WPT Global

[**AI Poker Coach**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) gives you $500/hour-caliber poker coaching on demand — hand analysis, leak identification, drill scenarios, and mental game frameworks for every format from $0.01/$0.02 microstakes to high-roller MTTs. Whether you're learning hand rankings for the first time or refining your GTO strategy against tough regulars, this AI meets you exactly where you are and builds you into a stronger, more independent player. ✅ Street-by-street hand analysis with range-based reasoning ✅ Adaptive skill calibration — beginner through expert ✅ All formats: NLH cash, MTTs, PLO, Sit & Gos, live and online ✅ Mental game coaching: tilt taxonomy, bankroll management, session planning ✅ Drill mode with progressive difficulty and leak detection The online poker market is projected to grow from [**$3.86 billion in 2024 to $6.90 billion by 2030**](https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/online-poker-market-report), and with that growth comes an increasingly competitive player pool. To understand why having a coach in your pocket matters more than ever, let's look at what makes improving at poker so difficult. https://preview.redd.it/iy0o1rs7u80h1.png?width=1818&format=png&auto=webp&s=92a014f59e9d3e903aa83ee86aea54ac3615e13f # Quick Answer: What Is AI Poker Coach? [**AI Poker Coach**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) **is an elite-level poker coaching AI that analyzes hands, identifies leaks, runs drill scenarios, and teaches strategy across all formats and skill levels — instantly.** **Key capabilities:** * Parses hand histories from PokerStars, GGPoker, Winamax, and natural language descriptions * Adapts coaching depth from beginner explanations to advanced GTO analysis * Runs interactive drill scenarios with progressive difficulty * Provides structured mental game frameworks for tilt, bankroll management, and study planning # The Problem: Why Most Poker Players Plateau Poker is provably a game of skill over sufficient volume. A landmark study analyzing [**456 million player-hand observations**](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4346402/) found that skill dominates chance after approximately 1,500 hands of play — and that the performance gap between the top and bottom percentile of players averaged **21.2 bb/100**. The same research found that [**only about 37.5% of players would be profitable even without rake**](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4346402/), meaning the majority of players are making systematic strategic errors. Yet despite the clear evidence that skill drives results, most players struggle to improve. Here's why: * **No structured feedback loop** – You play hundreds of hands but rarely know which decisions cost you money * **Information overload** – Strategy content is everywhere, but it's fragmented, contradictory, and rarely personalized * **Expensive coaching** – Quality human coaches charge $200-$500/hour, putting consistent access out of reach for most players * **Study-play imbalance** – Players grind volume without targeted study, or study without applying concepts at the table * **Mental game neglect** – Tilt, bankroll mismanagement, and emotional decision-making silently destroy win rates # 📉 The Feedback Problem In most competitive pursuits, you receive immediate, clear feedback on your performance. A basketball player sees the shot miss. A chess player loses the game. In poker, **variance obscures feedback**. You can make the mathematically correct decision and lose money for weeks. You can make terrible decisions and run hot. This means players develop **results-oriented thinking** — one of the most destructive cognitive biases in poker. They judge decisions by outcomes rather than process, reinforcing bad habits when they get lucky and abandoning correct strategies when they run poorly. > The persistence of skill is real — but only for players who develop genuine strategic understanding, not those relying on intuition or outdated advice. # 💸 The Cost Barrier Professional poker coaching remains one of the most expensive forms of performance coaching in any competitive discipline. At the stakes most players compete at — micro and low stakes — spending $300 on a coaching session might represent an entire month's bankroll. This creates a paradox: the players who need coaching most can afford it least. # 🧠 The Mental Game Gap Research by poker mental game coach Jared Tendler, referenced on [PokerStrategy.com](https://www.pokerstrategy.com/strategy/poker-psychology/common-learning-errors/), identifies common learning errors that prevent improvement: players expose themselves to strategy content without deliberately practicing specific skills, confuse familiarity with understanding, and fail to identify the root causes of their mistakes. # The Solution: An Elite Poker Coach That Adapts to You [**AI Poker Coach**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) solves these problems by providing on-demand, personalized coaching that meets you at your exact skill level and adjusts as you improve. It doesn't just answer questions — it builds better poker thinkers. |Traditional Coaching|AI Poker Coach| |:-|:-| |$200-$500/hour sessions|Available 24/7 at a fraction of the cost| |Scheduled appointments, limited availability|Instant analysis whenever you need it| |One coach's philosophy and blind spots|GTO-informed foundation with exploitative overlays, contextualized by stakes| |Generic advice for your "level"|Organic skill calibration that adapts to your actual understanding| |Hand review limited to session time|Unlimited hand analysis with cross-hand pattern recognition| |Mental game addressed reactively|Structured tilt taxonomy, BRM frameworks, and session planning built in| |Study plan delivered once|Ongoing leak identification and prioritized improvement tracking| # 🎯 Organic Skill Calibration Unlike traditional coaching platforms that ask you to self-assess (which players consistently misjudge), [this AI](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) reads your actual language and questions to determine your level. Use terms like "pot odds" and "position" correctly? It knows you have intermediate fundamentals. Reference combinatorics, polarized ranges, and minimum defense frequency? It shifts to advanced GTO analysis. The calibration isn't static — it adjusts throughout the session and soft-confirms its assessment: *"Based on our conversation, I'm reading you as a solid intermediate NLH player working on postflop fundamentals — does that track?"* # 🧮 GTO-Pragmatic Philosophy The coach uses a pragmatic strategic hierarchy that mirrors how the best human coaches actually think: 1. **GTO-informed play** as the strategic backbone 2. **Exploitative adjustments** layered when you describe specific opponents or player pool tendencies 3. **Stakes contextualization** — at microstakes, heavy exploitation prints more money; at higher stakes, GTO awareness is survival 4. **Transparent tension** — *"The theoretically correct play here is to call. But against this villain type at $1/2 live, folding is probably more profitable because..."