If you’ve spent any time on Poker Twitter (or X) over the last day, you’ve probably found yourself asking a single question: What on earth is happening with the World Poker Tour?
What began as a routine ambassador announcement quickly spiraled into one of the most chaotic brand controversies the poker world has seen in recent memory—an episode perfectly summed up by one word: omnishambles.
How It All Started
The spark was lit Sunday evening when WPT Global announced the signing of Tony “Ren” Lin as a new brand ambassador.
Lin, of course, is no stranger to controversy. Formerly a GGPoker ambassador, he was removed from that role after admitting involvement in a ghosting scandal, which led to an indefinite suspension from GGPoker, the WSOP, and partner platforms back in October.
Just seven weeks later, Lin reappeared—unexpectedly—at the WSOP Paradise series.
That return didn’t go unnoticed.
Criticism, Confusion, and a Divided Poker Community
The situation escalated when David Lappin, himself a WPT Global ambassador, published an article sharply criticizing both GGPoker and the WSOP for allowing Lin back so quickly.
“Beyond the brazen hypocrisy,” Lappin wrote, “it’s hard not to see this as a two-tiered system—one for high rollers and one for the rest of us.”
The debate spilled onto social media. Some questioned how a player banned indefinitely could return so soon, while others—most notably Matt Berkey—defended Lin’s treatment, pointing out that his online ban remained intact and that his winnings had been confiscated.
Notably, Lin wore no GGPoker branding at WSOP Paradise. The next time he appeared live, he would be representing a direct competitor.
WPT Tries to Distance Itself… Briefly
Shortly after WPT Global’s ambassador announcement, the main World Poker Tour account stepped in, quote-tweeting the post with a clear attempt at separation:
“WPT Global is a licensee of the World Poker Tour. We do not officially endorse any of their ambassadors.”
That tweet? Deleted.
Soon after, WPT Global deleted its original announcement as well.
And that’s when things truly went off the rails.
Deleted Posts, Escalating Tension, and Public Infighting
ClubWPT Gold, the sweepstakes arm of the WPT, jumped into the fray with an image of Ren Lin stamped with the word “BANNED.”
Deleted.
Then ClubWPT Gold’s Creative Director, Thomas Keeling, posted an image of Mike Postle, captioned bluntly:
“What the f**k are you guys doing over there @wpt_global?”
That post also vanished.
Meanwhile, Lappin removed WPT Global from his social profiles and began posting cryptic—and not-so-cryptic—messages. One read:
“Any fool can turn a blind eye, but who knows what the ostrich sees in the sand?”
Another, now pinned, used a Godfather meme with the simple line:
“You broke my heart.”
WPT Global Doubles Down… