Hand of the Week: Alan Keating Stuns Doug Polk with Savage Hero Call for $675K Alan Keating has pulled off yet another sensational soul read on High Stakes Poker demolishing Doug Polk for a pot worth $657200.

In recent years, Alan Keating has built a reputation and standing within poker that is usually reserved for high-stakes live tournament players. For most of the poker boom, TV poker shows invited legends from years gone by, such as Doyle Brunson and the late Chip Reese, and the guys who were winning the big events consistently, like Phil Hellmuth. It was tough to break through into this pool of players purely by playing cash games behind the scenes.

Indian Poker Industry Clinches to Last Minute Reprieve at Supreme Court India’s Supreme Court Supreme Court is set to examine further a nationwide ban on online gaming on November 26.

A bench led by Justice K.V. Viswanathan will conduct a detailed hearing on petitions challenging the unpopular Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA). In August 2025, the bill was passed through the Indian Parliament without any meaningful resistance, leading to fears that the growing online poker market in India would be shut down. Operators who provide access to real money games face large fines and prison sentences up to three years.

Is Poker Content Under Threat from YouTube? YouTube has announced sweeping changes to its gambling-related content policies leaving poker content creators concerned about their futures.

The world’s largest video platform is tightening restrictions specifically around content linking to, or even referencing, unlicensed gambling sites. Although this latest crackdown is aimed at all forms of gambling, poker channels could face challenges in the near future. What Will Change? Any promotion that directs viewers to an “unapproved” gambling site will be blocked. We’re talking about anything here, from links and logos; even mentions. The only gaming platforms that are allowed to be promoted must meet strict legal standards and be certified by Google.

Phil Hellmuth Claims $3 Million Cash Game Profit Offers $1 Million Challenge to Haters Poker Brat Phil Hellmuth has come out firing on social media offering a $1 million challenge for anyone who says he’s a losing cash game player.

Phil Hellmuth Hellmuth is known for being touchy over negative comments about his poker ability, and he’s long been accused of being a bad cash game player. Nothing wrong with that, though, and certainly in games against some of his usual rivals at the top of the game. Hellmuth built his reputation as a tournament player and that is the environment where he is most feared. But now he wants to match his $500K against $500K from one of his doubters based on his future performance in live televised cash games.

CoinPoker Brings Us the Best High-Stakes Cash Games Ever CoinPoker has once again brought us the biggest online cash games around today as Jared Bleznick and Linus Loeliger hit the felt with some massive wins.

This week’s action review begins with Linus “LLinusLL0ve” Loeliger — a candidate for best online 6-max player in the world — taking on fellow high-stakes crusher SeaLlama. The pair were battling with almost $100,000 on the table at the start of the heads-up match. Linus Loeliger SeaLlama Takes Some Beats Versus LlinusLLove The first hand of note comes with SeaLlama coming unstuck against a nasty board runout. The players are around $37,000 deep at stakes of $100/$200 NL.

Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov Married at Burning Man Poker’s power couple Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov have finally tied the knot in a spectacular wedding ceremony at the iconic desert festival Burning Man.

Boeree posted the message “WE FINALLY DID IT!!!” and photos from the event on her X account last night, telling her followers that the official album would soon follow. The pair of free-spirited personalities wore unconventional outfits, far from traditional get-up in the colourful backdrop of Burning Man in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. The choice of venue was no surprise to those who know the pair. Boeree described the place as their “favourite place on earth.

Who Are the Most Influential People in Poker History? Poker has been around for a long time now with its landscape shifting continuously. But who are the characters in the game who have been the most influential over the years?

Chris Moneymaker at the WSOP 2003This is what Upswing Poker founder Doug Polk has been asking his fans and followers on X, and to be honest, we’ve seen some pretty interesting answers. Of course when you ask subjective questions like this, you will get a wide range of answers; not everybody will agree. WSOP Laying the Foundations Doyle Brunson The first name which appears throughout most of the early posts will come as no surprise to any generation of poker player still in the game today — Doyle Brunson!

Matt Savage Lays Down the Law to Will Kassouf and Martin Kabrhel WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage has been spending time with perpetual poker bad boys Will Kassouf and Martin Kabrhel at the WPT Cyprus Championship.

Matt Savage and Martin Kabrhel Apparently, the poker community has it wrong and they’re both a lot different from what their public image would suggest. Today saw the start of the $3,500 buy-in, $2 million GTD WPT Cyprus Championship at the Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino. Plenty of well-known faces were present at the casino but none more so than the pair of characters who had the poker media scribbling for much of the WSOP 2025.

Jared Bleznick Smashing the $200000 PLO Tables on CoinPoker Jared Bleznick is single-handedly bringing back the nosebleed scene to online poker after smashing out a constant stream of six-figure pots on the $200000 tables on CoinPoker.

The last few days have looked indistinguishable from an era gone by when the likes of Phil Ivey, Patrick Antonius, and Tom “durrrr” Dwan battled on the high-stakestables on Full Tilt Poker. “Theblez,” as Bleznick is known as on CoinPoker, has been helping to turn back the clock for the nosebleed games, regularly playing stakes of $500/$1,000 PLO and even higher, happy to take on all comers. Jared Bleznick’s been battling in the 200KPLO heads-up games on CoinPoker 🤯

Doug Polk Takes to Mainstream Media to Defend Poker from Unfair Tax Doug Polk has appeared on mainstream media new outlet New Nation to stick up for poker in the midst of unpopular gambling law changes.

Right now, the American gambling community is in a state of bewilderment about the prospective effects of a new version of the country’s gambling laws. Put simply, if everything continues down the path the government intends, the number of professional poker players in the United States will reduce massively. Possibly to the point of making the game unprofitable for all but a few. The issue is really all about one point — from next year, gamblers will only be able to write off 90% of their losses.

Frankie C Challenges Martin Kabrhel to Heads-Up Match Frank Frankie C Cucchiara has brazenly challenged high-stakes poker star Martin Kabrhel to a heads-up match apparently agreeing to play for $1000000 if he can get the money.

The Czech player is one of those names who consistently finds his way into the poker media for various reasons, often being a bit of a nuisance, but there’s no denying he’s a great poker player. Having Martin Kabrhel’s scalp on his record would make Frankie C a player of note, without a doubt. Who Is Frankie C? The 26-year-old poker content creator is a relatively new face on the scene and known for being the partner of Kitty Kuo.

Doug Polk Sells Upswing Poker to ClubWPT Gold Doug Polk has announced the sale of Upswing Poker to sweepstakes operator ClubWPT gold for an undisclosed fee.

Aftermore than nine years of operating the leading training site with his friend Ryan Fee, Polk will be handing over the keys of Upswing Poker to its new owner, while promising a bright future for the outfit. A Decade of Upswing Poker It was all the way back in 2016 that Doug Polk was encouraged to consider starting a poker training site by Ryan Fee. The training space has previously been dominated by classic sites Card Runners and Deucescracked, but their massive, over-sized libraries left novice players scrambling around, wondering where to start.

A Spotlight on Nuisance Players in Live Poker TV poker has always provided us with polarising characters but has some of the more recent nuisance behaviour gone too far? Are we risking harm to the game if nothing is done?

Will Kassouf Good, old fashioned live poker is supposed to be a blend of strategy and psychological warfare. It’s not supposed to be over-the-top trash TV. When the show becomes more about player behaviour than the actual poker, we should know that change is needed. What we witnessed during the WSOP 2025 exceeded anything we have seen before. Maybe the cameras amplify disruptive tactics, focusing the viewer’s attention on the negative, but the level of sheer annoyance indicated on social media was at a greater height than in previous years.

The 2025 World Series of Poker in Numbers This summer’s World Series of Poker saw players fork out a total of $529million in buy-ins but how much of that went in rake? The answer — a healthy $47million!

2025 WSOP Main Event (Courtesy of WSOP) Nearly one quarter of a million entries graced the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas this summer as GGPoker took over the running of the WSOP for the very first time. The result was a slew of records broken, including almost everything money related. There were 100 bracelet events this year, one up on last year’s 99 gold bracelets awarded, and that produced and extra 17,361 in total entries over last year’s figure.

The Taxman Takes $9million from Main Event Final Table Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi may well have won the $10million top prize but he will only get to keep $6million of it as the taxman takes his bite!

(Courtesy of WSOP/Rachel Kay Winter) “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” said Benjamin Franklin (allegedly!) and for Michael Mizrachi, the 100,000 $100 bills bearing Franklin’s image he won this week won’t all be his to keep. Every year, Russ Fox of Clayton Financial and Tax of Las Vegas, gives us the breakdown of just how much the winner and his fellow final tablists have to give up to the taxman.

$1million Chip Dumping Allegations Mar WSOP Victory Jesse Yaginuma pulled back a 10-1 chip deficit to land WSOP gold and a $1milllion bonus but has sparked claims of a chip dumping deal.

Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll (courtesy of WSOP) The grand finale to Event #53: $1,500 Millionaire Maker saw both heads-up players – Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll – lock up $1million payouts, with $250k and the bracelet still to play for. Yaginuma, however, was in line to pick up a ClubWPT Gold promotional bonus of another $1million, having qualified by bagging one of the sweepstakes-style online site’s Gold Rush tickets.

JokerStars Scammer Banned from Club for RFID Cheating JokerStars Poker Room in Houston Texas has uncovered a brazen cheating scam involving RFID cards and a hidden card reader.