* # 🔍 Active Leak Detection The coach tracks up to three active leaks at any time — specific, actionable weaknesses like "overcalling river bets as a bluff-catcher" or "passive play in 3-bet pots out of position." When a leak is addressed through demonstrated improvement, it rotates out and the next most impactful leak takes its place. This mirrors how top human coaches prioritize: fix what's costing you the most money first. # How It Works: From First Hand to Structured Improvement Getting started with [AI Poker Coach](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) is straightforward. Here's the typical workflow: **Step 1: Share a Hand or Ask a Question** Paste a hand history directly from PokerStars, GGPoker, or any major platform — or simply describe the hand in natural language. The coach parses both formats fluently. > If key details are missing, the coach asks clarifying questions rather than guessing — position, stack depths, reads on the opponent, and tournament vs. cash context all change the correct answer. **Step 2: Receive Street-by-Street Analysis** The coach breaks down the hand decision by decision: was your preflop sizing correct? How does the board texture interact with both ranges? What does villain's check-raise represent? It gives a clear recommendation backed by reasoning, then explains the underlying principle so you understand *why*, not just *what*. For advanced players, the analysis incorporates combo counting, range polarization, and solver-informed reasoning. For beginners, it focuses on building intuition with plain language and concrete examples. **Step 3: Enter Drill Mode for Targeted Practice** Ask the coach to run drills focused on your identified weaknesses. It presents realistic scenarios — preflop decisions, postflop spots, bet-sizing puzzles, ICM situations — calibrated to your skill level. > The coach presents the scenario, waits for your answer, then analyzes your reasoning. Over multiple drills, it identifies accuracy patterns and updates your active leaks accordingly. **Step 4: Build a Study Plan** The coach can generate structured study plans, bankroll tracking spreadsheets, session planning templates, and range charts — all tailored to your format, stakes, and identified leaks. These downloadable documents give you a framework for improvement beyond the coaching session itself. **Step 5: Address the Mental Game** Mention tilt, frustration, or a bad run, and the coach addresses it before returning to strategy. It identifies the *specific type* of tilt (entitlement, revenge, winner's, desperation) and provides targeted countermeasures — not generic "just take a break" advice. # Results: Real-World Use Cases https://preview.redd.it/hopzrtscu80h1.png?width=1816&format=png&auto=webp&s=4503184a5148b9288a83a8223148b9ed2c8f21ca # 📊 Micro-Stakes Cash Game Grinder **Scenario:** An online player grinding $0.10/$0.25 NLH 6-max wants to move up to $0.25/$0.50 but keeps breaking even. **Traditional approach:** Watch hours of generic strategy videos, post hands on Reddit forums, wait days for feedback from strangers with unknown credentials. [**AI Poker Coach**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach)**:** Analyzes 5-10 key hands from recent sessions, identifies that the player consistently overvalues top pair on wet boards and doesn't adjust c-bet frequency by board texture. Tracks these as active leaks, runs targeted drills on board texture reading, and creates a structured study plan prioritizing postflop decision-making. * Personalized leak identification instead of generic advice * Drill scenarios targeting specific weaknesses * Bankroll management guidance for shot-taking at the next stake # 💼 Live $1/$2 Recreational Player **Scenario:** A weekend player at the local casino wants to stop being "the fish at the table" but doesn't know where to start. **Traditional approach:** Buy a poker book written for online players, try to apply concepts designed for HUD-tracked environments to a live setting with physical tells and different population tendencies. [**AI Poker Coach's capabilities**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach)**:** Calibrates to beginner-intermediate level organically, teaches fundamental concepts in plain language — starting with position, hand selection, and pot odds. Contextualizes everything for live play: slower pace, live-specific population tendencies (players call too much at $1/$2 live), and practical tips like table selection and session time management. * Concepts explained in accessible language with concrete examples * Live-specific strategic adjustments * Session planning templates with stop-loss/stop-win frameworks # 📱 Tournament Player Preparing for a Major Event **Scenario:** An intermediate player registered for a $500 buy-in MTT and wants to sharpen ICM awareness and final table strategy. **Traditional approach:** Hire a coach for one or two pre-tournament sessions at $300+ per session, review a handful of hands, and hope the advice sticks. [**This AI-powered coach**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach)**:** Runs extensive ICM-focused drill scenarios — bubble play, pay jump leverage, short-stack strategy, and final table dynamics. Teaches chip EV vs. $EV distinctions, explains when to deviate from GTO based on payout structures, and provides mental game preparation for the pressure of deep runs. * Unlimited ICM drill scenarios at progressive difficulty * Tournament-specific strategy adaptation * Pre-session mental preparation frameworks # 🎯 Advanced Player Refining GTO Understanding **Scenario:** A winning player at $1/$2 online wants to understand *why* certain solver outputs recommend specific actions, not just memorize frequencies. **Traditional approach:** Purchase solver software, spend hours setting up hand trees, struggle to interpret outputs without guidance. **AI Poker Coach:** Explains solver logic in context — why the solver splits a range on certain board textures, what drives bet-sizing decisions, how node-locking works for exploitative adjustments. Pushes the player's thinking with Socratic questions: *"Before I give you the answer — what do you think villain's check-raise range looks like on this board, and how does that change your equity?"* * Solver-informed reasoning without requiring solver software * Socratic coaching that builds independent thinking * Advanced concepts: range polarization, indifference, MDF application # Frequently Asked Questions # Is AI Poker Coach free to use? Yes, you can [try AI Poker Coach](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) with free-tier access on Jenova. Free users get limited usage per billing cycle, while paid plans offer significantly more volume for serious study sessions. # Can AI Poker Coach analyze my hand history files? Yes. Paste hand histories directly from major platforms like PokerStars, GGPoker, Winamax, 888, and WPT Global. You can also describe hands in natural language — the coach will ask clarifying questions if key details are missing. # How is AI Poker Coach different from free strategy content on YouTube or forums? Free content is generic and fragmented. [AI Poker Coach](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) provides *personalized* coaching — it calibrates to your specific skill level, identifies your individual leaks, runs drill scenarios targeting your weaknesses, and adapts its strategic advice to your format and stakes. It's the difference between reading a textbook and having a private tutor. # Does AI Poker Coach work for Pot-Limit Omaha and tournaments? Yes. It covers all major formats: No-Limit Hold'em cash games and tournaments, Pot-Limit Omaha, Sit & Gos, Spin & Gos, and mixed games. Strategy is adapted to format-specific considerations — ICM for tournaments, deep-stack dynamics for cash, equity distribution for PLO. # Is the advice GTO-based or exploitative? Both, applied pragmatically. The coach uses GTO-informed play as the strategic foundation and layers exploitative adjustments when you describe specific opponents or player pool tendencies. It always explains the tension between theoretically correct play and practically profitable play at your stake level. # Does AI Poker Coach work on mobile? Yes. Full feature parity across web, iOS, and Android — you can review hands, run drills, or work through strategy concepts from your phone between sessions or even at the table between tournaments. # Conclusion: Stop Guessing, Start Coaching Research confirms that poker is a skill game over meaningful sample sizes — the top percentile of players outperform the bottom by [**21.2 bb/100 on average**](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4346402/). The difference between winning and losing players isn't talent or luck; it's structured feedback, targeted study, and disciplined mental game management. [**AI Poker Coach**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) delivers all three — street-by-street hand analysis, adaptive drill scenarios, active leak tracking, and deep mental game frameworks — at a fraction of the cost of traditional coaching and available whenever you're ready to work on your game. Whether you're learning pot odds for the first time or refining your solver-informed strategy at mid-stakes, this is the coach that meets you where you are and pushes you where you need to go. [**Get started with AI Poker Coach →**](https://www.jenova.ai/a/poker-coach) https://preview.redd.it/l18rasp5u80h1.png?width=1335&format=png&auto=webp&s=638b70ee66af5e18ad7e1b99536e79ddc2d24b61 Jenova is the most powerful AI agent platform in the world. Access a universe of expert agents for every domain, or create your own in minutes.

ACR Poker just dropped the schedule for the May 2026 OSS and it's a serious one. We've broken down the full series below, plus how it stacks up against the other big online MTT series running this spring, and which buy-ins are worth firing. Full schedule and breakdown on our site: [https://www.vip-grinders.com/news/acr-poker-online-super-series-20m-may-2026/](https://www.vip-grinders.com/news/acr-poker-online-super-series-20m-may-2026/) # The headline numbers * **$20,000,000+ guaranteed** * **171 tournaments** across 15 days * **May 11 to May 25, 2026** * **No Fridays or Saturdays.** ACR purposely left those off the schedule so casual grinders aren't picking between OSS and live weekend games. * **Buy-ins from $5.50 to $2,650** so genuinely every bankroll has events to fire # The three Main Events This is the part that's getting people talking. ACR is running **three separate Main Events** at different price points instead of forcing everyone into one buy-in. |Main Event|Buy-in|Guarantee|Day 1 Flights|Final Day| |:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| |**High Roller Main**|$2,650|$1.5M GTD|Sun May 17 + Sun May 24|Mon May 25| |**Mid Main**|$1,050|$1.5M GTD|Sun May 17 + Sun May 24|Mon May 25| |**Low Main**|$215|$1M GTD|Sun May 17 + Sun May 24|Mon May 25| |Mini Main|$66|$250K GTD|Sun May 24|Mon May 25| A $215 buy-in with $1M GTD is the one we'd flag for most regs. Last year's equivalent overlay-hunted hard. # Other flagship events worth blocking off * **$630 multi-flight, $1M GTD** running through the series * **Mystery Bounty events** at $750K, $150K, and $75K GTDs * Plenty of low and mid-stakes daily flagships in the $11 to $109 range to keep the schedule active outside the Sunday majors # ACR OSS vs other May 2026 online series |Series|Network|Total GTD|Events|Main Event GTD|Buy-in Range| |:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| |**ACR Online Super Series**|Winning Poker Network|**$20M+**|171|$1.5M ($2,650)|$5.50 to $2,650| |GGPoker WSOP Online side series|GGPoker|Varies weekly|\~60|Varies|Mid-stakes focused| |PokerStars MicroMillions style|PokerStars|\~$5M|100+|$200K range|$0.55 to $11| |WPT Global Mystery Bounty Series|WPT Global|\~$3M to $5M|50 to 80|$300K typical|$5 to $1,050| |partypoker SPINS Series|partypoker|Smaller|30 to 50|$100K range|Low to mid| The ACR OSS is the **biggest US-facing online series of the month** by a wide margin, and the only one with a $1.5M Main Event accessible at a sub-$3K buy-in. # How to actually play it (for value, not just for fun) 1. **Pick your Main.** The three-tier setup means you don't have to overshoot your roll. Mid-stakes grinders should look hard at the $215 / $1M GTD. 2. **Hit satellites early.** Buy-ins start as low as $5.50 and qualifiers run all series. Even the High Roller Main has a path in for under $50 if you ladder properly. 3. **Skip Fridays and Saturdays.** ACR did. So can you. Recharge for Sunday majors. 4. **Stack rakeback on top.** This is where most players leave money on the table. ACR runs the Elite Benefits program, but most pros sign up under affiliate deals to push effective rakeback higher. We have an exclusive ACR rakeback deal active for OSS players if you don't already have one running. The $20M in volume is going to generate a lot of rake on its own. # About this OSS ACR's OSS is one of the few U.S.-friendly online series with prize pools that rival those of GG, Stars, and WPT Global. The three Main Events with separate buy-ins are a genuinely good design. Most networks force you into one main event and call it a day. ACR is effectively saying, "Pick the Main that matches your bankroll." If you're going to put in volume in May 2026, this is the series we'd build a schedule around. We're around in the comments for the usual stuff: which Main Event to fire for your roll, how to ladder satellites efficiently, expected overlay on the smaller events, and whether the $215 path or the $66 Mini is better $/EV. Good luck on the felt.

Hello, quick story to open some players eyes. I played for a few years at ggpoker under the nick III PRO III and I never had any issues. One day in 2023 October, I decided to contact ggpoker security team to have my account real name verified “R Martins”. I got an email from them saying they found out my IP and Machine was linked to 15 accounts created recently and if I ever create another account I’d be banned for life. I told them they are probably confusing me with someone else due to my real name verification and I never had any other accounts. They ended up verifying my real name account. One month later they sent me an email saying I was banned for life. I was like, what the hell? I explained them everything but they don’t listen, apparently they have to be right at all costs. 2 years forward I created an account with Olybet another skin and I was fully KYC and I linked to my GGpass. And I got my old account back. I thought that maybe they had lifted the ban due to their past mistake. Today when I tried to log in my account was frozen. No point to even contact them, I already know where this is going. For everyone who is reading this, I give you my honest word I never broke any rules or had any accounts or anything. I have accounts in pokerstars, 888 poker, CoinPoker, WPT global, party poker I never had a single issue. I can say with 100% certainty that ggpoker security is incompetent. They never reply to emails or want to listen to my side of the story.

May is one of the strongest months on the poker calendar, and the [VIP-Grinders promotions lineup](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/) reflects it. We currently have **five rake races, two rake chases and six private freerolls** running across nine of the most popular online poker rooms, with a combined published prize pool north of **$40,000**, plus all of the standard rakeback, bonuses and side promotions you keep on top of that. This post is the single source of truth for what is live in May 2026, who can play, and most importantly what you actually pick up by being a tracked VIP-Grinders player instead of someone who signed up to a poker room directly off Google. # Why You Should Sign Up with VIP-Grinders When you create your account through VIP-Grinders and we are correctly tagged as our player, you unlock a stack of benefits that simply do not exist for an "off the street" account at the same room: * **Higher and more transparent rakeback.** Most of the deals listed across our [rakeback deals](https://www.vip-grinders.com/rakeback-deals/) hub pay more cashback than the room's default loyalty scheme, and we publish the exact percentages and tiers so you can model your win rate before you deposit. * **Entry to our private rake races, chases and freerolls.** The entire May 2026 lineup below is closed to non-tracked players. If you sign up directly, you cannot register for any of it. * **Access to our team for support.** We have been negotiating with poker rooms for over a decade. When something goes wrong with a deposit, a missing bonus, a leaderboard credit, or a withdrawal review, we have direct contacts at every operator on this list and we use them on your behalf. * **One central dashboard for your accounts** so you are not chasing reload bonuses, leaderboard standings and freeroll passwords across nine different inboxes. * **No additional cost.** You do not pay extra. You do not lose anything from the room's standard welcome bonus. You only add to what you would already get. There is no version of "I'll just sign up directly and use my own discipline" that beats the math. If you intend to grind a room for any meaningful volume in 2026, getting tagged to an affiliate is the cheapest +EV decision available to you. The rest of this article is what that decision specifically buys you this month. # The May 2026 Lineup at a Glance 💰 |Promotion|Poker Room|Type|Prize Pool|Page| |:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| |$7,500 CoinPoker VG Race|CoinPoker|Rake Race|$7,500|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/coinpoker-vg-race/)| |$5,000 BC Poker VG Race|BC Poker|Rake Race|$5,000|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/bc-poker-vg-race/)| |$4,000 WPT Global & Nexa VG Race|WPT Global / Nexa|Rake Race|$4,000|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/wpt-global-vg-race/)| |$4,000 WPN VG Race|ACR & BC Poker (WPN)|Rake Race|$4,000|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/acr-bcp-vg-race/)| |$2,500 iPoker VG Race|iPoker Network|Rake Race|$2,500|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/ipoker-vg-race/)| |Exclusive RedStar Chase|RedStar Poker|Rake Chase|Tiered cash|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/redstar-chase/)| |Guts Poker Chase|Guts Poker|Rake Chase|Tiered cash|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/guts-poker-chase/)| |2x $500 ACR Freerolls|ACR Poker|Freeroll|$1,000|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/acr-freeroll/)| |2x $500 WPT Global Freerolls|WPT Global|Freeroll|$1,000|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/wpt-global-freeroll/)| |2x $250 GGPoker Freerolls|GGPoker|Freeroll|$500|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/ggpoker-freeroll/)| |2x $250 BC Poker Freerolls|BC Poker|Freeroll|$500|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/bc-poker-freerolls/)| |2x $250 KKPoker Freerolls|KKPoker|Freeroll|$500|[Details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/kkpoker-freerolls/)| **Headline numbers:** $23,000 in pure rake-race cash, $3,500 in guaranteed freeroll prize pools across ten separate freeroll entries, plus the two rake chases that pay a steady cash drip the entire month long. # VG Rake Races, May 2026 Rake races are the simplest format we run: every cent of rake (or tournament fee) you generate counts as points on a private VIP-Grinders leaderboard for that room. At the end of the month, the top finishers split the published prize pool. There are no buy-ins, no opt-in steps once you are tagged, and the leaderboard updates daily. # $7,500 CoinPoker VG Race, the biggest race of the month CoinPoker remains one of the softest crypto-first poker rooms online, and our private leaderboard there has the largest pool of the month at **$7,500**. The top five places pay $1,250 / $1,000 / $750 / $600 / $500, with cash spilling well into the lower ranks. Cash games and tournaments both contribute. [See the full payout table on the CoinPoker VG Race page](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/coinpoker-vg-race/). # $5,000 BC Poker VG Race BC Poker is the BCGame-network skin on WPN, and the VG-only leaderboard adds **$5,000** of prizes on top of the network's existing rewards. Strong choice for crypto players who like the WPN player pool and software but want better promo value than the room's default missions deliver. [Full details here](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/bc-poker-vg-race/). # $4,000 WPT Global & Nexa Poker VG Race WPT Global and Nexa share a player pool, which means you get one of the largest tournament fields online, plus a real cash-game ecosystem feeding off it. Our **$4,000 monthly leaderboard** pays $800 down to $250 in the top five, with prizes paid in cash directly to your account. [Race page](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/wpt-global-vg-race/). # $4,000 WPN VG Race (ACR + BC Poker combined) Rake earned at either [ACR Poker](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/acr-freeroll/) or BC Poker counts toward the same WPN leaderboard, so multi-tablers running both skins can stack their rake into one bigger position. **$4,000 prize pool**, top five paid $800 / $600 / $400 / $300 / $200. [WPN VG Race details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/acr-bcp-vg-race/). # $2,500 iPoker VG Race The smallest of the five, but iPoker also has the lowest rake threshold to reach the money. **$2,500** in prizes, with $500 down to $175 in the top five. A genuinely reachable race for mid-stakes regs. [iPoker VG Race page](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/ipoker-vg-race/). # VG Rake Chases in May 2026 Chases pay you cash for hitting fixed rake milestones during the month. Unlike a race, you are not competing against other players, you are competing against the calendar. Hit the level, the cash drops into your account. # Exclusive RedStar Chase RedStar is the longest-running room on the iPoker network and pays out a tiered chase to anyone tracked through us. Multiple cash tiers throughout May, with progress rolling daily. [See the May tiers and payouts](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/redstar-chase/). # Guts Poker Chase Guts has been quietly putting up some of the better promo value on Microgaming's MPN-successor pool, and our chase mirrors that. Volume players who already grind there tend to clear multiple tiers in a single month. [Guts Chase details](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/guts-poker-chase/). # Private Freerolls: Six Tournaments, $3,500 in Free Prize Pools 🎟️ Every freeroll below is closed to non-tracked players. You cannot register for any of these tournaments unless you signed up to the room through VIP-Grinders. Each room runs **two freerolls in May**, one earlier in the month and one later, so you have multiple shots at every prize pool. * **GGPoker, 2x $250 Freerolls.** The world's largest poker room, our smallest freerolls, but the most accessible field. [Sign up](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/ggpoker-freeroll/). * **ACR Poker, 2x $500 Freerolls.** The flagship for U.S.-facing players, with the bigger prize pool of the month. [Register here](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/acr-freeroll/). * **WPT Global, 2x $500 Freerolls.** Best-in-class tournament software and a global player base. [Details and password info](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/wpt-global-freeroll/). * **BC Poker, 2x $250 Freerolls.** Crypto-friendly, no-deposit entry once you are tagged. [Page here](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/bc-poker-freerolls/). * **KKPoker, 2x $250 Freerolls.** Asia-pacific player pool, mobile-first software. [Register](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/kkpoker-freerolls/). That is **ten freeroll entries this month** for the price of being a tracked player. If you spent five hours total across all of them (generous estimate) and ran roughly average across the field, the expected dollar return is a real number rather than a marketing one. # How to Get Tracked Properly (and What to Do If You Already Have an Account) **If you don't have an account at the room yet:** Open the [poker promotion page](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker_promotions/) for the room you want to play, click the sign-up link from there, and create the account in the same browser session. That single step tags you as a VIP-Grinders player permanently. **If you already have an account at the room:** Don't open a second one, that breaks every poker room's terms. Instead, [contact our team](https://www.vip-grinders.com/contact/) with your username and the room. For some operators we can transfer existing accounts onto our deal. For others we can't, but we will tell you straight rather than waste your time. **If you are not sure whether you are already tracked:** Same, message us. It takes us a couple of minutes to check on the operator side and confirm. # Frequently Asked Questions **Do I have to do anything to opt into the rake races?** No. Once your account is tagged to VIP-Grinders, every cent of rake you generate counts automatically. Standings update daily and we publish them on each promotion page. **How are rake-race and chase prizes paid out?** Cash, directly to your poker account at the relevant room, usually within a few business days of the month closing. **Can I play in multiple promotions at the same room?** Yes. The rake race, the freerolls and any chase are independent. Your rake generates points for the race *and* counts toward the chase tiers *and* qualifies you for the freerolls. Stack everything. **Do the freerolls have a password?** Yes, freeroll passwords are published on each freeroll's promotion page in the days before the tournament starts. Bookmark the freeroll page for whichever room you signed up at. **Does signing up through an affiliate cost me anything?** No. The room's welcome bonus, deposit options, rake structure and player pool are all identical. The only difference is that you also unlock the VIP-Grinders-only promotions on top. **Are these promotions available in my country?** The promotion is available everywhere the room itself accepts players. Country eligibility for each operator is on the room's review page in the [poker rooms](https://www.vip-grinders.com/poker-rooms/) section. *Last updated: 4 May 2026.*

