Poker Writer
Chip Race Podcast hosts David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney have ended their partnership with WPT Global after the signing of Ren “Tony” Lin. The Irish poker figures decided to discontinue their connection to WPT Global after just seven months with the brand.
WPT Global’s controversial selection of Lin as brand ambassador sent ripples through the poker world. It led to many disagreements and infighting within the WPT brand on social media.
O’Kearney and Lappin declared their decision on X early on Tuesday:
In June 2025, we joined WPT Global as ambassadors, putting The Chip Race content slate under their sponsorship. We are enormously appreciative of the role that Cameron Soane played in putting that deal together. We saw WPT Global making waves in the poker space and, in particular, investing in the Irish market. We wanted to be a part of that and believed that our brands aligned, both in objectives and values.
The signing of Ren Lin as a Global Ambassador came as a shock to us. Given our personally held and outspoken views on the scandal surrounding him, it was immediately obvious that our continued roles with the company were untenable. As a result, we are parting ways with WPT Global.
We obviously do not have an immediate plan for the future but we sincerely hope to be back with Chip Race episodes, Lock-Ins and strategy videos in the very near future.
Dara O’Kearney | David Lappin
Several responders to the announcement commended the Irish duo for opting out of a brand partnership on moral grounds, a rare decision in the poker world. Most of the time a brand ambassador will disavow their brands actions without actually dropping the sponsor.
WPT Global Statement on Lin
WPT Global issued a statement on welcoming Lin to the ambassador team in response to the largely negative reception.
The statement begins by talking about growth and accountability:
At WPT Global, we believe in the principles of growth, accountability, and redemption. The world of competitive poker is not only about winning hands, but also about personal evolution and the courage to face challenges with integrity.
It stated that Lin has properly addressed and explained past controversies. It also says that he accepted the consequences with humility, of which there appears to be few based on how quickly Lin has moved on.
WPT Global made sure to confirm its commitment to integrity, security and and fairness in online poker.
Our decision to collaborate with Tony is rooted in our belief in second chances and our focus on the future. We stand by our platform, our players, and our ambassadors as we continue to foster a respectful and trustworthy poker environment.
Reaction to Statement
WPT Global’s post on X, which supported the signing of Lin, received only eight likes (at the time of publication). The comments on the post, which were overwhelmingly critical of the signing, received far more interest.
Todd Witteless suggested WPT Global’s true intention behind Lin’s ambassadorship:
Can you just admit that you find value in his appeal to the Chinese market, and that you feel the marketing benefit from it will be greater than the downside of being associated with his 2025 scandal?
That would be more of a refreshing admission than this lol redemption arc.
Another user on X compared Lin’s “punishment” to a dinner break:
Resilience? This happened less than 3 months ago. Courage? There were hardly any consequences. Humility? Apparently, he doesn’t believe any are warranted. There was no journey. He barely went on a dinner break.
