David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney have announced they are cutting ties with WPT Global, effective immediately, after the operator’s decision to appoint Ren Lin as a brand ambassador.
The move follows WPT Global’s announcement that Lin would represent the platform despite having been banned from GGPoker and WSOP live events in October 2025 for his involvement in a ghosting scandal. The decision reportedly came as a surprise to Lappin and O’Kearney, who have been openly critical of Lin’s return to high-profile events, including his participation at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas just weeks after the ban.
In a joint statement, the pair made it clear that continuing their roles with the company was no longer an option.
“In June 2025, we joined WPT Global as ambassadors, bringing The Chip Race content under their sponsorship,” the statement read. “The signing of Ren Lin as a Global Ambassador came as a shock to us. Given our firmly held and publicly expressed views on the scandal surrounding him, it was immediately clear that our continued association with the company was untenable. As a result, we are parting ways with WPT Global.
“We don’t yet have a clear plan for what comes next, but we very much hope to return with Chip Race episodes, Lock-Ins, and strategy content in the near future.”
A Principled Exit
By walking away from their deal, Lappin and O’Kearney have once again placed principle ahead of commercial interest. Their departure means The Chip Race podcast is entering another hiatus, underscoring their willingness to accept short-term disruption rather than compromise on values.
Before joining WPT Global, the duo spent more than eight years as ambassadors for Unibet, which sponsored The Chip Race until May 2025. During that time, the podcast grew into one of poker’s most respected content platforms.
“That partnership produced 170 episodes, 101 Lock-Ins, and countless strategy videos,” Lappin said when the Unibet deal ended. “It reached listeners in 72 countries, attracted more than 20,000 regular followers, and earned five GPI Global Poker Award nominations, including three wins.”
Wider Fallout for WPT
The signing of Ren Lin triggered significant internal and public friction across the WPT ecosystem, including WPT Global, ClubWPT Gold, and the broader WPT brand. The dispute played out across social media over several days and resulted in deleted posts and reputational damage.
In one now-deleted post on X, WPT attempted to distance itself from the decision, stating: “WPT Global is a licensee of the World Poker Tour. We do not officially endorse any of their ambassadors.”
The contrast in reaction was stark compared to the overwhelmingly positive response just a week earlier, when WPT Global announced the signing of Fintan Hand as an ambassador.
For Lappin and O’Kearney, however, the line was clear—and crossing it meant walking away.