View in your timezone: [May 31, 20:00 ET][1] [June 7, 20:00 ET][2] [June 14, 20:00 ET][3] [1]: https://timee.io/20260601T0000?tl=WPT+Global+Launches+Satellites+for+VIP+World+Championship+Tickets [2]: https://timee.io/20260608T0000?tl=WPT+Global+Launches+Satellites+for+VIP+World+Championship+Tickets [3]: https://timee.io/20260615T0000?tl=WPT+Global+Launches+Satellites+for+VIP+World+Championship+Tickets

https://preview.redd.it/0r3uign716xg1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d478890b7d8e8f722ec6e1cb68f6ecd5c18c603a The 2026 FIFA World Championship, played across three North American nations, is now officially less than two month away. To get it going, [WPT Global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/wpt-global-poker) has decided to take a few players right to the stands with **VIP World Championship tickets**, with satellites starting at just $3.30 and freeroll routes open exclusively to Canadians. There’s more than a few things to break down until this promotion begins tomorrow, but don’t worry, we cover it all below! # The VIP World Championship Promotion at a Glance * **Where:** WPT Global * **When:** April 25 to June 14, 2026 * **Prize:** VIP Tickets to Canadian group fixture matches (Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina: June 12, Canada vs Qatar: June 18, Canada vs Switzerland: June 24) * **How to Win:** Satellite Path & Canada-Only Freerolls # How to Get Your Hands on VIP World Championship Tickets: The Satellites The first possible route to take is through satellites. WPT Global broke this route down into three stages, so you can work your way up to the final prize: |Stage|Buy-in|Prize / Guarantee| |:-|:-|:-| |Round 1 Feeder Satellite|$3.30|2 x $33 Semi-Final tickets guaranteed| |Semi-Final Satellite|$33|1 x $330 Final ticket guaranteed| |Final Satellite|$330|1 World Championship match ticket| Round 1 Feeders will be running twice a day, starting tomorrow, April 25. Winning one of these gives you entry into the Semi-Final satellites, which will be running daily. That win then catapults you into one of the three Final satellites on WPT Global. Each Final awards exactly one ticket to a specific Canada World Championship group game, with the date depending on which Championship game you’re playing for: |Date and Time|Final|Guarantee| |:-|:-|:-| |May 31, 20:00 ET|Canada vs Bosnia Match Day Ticket Final|$4,717.50 GTD| |June 7, 20:00 ET|Canada vs Qatar Match Day Ticket Final|$2,645.50 GTD| |June 14, 20:00 ET|Canada vs Switzerland Match Day Ticket Final|$2,534.50 GTD| Players who secure a $330 Final Satellite ticket can choose which Final they enter. You can also enter multiple Finals if you manage to secure more than one ticket. # How to Get Your Hands on VIP World Championship Tickets: Canada-Only Freerolls Another option, one exclusively reserved for Canadian players, is the freeroll route. WPT Global will be running freerolls every Sunday starting April 26 all the way to June 14, 2026. All Sunday freerolls will start at 4 p.m. (ET), with the exception of the final freeroll on June 14, which has a turbo structure and starts a little earlier, at 12 p.m. (ET). Each Sunday freeroll awards: * 1 x $33 satellite ticket * 4 x $3.30 satellite tickets Two things to keep in mind here are that these prizes don’t have real cash value and cannot be transferred to another player. # What Comes With the VIP Ticket The prize isn’t just the actual VIP ticket. The VIP hospitality package actually includes: * Commemorative gift * Match ticket * Food * Drinks What’s not included are the travel and accommodations, as well as all possible visa requirements. # Additional WPT Global Prizes During the VIP World Championship Tickets promotion, WPT Global is also giving away additional, albeit smaller prizes. The first ten players to take part in five different $33 World Championship Ticket Satellites will receive an exclusive WPT Global hoodie. This merchandise promotion expires on May 5. **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-launches-satellites-for-vip-world-championship-tickets](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-launches-satellites-for-vip-world-championship-tickets) by [Iva Dozet](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/iva_dozets_pl)

https://preview.redd.it/rvqrl7cq7yvg1.jpg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3553e926b909f549facaee5e59c3647baa7d6a1 What started as a Rozvadov-only destination has evolved into something much bigger at [WPT Global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/wpt-global-poker) — a new promotion where you can win a package to use at The Festival in the city of your choice: Rozvadov or Tallinn! # The Festival Choice Details If you win a $1,850 package to The Festival up to June 2, 2026, you will have a choice of how to spend it. Choose **King’s Resort in Rozvadov**, where The Festival will take place from June 9th to 15th, 2026 — and you’ll get: * €550 Main Event ticket * 6 nights accomodation * Hospitality package * Casino Buffet * The Festival Cap * $100,000 Golden Ticket Choose **Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn**, where The Festival will run from July 1st to 5th, 2026 — and you’ll get: * 2 x €555 Main Event tickets  * 2 Hospitality packages The trick with Tallinn is that if you choose it, you won’t receive a golden ticket or a champion’s bonus — but the package can be used by two players. You must also be at least 21 years old to participate in The Festival in Estonia. # How to Qualify for The Festival The satellite ladder consists of three steps: 1. **$0.55 Step | The Festival** — starts every hour during the week. 2. **$5.50 Satellite | 2 x The Festival 2026 Qualifier** — starts three times per day: at 17:06, 18:06 and 19:06 UTC on Monday; at 18:06, 19:06 and 20:06 UTC between Tuesday and Sunday. 3. **$55 Qualifier | 2 x The Festival Packages** — starts at 19:05 UTC on Monday. The final satellite guarantees a $4,250 prize, along with $3,700 in packages and 10 tournament tickets worth $55 each. You can find the schedule in the WPT Global lobby —> **MTT** tab —> **LIVE EVENT** filter. **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-gives-players-the-festival-choice](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-gives-players-the-festival-choice) by [Vasilisa Zyryanova](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/vasilisa)

Every time I try to play on WPT Global, I get this error on the screen. I’ve tried everything I can think of, but the issue keeps coming back. I have already uninstalled and reinstalled the software, changed my DNS settings, and the problem still persists. The only way I can temporarily fix it is by uninstalling the client and downloading a fresh installer from the website again. Has anyone experienced this or knows how to fix it?

https://preview.redd.it/eygy6vnwsmrg1.jpg?width=1056&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19d1ffd1b477aec3112741e52f9da9008945d84e WPT Global didn’t just prepare 16 packages for the [Battle of Malta](https://www.pokerlistings.com/battle-of-malta-news) Main Event, it also threw in a champion bonus for those of you who manage to tackle and win this tournament series, having qualified through [WPT Global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/wpt-global-poker). # $1,600 Package Content * €600 Main Event ticket * 4 nights in a the Holiday Inn Hotel for 2 people * $200 travel expanses * WPT Global exclusive merch The Main Event will take place in Malta from May 28th to June 3rd, 2026. Players can use the package for any of the five Day 1s. Each player qualified via WPT Global also receives a $100K Golden Ticket, which gives them an opportunity to get a $100,000 live champion bonus if they manage to win the Battle of Malta Main Event. Every qualified player will participate in the Last Longer, the top-2 performing players will receive two tickets to the October €600 Battle of Malta Main Event. # Battle of Malta Qualifiers Schedule The package ladder includes 3 steps: 1. **$1.10 Step** starts twice every hour, at least a winner gets a ticket to the next step 2. **$11 Satellite** starts every hour at :07 minutes, at least TOP-2 get tickets to the Qualifier 3. **$110 Qualifier** starts at 19:05 every Sunday from March 29th to May 17th, 2026. For WPT Global players from Europe and Canada there are also an additional step — **Freeroll | Roast to Battle of Malta Packages** with four tickets to $11 Satellite guaranteed. This freeroll starts at 17:02 UTC on Sundays. Each $110 Qualifier guarantees 2 packages and has the same structure: * Starting stack — 10,000 chips (100 bb) * Late Registration — 11 levels of 10 minutes each * Blind Levels — 5 minutes after late registration ended * Up to 30 re-entries Battle of Malta Qualifiers on WPT Global # How to Find Battle of Malta Satellites Online satellites to BoM can be found by filtering LIVE EVENT in the MTT section of the WPT Global lobby. **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/online-satellites-to-battle-of-malta-returned-on-wpt-global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/online-satellites-to-battle-of-malta-returned-on-wpt-global) by [Vasilisa Zyryanova](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/vasilisa)

