Is this the Biggest Failed Bluff in Poker History? Should Tournaments Start Earlier?
In the 925th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is once again joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow at Level 9 Studios to talk the latest stories in the poker world. That includes the massive $1.3 million pot from a special episode of High Stakes Poker, one that saw Alan Keating try and execute a huge bluff. Was it a valiant effort or an ill-timed move? The trio also offers their thoughts on the topic of "Should poker tournaments start earlier?", which was being discussed on social media by Seth Davies and Jason Koon. Speaking of the latter, you'll get to see highlights from 'All In with Jason Koon' from the 2025 PokerStars NAPT, as well as a look at Comedy Night with Joe "Stapes" Stapleton and RunGood Trivia Night with Boston Rob Mariano and Tyson Apostol of Survivor fame. Chad actually caught up with the two reality TV legends for a poker trivia game of his own. In other NAPT news, Jeremy Ausmus beat quad aces with a Royal Flush, Nikolai Mamut defeated TJ Reid to win the NAPT PokerStars Open, and Stephen Chidwick, Cherish Andrews, and Raena Janes all took down titles. Finally, get a preview of upcoming stops, including the next Hendon Mob Championship in Cape Town and the RGPS Grand Prix San Diego. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time   Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 00:53 | Alan Keating bluffs it off in $1.3M pot 03:00 | Señor Tilt's big pot on PokerGO 07:00 | Alan Keating on HSP 11:09 | Tournament start time debate 23:35 | Royal Flush cooler for Jeremy Ausmus 27:00 | All in with Jason Koon highlights 30:38 | Comedy Night with Joe Stapleton 32:47 | Highlights from Comedy Night 33:47 | Trivia Night w/ Boston Rob & Tyson 39:00 | Nikolai Mamut wins NAPT Las Vegas PS Open 42:34 | Stephen Chidwick takes down NAPT $50k Super High Roller Win 45:30 | Cherish Andrews wins NAPT Mystery Bounty 47:20 | Raena Janes wins NAPT Ladies Event 47:45 | Elaine Rawn wins NAPT Ladies High Roller 48:18 | Hendon Mob Championship 49:07 | RGPS Grand Prix San Diego 50:55 | Shoutout to Kim
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Holy S#!%! Dude Allegedly Murdered Two Friends Over Poker Game; Poker Player on Squid Game
In the 924th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is once again joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow at Level 9 Studios to talk about the latest stories in the poker world. That includes a double murder that took place at a home game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and poker pro Steven Jones, who finished runner-up to Daniel Wienman in the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, being a contestant on Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2. From there, Chad reveals the charity fundraiser record he set with the help of the poker world, Elon Musk weighing in on the AI poker bot battle, and John Riordan winning the $100,000 PLO Super High Roller Bowl. Speaking of winners, Justin Arnwine scored big at RGPS Grand Prix Maryland. The crew then talks about the upcoming December war between the WSOP Paradise and WPT World Championship, and the new poker documentary No Limit about the former stop. A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time   Topic* 00:00 | Welcome to the show 01:14 | Double murder at Wisconsin poker game 05:30 | Steven Jones on Season 2 of Squid Game: The Challenge 09:17 | Poker world helps Chad sets charity record 12:10 | Elon Musk and the AI poker battle 17:52 | John Riordan wins PLO Super High Roller Bowl 21:04 | Justin Arnwine scores big at RGPS Grand Prix Maryland 27:47 | WSOP initiatives & Paradise 30:12 | WSOP vs. WPT 34:42 | No Limit documentary on YouTube 36:24 | Bar Poker Open returning to Borgata 38:14 | Allen Kessler's Mixed Game Series at Planet Hollywood 39:54 | Robbie Strazynski's Mixed Game Festival XII 40:24 | The PokerStars NAPT is here 42:00 | Run Good Trivia Night
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Poker Cheating Bombshell Involves Celebrities, NBA & the Mafia
In the 923rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is once again joined by Mike Holtz and Ben Ludlow at Level 9 Studios to discuss the latest stories from the poker world. That includes the wild, mainstream poker cheating story involving NBA players and coach Chauncey Billups, the mafia, and more. As if that wasn't controversial enough, well-known poker pro Ren Lin was disqualified from a live poker tournament for helping a friend in an online one. As a result, he was indefinitely banned from GGPoker and the WSOP. Find out what happened in this episode. Other stories include a "High-Rated Poker Player's" Las Vegas brothel, highlights from the World Tournament of Slots (WTOS), and recent tournament winners, including Charles Furey, Nick Burris, and Chino Rheem at the PGT PLO Series II. Finally, find out who the lucky winner was in the $10,000 NAPT Gold Pass giveaway! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time   Topic* 00:15 | Welcome to the show 01:30 | Poker cheating scandal involving NBA coach & players 07:33 | Mafia involvement 10:09 | Matt Berkey called it out two years ago 17:02 | Ren Lin's disqualification and indefinite ban 27:30 | Daniel Negreanu defends Ren Lin 31:19 | "High-Rated Poker Player's" Las Vegas brothel 35:50 | Highlights from the World Tournament of Slots 39:00 | NAPT Gold Pass giveaway winner 41:00 | Interview w/ Tom Pierce 45:50 | WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star final table set 49:50 | Charles Furey takes down PokerStars Open Maryland 50:33 | Nicholas Burris wins RGPS Tulsa for $65,435 51:30 | Chino Rheem Dominates PGT PLO Series II 53:00 | NAPT is upon us!