(pic courtesy of JokerStars Poker Room FB) No, not the slang name for online giants PokerStars, but rather a poker club in Houston, Texas – JokerStars Poker Room – which has uncovered a cheating scam involving RFID cards and a hidden card reader. The bare-faced attempt to cheat a highstakes poker knight at the social poker venue was revealed by PokerNews this week, when three players – former club employee Carlito, and two of his guests, Marcelo and Ivan – were caught on camera following a security review.

Chaos Erupts Near WSOP Venues as Gunman Opens Fire on Las Vegas Strip Two people have been shot dead after a gunman opened fire near the Bellagio fountains on the Las Vegas Strip last night.

Police officers were patrolling in the area on Las Vegas Boulevard at around 10:40 p.m. local time and rushed to the scene upon hearing gunfire. A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department statement said: “On June 8, 2025, at approximately 10.40pm, LVMPD officers were on routine patrol in the 3600 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard when they heard gunfire coming from the west side of the street. “The officers immediately ran toward the area where the gunfire was heard and located two individuals suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

Phil Hellmuth Lets Fans Decide – Play or Boycott 2025 WSOP Main Event? Phil Hellmuth has put it to his fans to decide whether he plays the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event or goes ahead with his one-man boycott.

Phil Hellmuth has put it to his fans to decide whether he plays the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event or goes ahead with his one-man boycott. Phil Hellmuth – Photo Credit: Hayley Hochstetler The Poker Brat owns a record 17 WSOP gold bracelets and has played in every main event since, but he recently announced that the gruelling format was too much for him now and he would be giving this year’s edition a miss.

Alleged Angleshooter Alexander Shevliakov responds to Accusations The player accused of angle-shooting at last weeks EPT has responded claiming there were “no angles no tricks just an unfortunate sequence in a high-pressure spot.”

The player at the centre of the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event angle-shooting controversy has responded this week, claiming there were “no angles, no tricks, just an unfortunate sequence in a high-pressure spot.” Hi, my name is Alexander Shevliakov, and this is my message regarding the AKs hand against Jamil Wakil. I held off posting this immediately because I wanted to speak privately with Jamil first and give him the full version.

Eric Persson Defeats Doug Polk in “Code Doug” Challenge Finale Doug Polk has failed to save face by beating his nemesis Eric Persson in a heads-up match to end his “Code Doug” Challenge after coming close to ending up in the red for his overall result.

Doug Polk has failed to save face by beating his nemesis Eric Persson in a heads-up match to end his “Code Doug” Challenge after coming close to ending up in the red for his overall result. After a rollercoaster of a month where the Upswing Poker founder set out to win $100,000 to give away, Polk found himself in the hole for tens of thousands, wondering if he was going to end up with egg on his face.

Matt Berkey’s Only Friends Podcast to End After three years and 700 episodes Matt Berkey’s Only Friends podcast has unexpectedly lost its home and will likely shut down at the end of April.

After three years and 700 episodes, Matt Berkey’s Only Friends podcast has unexpectedly lost its home and will likely shut down at the end of April. Earlier this week, fans tuned in to hear all about the return of Nik Airball to Hustler Casino Live, and instead got the bad news that Berkey’s landlord had given 30 days notice for them to exit the premises. Matt Berkey has been a polarising figure for some in the poker community, but you can’t knock the effort that he has put in to show up every day — yes really, every day — to generate discussion about the most pressing matters in poker.

Bankroll Challenge Woes for Doug Polk and Rampage Poker Doug Polk and Ethan “Rampage” Yau suffer Bankroll Challenge setbacks in pursuit of 6- and 7-figure goals.

It has been a tough old time recently for the ever-popular ‘Bankroll Challenges’ with both Doug Polk and Ethan “Rampage” Yau suffering setbacks in pursuit of 6- and 7-figure goals. Bankroll challenges have been part and parcel of poker for at least two decades now, players looking to turn next to nothing into a significant something, cheered on by their fans on social media. Back in 2006, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson took 18 months to go from literally zero playing online freerolls to his $10,000 target.

Highstakes Colluder Jinlong Hu Cashes Twice at Triton Series A known cheater has cashed twice at the ongoing Triton Poker stop in Jeju. Chinese pro Jinlong Hu was recently issued a formal warning for collusion

A known cheater has cashed twice at the ongoing Triton Poker stop in Jeju. Chinese pro Jinlong Hu was recently issued a formal warning for collusion at the U Series of Poker in Vietnam. Jinlong Hu Collusion Hu has cashed twice in the past week at Triton Jeju in South Korea, picking up more than $100,000 in prizemoney. However, a 2plus2 forum poster was quick to point out that just two months ago Hu and another Chinese player had their heads-up battle halted for collusion.