Ren Lin Signing Causes Chip Race Podcast Hosts to Leave WPT Global

This week, WPT Global signed a new ambassador. It’s not an uncommon event these days, with the brand, who are owned by the World Poker Tour, improving its roster consistently over the past two years. The player in question was a controversial one, however, as Ren Lin - who received a recent ban for ghosting a final table - was the new ambassador, a fact which put two award-winning podcast hosts in a very difficult position.

The past year has seen a raft of changes alter many people’s perceptions of the World Poker Tour. The latest seems to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Ren Lin, also known as Tony, was taken on as a WPT Global Ambassador earlier this week amid controversy. Recently banned by GGPoker after breaking the rules, his almost immediate hire by WPT Global angered two of their number, namely Irish poker professionals and podcast presenters Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin.

Inside Out Appointment Sees Lin Eventually Hired

This week’s appointment of Tony ‘Ren’ Lin as a WPT Global Ambassador caused shockwaves through the industry, as the man who was banned by GGPoker back in October was surprising welcomed into the fold at a rival brand. WPT Global had evidently looked past Lin’s removal from GG after his ‘ghosting’ behavior scandal on the site. Having been “indefinitely suspended from GGPoker, WSOP, and all partner platforms”. Lin was banned from GGPoker and WSOP events after providing prohibited real-time assistance (RTA) to a friend at a GGPoker final table.

Just three months ago, Lin was already back.

Lin joins WPT Global as another big name to add to a roster of superstars such as the legendary 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Ivey and the Argentinian professional Nacho Barbero. Crucially, however, it is WPT Global’s relationship with Irish poker that has triggered this week’s reaction from David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney.

While Lin’s announcement as ambassador came out in a very mute fashion, the reaction to it from the industry has been anything but. Many poker players have condemned the move, leaving other WPTGlobal names such as Fintan Hand and Pete Chen facing difficult moral decisions themselves.

World Poker Tour Absolve Responsibility Then Celebrate Signing

After an initial statement that seemed to distance the main World Poker (WPT) brand from the ambassadorial announcement of Ren Lin, the WPT pivoted to overtly defending their new signing. In a statement, WPT Global said:

“We select ambassadors based on proven performance and results, not follower counts. Others may prioritize influence. We stand apart. We’ll be working with Tony to share more of his side of the story soon. Tony has openly addressed past controversies, taken full responsibility for his actions, and accepted the consequences with humility," the site said. "His willingness to learn, improve, and move forward demonstrates a maturity that aligns with our values.”

That stance goes directly against messrs David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney. A short time after Lin was welcomed back to the WSOP Paradise felt, they condemned this move on The Chip Race podcast.

Now they will not be moving forward with WPT Global.

Irish Poker Heroes Leave WPT Global

In an official statement (below), Lappin and O’Kerney - who have both written for this site - said that they found their positions to be ‘untenable’ given their opinion on Ren Lin’s swift return to the poker felt.

These words from David Lappin followed.

“Beyond the brazen hypocrisy, which is in itself difficult to swallow, it’s hard not to read between the lines here and think that this is the WSOP deploying a two-tiered system – one for highrollers and one for the rest of us.”

Several poker players agreed with the award-winning Irish players and podcast co-hosts but others, such as Matt Berkey, found the punishment fit the crime.

“They took back all the money, and he's still banned online,” the Solve for Why founder said. “That seems quite appropriate [especially] given past precedent for similar cases.”

The ‘shock’ expressed at WPT Global’s hire of Lin is understandable, especially with how quickly it came after the initial ban. If they had not have left, then many loyal listeners might have been correct in questioning how they could align with such a player on a pro roster given the completely different opinions they would have on a spiky subject.

An eight-month partnership between The Chip Race and WPT Global is over, but what will come next for the Irish duo? It’s hard to see the podcast remaining off the air for long given its popularity and while ties with Unibet might have been cut, if they don’t return to the brand, others will be interested. As Lappin later told PokerNews, the decision was a difficult one, but one that nevertheless had to be made.

“It’s extremely disappointing for the partnership to end this way,” he said. “Dara and I were left with no choice; signing Ren Lin was a clear line for us and we made that transparent to the people at WPT Global.”

With the future up in the air, its doubtful this is the last we hear of a situation that has bewildered many in the poker industry.

Paul Seaton, an esteemed figure in the poker community with over ten years of experience, has provided live coverage from renowned poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and World Poker Tour. His involvement goes beyond observation; he has served as the Editor of BLUFF Europe Magazine and Head of Media for partypoker.