The week was marked by high-stakes victories, fierce battles for individual titles, institutional controversies involving major industry brands, curious stories from online poker, and even the definitive convergence of the game with the entertainment world.
Phil Galfond Warns High Rake Threatens Future of Online Poker
In a straightforward and structural analysis, Phil Galfond once again criticized the high rake policy adopted by many online poker rooms. During an appearance on the BetRivers Table Talk podcast, Galfond stated that the pursuit of maximum short-term extraction is eroding the gaming ecosystem.
According to him, the impact of high rake is not immediate, but cumulative: recreational players lose faster, have less fun, and end up abandoning the tables, which makes the games harder and less sustainable. For Galfond, reacting to this drop by further increasing the rake only accelerates the problem.
The professional advocates for a player-centric model, with fair rake, transparency, and a long-term vision. "Taking care of the player isn't charity, it's survival," he summarized, warning that poker cannot be treated as a simple casino game without consequences for its future.
Martin Scorsese Preps New Netflix Series with Rounders Writers
Las Vegas will once again be the central setting for a major audiovisual production. Martin Scorsese is involved in a new Netflix series set in the gambling capital, with a script by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, the duo responsible for Rounders.
One of the project's distinguishing features is the active participation of professional poker player Maria Konnikova on the writing team. An author and winner of over US$1 million in live poker, Konnikova stated that the series will portray both the glamour and the dark side of high-stakes casinos, including the world of high-stakes poker.
Although the title has not yet been released, the production is already generating excitement for combining cinema, poker, and a more realistic vision of the so-called "city of sin."
Alex Foxen Wins PokerGO Tour Player of the Year Award in Dramatic Finale
The race for the PokerGO Tour Player of the Year award was only decided in the final tournament of the season — and it ended with Alex Foxen on top. With his victory in the final event of the PGT Last Chance series, Foxen overtook Sam Soverel and secured the most coveted individual title on the circuit.
The result crowned an extremely consistent campaign. Foxen won five titles throughout the season, accumulated 27 cashes, and totaled more than US$6.2 million in PGT winnings in 2025. His biggest result came at the WSOP, with a runner-up finish in the US$250,000 Super High Roller, which earned him more than US$3 million and was decisive in the scoring.
The battle for the top spot also included Chino Rheem, who finished third after a late surge. The final Top 10 ranking featured some of the most respected names in world poker, including Brazilian João Simao, Nick Schulman, and Alex's wife, Kristen Foxen.
Read ReadChad Eveslage Closes Out the PokerGO Tour Season With a Title & $500,000
Chad Eveslage ended the 2025 PokerGO Tour season in style by winning the PGT Championship, a $1,000,000 freeroll reserved for the top players in the annual ranking. By overcoming a field of 54 elite players, Eveslage secured the top prize of $500,000 and surpassed the $12 million mark in career earnings.
A mixed games specialist, Eveslage built his spot in the decisive tournament from impressive results throughout the year, including a victory in the $100,000 Super High Roller Bowl Mixed Games. He also won the HORSE event at the World Series of Poker, earning him his fourth career bracelet. In total, he accumulated over $3.2 million in PGT winnings in 2025, with three titles and four final tables.
The final table featured big names, such as Daniel Negreanu, eliminated in fourth place, and Andrew Lichtenberger, runner-up. In the heads-up, Eveslage confirmed his status as favorite and sealed a season that reinforces his status as one of the most complete players today.
Ren Lin's Signing With WPT Global Sparks Internal Crisis & Splits
WPT Global's decision to announce Ren Lin as its new ambassador has triggered one of the biggest recent controversies in the industry. Lin had been suspended months earlier after admitting involvement in a ghosting case and the use of real-time assistance in online tournaments on GGPoker.
The negative reaction came not only from the community, but from different branches linked to the World Poker Tour brand. Critical posts originated from official WPT and ClubWPT Gold profiles, highlighting a public split between entities that share the same name but operate independently.
The tension increased when the hosts of the long-running podcast The Chip Race , David Lappin and Dara O'Kearney, announced the end of their partnership with WPT Global, citing a clash of values after signing Lin. Despite the pressure, WPT Global released an official statement defending the player and affirming their belief in his learning and rehabilitation, signaling that they do not intend to back down from their decision.
The World Poker Tour put a bit of distance between the decision, saying, "WPT Global is a licensee of the World Poker Tour. We do not officially endorse any of their ambassadors."
Since the signing, David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney have ended their partnership WPT Global. They issued a joint statement.
Streamer Misclick Folds a Straight Flush in an Online Tournament
A one-second mistake became a hot topic throughout the online poker community. Austrian streamer Sebastian Huber, known as peace&loove , was involved in one of the most heartbreaking moments of the year when he accidentally folded a straight flush during the $11 Daily Cooldown Mystery Bounty.
The tournament was already in its late stages, with 154 players remaining and all in the money, when Huber hit the nuts on a highly connected board. During the action, while interacting with the Twitch chat, he clicked the wrong button and folded the winning hand. Moments later, his opponents went all-in with a straight and a small flush, confirming that the Austrian had won a huge pot and accumulated more chips and a bounty.
The immediate reaction — hands on heads, disbelief, and silence — turned the episode into a stark reminder that, in online poker, concentration is just as important as technical knowledge.