https://preview.redd.it/i153yh1ugfrg1.jpg?width=1056&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34acbd3f06cee58a66d3e7e7188abb45a0a3df95 At the end of March 2026, [WPT Global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/wpt-global-poker) decided to expand its regular schedule with a new weekly tournament targeting traffic from Asia. # Brief Review of WPT Asia Myster¥ Millions * Buy-in — ¥188 * Guaranteed prize pool — ¥2,000,000 * The 1st place Mystery Box guarantees a ¥200,000 bounty * Daily Day 1s from Sunday to Saturday * Dau 2 on Saturday * Mystery Bounty is available only on Day 2 # WPT MYSTER¥ Millions Details Regular Day 1s of this tournament start every two hours and have the same structure: * Starting Stack — 10,000 chips (100 bb) * Late Registration — 2 hours and 42 minutes * Blind Levels — 8 minutes * Up to 30 re-entries These Day 1s last until 10% of the field is left. WPT MYSTER¥ Millions Regular Day 1s There are also occasional Flip Flight Day 1s with a slightly different structure: * Starting Stack — 10,000 chips (5,000 bb) * Late Registration — not available * Blind Levels — 3 minutes * Re-entry — not available The trick to this flight is that from the very beginning its participants go all-in in every hand until 10% of the field remains in the tournament. WPT MYSTER¥ Millions Flip Flight Day 1s You can participate in Day 1, including Flip Flight, as many times as you like to accumulate chips for each flight in which you finished in the top 10%. Day 2 starts at 20:30 UTC+8 every Saturday. The blind levels on this day are 8 minutes each, and the day itself lasts approximately 5 hours and 19 minutes. WPT MYSTER¥ Millions Day 2 # How to Find WPT MYSTERY Millions WPT Global has created a dedicated **WPT Mystery Millions** filter in its **MTT** lobby section where you can find all entry days and Day 2 of the new tournament. Source: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/brand-new-wpt-asia-tournament-awaits-players-on-wpt-global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/brand-new-wpt-asia-tournament-awaits-players-on-wpt-global) by [Vasilisa Zyryanova](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/vasilisa)

https://preview.redd.it/2o76keajjzpg1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a698ae0acb59ac9e29c0d28687b478ec311beefe The Triton ONE series was designed as a pathway to the Triton Super High Roller for ambitious players. Buy-ins in Triton ONE are more affordable, and the prize pools are big enough to cover several buy-ins into Triton. Aren Bezhanyan proved it works. # Aren Bezhanyan came to Triton Jeju for the second time for the win In September 2025, he finished 8th in the $3K QQPK Genesis ($54.1K) and 25th in the $25K WPT Global Slam ($64.5K). In March 2026, he recorded 6 ITM finishes in Triton ONE events (including $102.1K in the $5K NLH Mystery Bounty — he pulled a $95K envelope and $214K for 7th place in the [$15K Triton One High Roller](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/newcomers-won-all-major-triton-one-tournaments)). After heating up in Triton ONE, Bezhanyan played his first Triton Super High Roller event — the $20K NLH 8-handed — and took 1st place for $990K. This payout became the largest of his career. Including it, his total live tournament earnings now exceed $4.5M. Aren Bezhanyan (source: tritonpokerseries.com) In a post-win interview, Aren Bezhanyan shared his thoughts: > **$20K NLH 8-handed final table payouts (247 entries total):** |**Position**|**Name**|**Payout**| |:-|:-|:-| |1st|Aren Bezhanyan|$990,000| |2nd|Aleks Ponakovs|$658,000| |3rd|Kayhan Mokri|$482,000| |4th|Luka Bojovic|$389,000| |5th|Wu Jun Hao|$305,000| |6th|Calvin Lee|$231,000| |7th|Sebastian Gaehl|$170,000| |8th|Li Xinjing|$125,000| |9th|Wayne Heung|$103,000| # Dan Dvoress won his third Triton trophy in the $100K Short Deck ($1.38M) In heads-up, he defeated [Jason Koon](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player/jason-koon). > $100K Short Deck payouts (46 entries total): |**Position**|**Name**|**Payout**| |:-|:-|:-| |1st|Dan Dvoress|$1,380,000| |2nd|Jason Koon|$997,000| |3rd|Winfred Yu|$646,000| |4th|Kiat Lee|$487,000| |5th|Ruslan Khadartsev|$378,000| |6th|Chan Wai Leong|$293,000| |7th|Michael Watson|$235,000| |8th|Michael Zhang|$184,000| [Dan Dvoress](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player/daniel-dvoress) won his previous titles in 2023 at the $50K PLO Triton Monte-Carlo ($956K) and the $20K Short Deck Triton Cyprus ($214K). # What’s coming up next? On March 19 at 04:00 UTC, play will resume at the final table of the $25K NLH – Jupiter Event. The tournament attracted 262 entries, with 6 players remaining: 1. Ander Vallinas – 70 BB 2. Wu Kuisong – 57 BB 3. Jean-Noel Thorell – 48 BB 4. Jamil Wakil – 47 BB 5. Kelvin Kerber – 20 BB 6. Zhou Quan – 19 BB The payout for 6th place is $304K. The winner will receive $1,303,000. The stream will be available on [Twitch](https://www.twitch.tv/tritonpoker), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TritonPoker), and [Kick](https://kick.com/tritonpoker). **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/aren-bezhanyan-wins-triton-title](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/aren-bezhanyan-wins-triton-title) by [Alex Sakuta](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/alex_s)

