational poker player, in a kickboxing match sanctioned by the International Kickboxing Federation. The bout will take place at the Beverly Hills Fight Club.

Both fighters agreed to the match believing the other had never fought before.

'This will be a bloodbath’

Still, Jungleman’s fitness is well-known among poker fans, though some, like Rob Kuhn, believe Elf is the 'stone lock of the century’ to win.

The revolution will be extended. Again.

BetRivers Poker has decided that the Rakeback Revolution is still alive and kicking.

The promotion, which boosts iRush Rewards points for active players, has been extended through the end of March.

Earning at least $5 in rake a week qualifies players for up to 250% extra bonus points. These can be spent in the iRush Bonus Store, on things like cash bonuses.

The promo is only available in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia.

Phil Hellmuth is refusing to slow down in 2026, according to PokerNews.

After 2025 was called his worst year since 2009, Hellmuth has already pulled off two final table appearances and three cashes, all before most of us have taken down our holiday decorations.

The Poker Hall of Famer secured a fourth and fifth place, plus a min-cash in the PGT Last Chance Series, almost matching his full 2025 earnings before the first month of the year is out. PokerNews notes he even benefited from some timely help to sneak into the money:

Maybe 2026 is shaping up to be the comeback year for the 'Poker Brat.’

Rules are rules, until they are not.

At the WSOP-C Calgary, two friends found themselves heads-up in the CAD$600 No Limit/PLO mix event. Mehmet Siginc and Nicholas Lee, long-time poker pals, decided to make things interesting. Instead of playing for first and second place payouts, they agreed to a private, winner-takes-all deal for the full CAD$40,545.

Officially, WSOP does not allow deals like this. The payouts on the WSOP+ app still show Lee as runner-up, but Siginc told PokerNews it was a “Gentleman’s agreement.”

“No guts no glory,” Siginc said, as he took down his second WSOP-C title.

This story highlights the ongoing debate about deal-making at the WSOP.

As PokerStrategy notes, strict rules just mean the real action happens in the shadows, leaving the organizers out of the loop.

High stakes, higher blood pressure.

Brad Owen takes us through a tense high stakes session where the action heats up quickly. The highlight: a massive 5-bet all-in preflop with pocket kings.

According to Brad, it’s one of those spots where you just have to get it in, even if the sweat is real.

Throughout the hand, Brad talks through his thought process, sharing why he couldn’t find a fold and how the table dynamics played into his decision.

The video gives a good look at how tough these spots can be, even for experienced players.

Netflix bets on Vegas, but will poker get a seat?

Las Vegas is getting the Netflix treatment, and this time the poker world might actually get more than a cameo.

With Maria Konnikova and the Rounders crew in the writers’ room, expect some real cards on the table, not just chips flying around for cinematic effect.

Even Scorsese’s involved, so the odds are good for something worth watching.

Looks like someone forgot to sync the group chat.

Ok, there’s a bit of drama going on.

WPT Global announced Ren “Tony” Lin as an ambassador.

Lin is the former GGPoker ambassador who was indefinitely banned by GG/WSOP following a ghosting controversy.

Despite the ban, he was later spotted playing at WSOP Paradise, even as his name quietly disappeared from GGPoker.

Last night, WPT Global makes him an ambassador.

Shortly after, the WPT main account tweets that it does not endorse or control WPT Global’s ambassadors.

Minutes later, WPT Global deletes the announcement.

Then ClubWPT Gold posted a tweet simply saying “BANNED”, featuring Ren Lin’s image, seemingly signaling the decision had been reversed.🍿