Over the course of 2024, it’s no exaggeration to say that the landscape of poker has changed. GTO poker is here to stay, as we’ll look back on in our latest round-up of action from the last 12 months. We’ve looked back on a buoyant midwinter in Part 1 and sprung forward with Spring in Part 2. Now, Part 3 takes the WSOP on board, with a stunning summer full of memories.
-
Phil Ivey Brings Home the Gold
Stuck on 10 WSOP bracelet wins for a decade, Phil Ivey broke that drought as he claimed #11 with victory in the $10,000 2-7 Triple Draw Championship for over $347,000. Ivey, who closed to within six titles of Phil Hellmuth, cut a serene figure as he saw it out under a bucket hat due to having light sensitive eyes.
Under the bright lights, however, no-one is cooler than Ivey and after the event he declared himself ready to win more in years to come. Poker definitely needs a mentally focused and physically fit Ivey and if he can string together a couple more victories before the Poker Brat bags one, it could make the race to reach 20 bracelets very interesting indeed.
-
Daniel Negreanu Joins Ivey in Winners Enclosure
Never one to stay in the shadows for long, Daniel ‘Kid Poker’ Negreanu was desperate to win his first bracelet in Las Vegas since 2008 and his first of any kind in over 11 years. Playing in the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship, Negreanu got the better of Bryce Yockey heads-up to take home his seventh gold WSOP bracelet and the first since becoming a GGPoker ambassador, marrying his sweetheart Amanda and so many other life changes.
In an emotional post-match interview, Negreanu paid tribute to Amanda and all his fans, as well as complimenting the impressive Yockey who ran him so close. Over many years, Negreanu has adapted his game, welcomed new players into the game and brought poker into several new ages. It was a relief for him to finally take gold again.
-
Jonathan Tamayo and Laptopgate
In a controversial finale, Jonathan Tamayo won the WSOP Main Event for $8 million after a final table was overshadowed by the rail. Tamayo – who earlier folded pocket queens pre-flop – came back to win the final in the game of his life. But during the action, he repeatedly returned to his rail featuring Dominik Nitsche and Joe McKeehen where they had a laptop running simulations and situations to help Tamayo.
In the aftermath of the WSOP Main Event, the authorities made changes to the rulebook that governs the crowd as well as the players at World Series of Poker events. Tamayo’s run to the rail won’t be replicated as friends won’t be able to access simulators or live information and may have technology confiscated, risking ejection if they do so.
Was the ruling wrong or right? To find out, many players will be looking back on what happened in Las Vegas in the summer of 2024. Read all about the unique final table and how it played out here.
-
GGPoker Buys the WSOP
In an incredible development, GGPoker’s parent group NSUS bought the WSOP brand in early August for a total sum of $500 million. Paying $250m up front with a $250m promissory note to complete the deal coming in five years’ time, GGPoker’s purchase of the WSOP stunned poker fans.
Over some years, GGPoker have gradually grown their presence to being the main operator in partnership with the World Series of Poker and after sending thousands of poker players into the Main Event as satellite qualifiers, the future looks incredibly bright for both partners as the continue growth creates more excitement around the biggest and most prestigious events in the world. Here’s how the news broke.
-
Poker Partnerships Define New Era
In September we took a deeper look at the brand partnerships that are driving poker’s growth. With rival operators preferring to collaborate rather than stand apart in 2024 and beyond, poker has become a more streamlined business. The industry has never been strong and while there’s competition at all levels to grow player and fan bases, cohesion is key.
Over the past few years, it has been the partnerships that have survived rather than old rivalries, which as we saw with the PokerStars vs. Full Tilt Poker clash in the 2000s can lead to disaster. In 2025, we’re sure that poker will become even more of a collaborative game where the market share is still important to the game but gamers themselves are the future.
Poker is always more about friends than foes and we’ll meet more stars on and off the felt in our final part of the year’s round-up on New Years Eve.