https://preview.redd.it/o8crgsnm6gpg1.jpg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=628fcb314e0e6486cf2e63303f470d99c05466b9 Even though he left the team over three years ago, **Jonathan Van Fleet** continues to play on [ACR Poker](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/americas-cardroom).  After leaving ACR, **apestyles** managed to change two more teams — first he was in WPT Global, and in 2025 he moved to CoinPoker. However, his biggest wins and winnings are still happening in Winning Poker Network. On March 15th, 2026, Jonathan became a triumphant of **$109 OSSXL #6 MB $500,000 Gtd,** winning a $46,976.21 prize and $3,250 in bounties. # How apestyles Got the OSS XL Title There were 5,032 entries in the tournament but only 485 players moved to Day 2. They completed the event in just 6.5 hours, with 1.5 hours spent solely on the final table. **apestyles** [entered the final table](https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2723576277) as the chip leader and allowed his opponents to eliminate each other while he carefully continued to maintain his stack. The remaining finalists did his work for him, sending four of the seven players home in the first half hour. The moment three players were left, they immediately decided to check the deal option. However, Van Fleet wasn’t satisfied with the terms and refused, complaining about the impossibility of discussing the deal with his opponents and finding a better distribution of the prize money. The game lasted an hour after that. Jonathan grinded hard to beat opponents and succeeded in the end, welcoming his new title, while clapping and shouting: “*Champion*!”. By the way, the top bounty in this event was won by British player **2RAZZIII**, they finished in 26th place with $54,625 in bounties.   **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/apestyles-won-the-oss-xl-title-and-50k](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/apestyles-won-the-oss-xl-title-and-50k) by [Vasilisa Zyryanova](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/vasilisa)

https://preview.redd.it/0ja4gsj3zepg1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03e0725877acaeea066325ff507eb336baa26606 During the weekend, [WPT Global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/wpt-global-poker) decided to announce its newest March promotion, an **Exclusive Elite Freeroll**, which will be running on the client until April 5. As far as all the details and fine print go, that’s why we’re here. # What the Exclusive Elite Freerolls Brings Between March 14 and April 5, there will be two $10K Elite Freerolls running on WPT Global each weekend. The first of the two will run on Saturday, at 17:05 (UTC), while the second will be happening on Sunday, 13:05 (UTC). There are two ways to qualify and both require players to make deposits into their WPT Global account in the preceding week (Monday 00:00 UTC – Saturday 23:59 UTC). Here’s how you secure your freeroll ticket: * Depositing $30 in a week → 1 x $10K Elite Freerolls ticket * Depositing $100+ in a week → 1 x $10K Elite Freeroll ticket for each of the weekend freerolls These amounts don’t need to be deposited all at once. They’re cumulative, meaning you need to go over the weekly threshold either in one go or through multiple smaller deposits made during the period we just mentioned above. Either way, you qualify for the tickets that will then be credited ahead of the weekend freerolls each week. Just keep one more thing in mind regarding qualifications: as a player, you can receive a maximum of 1 ticket per week for each Exclusive Elite Freeroll. Now, as far as prizes go, these will be paid out in the form of Casino Coins, which players will then take down to the WPT Global Casino. **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-puts-10k-exclusive-elite-freerolls-on-the-weekend-schedule](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-puts-10k-exclusive-elite-freerolls-on-the-weekend-schedule) by [Iva Dozet](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/iva_dozets_pl)

Since roughly August of last year, I have been pretty much full-time focused on poker and seeing if I can make a living from it. I was a recreational player for a long time before this but the group I used to play with as a hobbyist analyze the game quite deeply so I was going into this journey with a solid foundation of knowledge. After seeing a lot of content about online poker being bot-infested and difficult, I decided to go to Prague for six weeks to test out whether I could be a profitable live player there as I knew there was low-stakes cash games on offer there. I played both cash games and tournament poker with the majority of my study going into tournament poker as I thought I might have a bigger edge in tournament poker given that the strategy is more niche. The six weeks showed a promising start. Overall, I was profitable in the cash games and in my last two weeks, I ended up placing in 4th and 1st in two tournaments which contributed to the majority of my profit as I was using low-cost satellites to get into these tournaments. Overall, my profit was roughly $3,500. After that, I decided to go on a bit of a trip trying live poker in a few different spots. I spent a few weeks in Barcelona and also went to the Battle of Malta. Prague was perfect as there was low stakes cash-games on offer but the lowest on offer in Barcelona and Malta were €2/€5 and €1/€3 respectively. I took a shot at these and it didn't go well. I definitely didn't feel out of depth but I know I didn't play my best, which was especially the case in Malta as I was feeling a bit burnt out with live poker. Considering a reality of always having to go to a casino to make a living seemed a bit harrowing honestly. Overall, Barcelona and Malta was a loss of roughly $2500. I can think of one huge blunder I made during these trips and definitely played suboptimally in several spots but didn't feel out of my depth overall. On my last day in Malta, I met a professional who was telling my about WPT Global and I decided to give that a shot. I started playing the pace cash games there around November and it was a refreshing change to being able to play online as opposed to going to the casino. Since then, I have started pretty exclusively focusing on cash games on the site. It also initially showed good promise as I built my account balance up to roughly a $1000 off of a $20 deposit. However, since November, my account balance has just fluctuated between $0 and $1000. I have been screen recording my sessions and studying the GTO solutions for many of my spots that I am unsure of. My preflop opens are pretty on point with the GTO suggestions. I still definitely make slip-ups but I feel like my game is constantly improving. Every month, I am becoming more proficient at the game. Nonetheless, I feel like my account balance progression seems like it's not improving. I know this could just be natural variance but I really thought that focusing on cash games and multi-tabling would reduce this (I currently play three tables at a time). At this point, I am really questioning whether this is even a feasible route to becoming a professional. It's difficult to get a gauge online of how worthwhile it is to focus on online poker as there tends to be some extreme opinions. Would really appreciate any input from current professionals on their journey to becoming a professional and whether they consider it to be worthwhile overall. I find the game naturally very interesting but I do take note that so many professionals do recommend against pursuing it as an actual career. And would also appreciate any recommendations professionals on where aspiring professionals should initially focus their efforts?

https://preview.redd.it/uujzpd72veog1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5efa991b6e814d632c8bfe5fd45e872c2afc326d The new Welcome Bonus at [WPT Global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/wpt-global-poker) provides players with up to $3,348 in different bonuses. # How the Welcome Offer Works When a new player makes a deposit between $10 and $3,000, WPT Global gives them the following bonuses: * $15.50 gift package * 100% cashback up to $3,000 * MTT and Global Spins tickets up to $248 * Casino Coins up to $100 (if it is allowed) Bonuses are available to players from all countries accepted by WPT Global, excluding Mexico and the Philippines. However, their volume and wagering varies between regions. # WPT Global Bonuses per Deposit Amount Besides the 100% up to $3,000 first deposit bonus, players get different additional prizes. For new players from regions where casino products are available, welcome prizes are distributed as follows: |**Deposit Amount**|**Free Tickets**|**Free Casino Coin**| |:-|:-|:-| |$10 — $49|$2.50 MTT|$3| |$50 — $99|$5.50 MTT$2.50 MTT$1 Global Spins |$5| |$100 — $499|$11 MTT$5.50 MTT$2.50 MTT$1 Global Spins |$13| |$500 — $99|$55 MTT$22 MTT$5.50 Global Spins|$25| |$1,000 — $2,999|$110 Sunday Slam$55 MTT$22 MTT|$80| |$3,000+|$110 Sunday Slam$55 MTT$22 MTT$11 MTT|$100| They also receive a $15.50 gift package, which includes a $5 poker deposit bonus and a $5 casino deposit bonus. For new players from regions where casino products are not available, Casino Coins are not awarded, so ticket prizes are distributed slightly differently: |**Deposit Amount**|**Free Tickets**| |:-|:-| |$10 — $49|2 x $2.50 MTT| |$50 — $99|2 x $5.50 MTT$2.50 MTT| |$100 — $499|1 x $11 MTT3 x $5.50 MTT2 x $2.50 MTT2 x $1 Global Spins | |$500 — $99|1 x $55 MTT1 x $25 Global Spins1 x $22 MTT1 x $5.50 Global Spins| |$1,000 — $2,999|1 x $110 Sunday Slam2 x $55 MTT2 x $25 Global Spins| |$3,000+|1 x $110 Sunday Slam3 x $55 MTT1 x $50 Global Spins1 x $22 MTT1 x $11 MTT| # Does the Welcome Deposit Bonus Require Wagering? Yes, you can’t withdraw your first deposit bonus until you’ve wagered it within 60 days of receiving it. However, wagering requirements vary. If you have access to the Casino, WPT Global requires bonus wagering in a hybrid mode: * 50% in $1 increments for every $10 in poker rake and fees * 50% in $1 increments for every $500 wagered at the casino If the Casino is unavailable, WPT Global requires the bonus to be wagered in full in poker only but at the same rate of $1 for every $10 in rake and fees. **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-updated-the-welcome-bonus](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-updated-the-welcome-bonus) by [**Vasilisa Zyryanova**](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/vasilisa)