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Michael Mizrachi Drama in the Bahamas During World Tournament of Slots
In the 922nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway is down at the Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas for the 2nd Annual World Tournament of Slots (WTOS). Reigning World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi is also there and agreed to serve as a special cohost for this episode. Mizrachi talks about life after his unprecedented summer, his son getting into poker, hobbies outside of the game, and his thoughts on the Poker Hall of Fame. The two hosts then welcome special guest "Mama Grinder," who is down in the Bahamas with her son so she can participate in the WTOS! Find out what she thinks of her son's success, how she's passed down her competitive spirit, and her favorite slot machine. You'll also see highlights from Mizrachi's Mixed Games Match-Up "Drama in the Bahamas" against defending WTOS champ Stephanie "Win-It-All" Hall, and an interview with poker pro Eddie Blumenthal, who just happened to be down in the Bahamas. Blumenthal talks about getting sober at the beginning of the year and how it's had a positive impact on his life. Finally, it is the last episode in our $10,000 NAPT Gold Pass giveaway, meaning the final code word drops, and you now have until 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, October 26 to get in the correct code phrase to be entered to win. Click here for details on the PokerNews Podcast NAPT Gold Pass Giveaway! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps *Time   Topic* 00:20 | Welcome Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi 01:03 | Back at the Atlantis Paradise Island for WTOS 01:44 | Life after winning the World Series of Poker 03:19 | New GGPoker sponsorship 05:13 | Are there any poker players that you're afraid of? 05:55 | Grinder's son taking up the game 07:14 | World Tournament of Slots 08:20 | Hobbies outside of poker 10:20 | What's coming up for the Grinder? 12:00 | Thoughts on the Poker Hall of Fame 13:08 | Mama Grinder joins the show 18:08 | Drama in the Bahamas highlights 23:00 | Interview w/ Stephanie "Win It All" Hall 28:45 | Eddie Blumenthal's sobriety journey
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You Won't Believe the Hands from this Las Vegas High-Stakes Poker Cash Game
In the 921st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Ben Ludlow are all at Level 9 Studios in Las Vegas with high-stakes poker player Brian Okin for a special episode devoted to Okin's Game on Venetian Poker Live. The live-streamed cash game has produced some wildly entertaining hands and offers lineups that regularly include poker stars like Jean-Robert Bellande, Eric Wasserson, Matt Berkey, Martin Kabrhel, and regining WSOP Main Event champ Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi; as well as, relative newcomers, at least to the poker spotlight, such as Royski and Dr. Phil. If you're not familiar with Brian Okin, this is your chance to learn about his poker origins in Manhattan, which included playing in the famed Molly's Game, to his transition to Las Vegas. Learn the ins and outs of what it takes to put together a regular high-stakes poker cash game, what exactly is 'Squid Game' in poker, and a look at some of the most famous hands played by Okin including bluffing into the nuts and winning a monster pot worth $320,000! Click here for details on the PokerNews Podcast NAPT Gold Pass Giveaway! A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Time Stamps Time Topic 0:00 Welcome to the show 0:39 Who is Brian Okin? 5:33 Moving to Las Vegas 7:50 Molly's Game 11:33 Starting Okin's Game 14:46 What is Squid Game in poker? 16:50 Players from Okin's Game 22:39 Constructing a non-pro poker game 26:26 Mariano vs. Royski 32:03 An unbelievable fold 39:08 A $320K Pot! 41:45 Bluffing Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi 44:33 The Bobblehead 46:52 Bluffing into the nuts 50:55 Okin's brand of tilt Â
The PokerNews Podcast, the longest-running news show in the poker world with over 800 episodes, releases new episodes every Friday! Each episode includes the latest news, stories, debates, and gossip from the community. From Poker Hall of Famers to World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champions, the PokerNews Podcast has welcomed the biggest guests in the industry.
WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway hosts alongside Game of Gold star and 2021 MSPT Player of the Year Kyna England & two-time WSOP.com Online Player of the Year and bracelet winner Mike "Brock Lesnar" Holtz.
Tweet about the podcast at #PNPod and follow PokerNews on X at @PokerNews for more!