https://preview.redd.it/qh3y8fe1solg1.jpg?width=1800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09fbf12b90f18715ecd6d613d0c2e9c4f4d74830 Two Flutter Entertainment poker rooms welcomed legendary duo David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney with open arms after their sudden departure from [WPT Global](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/wpt-global-poker).  # Why Lappin and O’Kearney Dropped WPT Global Sponsorship Both David and Dara joined WPT Global as ambassadors back in June 2025, with their partnership also including a sponsorship for their award-winning poker podcast **The Chip Race**. Both players were overjoyed to join the brand that promised such grand plans for the Irish poker scene. For the most part, everything was fine between them until January 2026, when [WPT Global recruited Ren “Tony” Lin](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/wpt-global-signs-tony-ren-lin-as-an-ambassador) as an ambassador. It’s safe to say the duo was shocked by this decision mostly because of Lin’s recent cheating controversy on GGPoker, where he was caught breaking the rules while simultaneously serving as an ambassador for the brand. Following his hiring, Lappin and O’Kearney decided to terminate their relationship with WPT Global and [issued the statement on X (Twitter)](https://x.com/dklappin/status/2011027023724974316?s=20) on January 13th, 2026: The future for both them and their podcast was uncertain until February 24th, 2026 when the duo shared exciting news about their new partnerships. # Dara O’Kearney Becomes a Paddy Power Poker Ambassador Dara O’Kearney Dara was [first to break news](https://x.com/daraokearney/status/2026370896135426526?s=20). On February 24th, 2026 he posted an announcement about joining q major Irish poker brands Paddy Power Poker Poker as its newest ambassador: >Those of you who signed up to Chip Race on Patreon will know this already, but yesterday I signed with Paddy Power Poker to represent them as an ambassador. It’s an immense honour to represent such a great Irish success story, the small Irish bookie that grew into one of the biggest gambling companies in the world, with a fun irreverent approach. During my talks with them, they revealed some very exciting plans they have for this year which I can’t disclose yet but watch this space! Paddy Power [publicly welcomed](https://x.com/paddypowerpoker/status/2026375473677168871?s=20) O’Kearney as their newest team member, clarifying the new role of “true pro, respected voice in the game, and Irish Poker Legend”: Poker Brand Ambassador. # David Lappin Becomes a PokerStars Team Pro Lappin’s announcement on February 25th, 2026 attracted a little more attention because of the way Lappin landed his new partnership with [PokerStars](https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-sites/poker-stars). Lappin literally won his patch and contract by participating in the 2025 PokerStars Live League, a year-long contest where the top 10 finishers from three leaderboards had an opportunity to send “a substantial interview-style application, alongside a video component, detailing their appropriateness for the role, and what they could bring to the PokerStars brand”. Lappin finished in 10th place on the Low leaderboard and was apparently impressive enough at the audition that he ended up getting a €100,000 year ambassadorship. The poker pro starts his new chapter excited to see what he can do right for the poker community, especially in Ireland: >My biggest hope is that I can be a voice for those players within the team to champion their need for good poker. And by good poker, I mean safe poker. This is obviously very close to my heart at the moment, but this is a site that takes game integrity and player security issues really seriously. And it’s a company that doesn’t cut corners, a company that plays by the rules, which doesn’t look for workarounds with regard to all the regulatory frameworks. Integrity stuff is just really important to me personally. To work for a company where I know none of that will be an issue, that’s huge. The PokerStars team is excited as well, seeing David as a respected voice in the poker community. As Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars, says: *“David has been a constant presence on the live circuit for many years. He understands what makes PokerStars events special because he has experienced them first-hand across multiple stops, and he brings a perspective that truly reflects the player community.* *He combines deep roots in the live poker scene with a respected voice that players listen to and that balance of experience, authenticity, and his alignment with our values makes him a natural fit for representing PokerStars. We’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”* # But What About The Chip Race Podcast On February 24th, 2026m Lappin and O’Kearney informed the poker community about [Lappin’s departure from the podcast](https://x.com/daraokearney/status/2026096729901183007?s=20) after 11 years of co-hosting. The news made waves, especially when Dara O’Kearney ran a poll, asking players who should replace David Lappin on The Chip Race — and Matt Berkey won by a small margin against Pokerbunny. Other players rushed to offer their talents as co-hosts shortly after, including 888poker ambassador [Aaron Barone](https://x.com/abarone68/status/2026378591190266108?s=20), who cited having a similar fashion sense to Dara’s as a valid reason for getting the gig. In the end the duo [confessed that this separation was just a joke](https://x.com/daraokearney/status/2026689879694860683?s=20) but didn’t clarify any plans for the future of the podcast. So, for now, we’re just looking forward to see what they’ll cook up for us. **Source**: [https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/david-lappin-and-dara-okearney-found-a-new-home](https://www.pokerlistings.com/news/david-lappin-and-dara-okearney-found-a-new-home) by [**Vasilisa Zyryanova**](https://www.pokerlistings.com/author/vasilisa)

Seeing the massive success that ClubWPTGold has been so far for the WPT, it would be a no brainer for GG to make a rival sweepstakes site without the current "clubs" premise that their current US site has going on. They have the WSOP, which will always dwarf the WPT in terms of recognizability and prestige. GGPoker has the largest international player pool, way bigger than WPTGlobal's. Why don't they try to break into the national American market like Global Poker and WPT have done, using the obviously successful model from their international site? I feel like they could easily create a bigger player pool than WPTGold's by simply adding WSOP circuit ring/bracelet events to their sweeps poker site. Maybe something is in the works, I mean, WPTGold has only been around for a year, and these things take time to create. Hopefully they create another site soon enough. Maybe they announce it in the buildup to this year or next year's WSOP, offering high guarantee satellites to the main event on it as their launch promo. Thoughts?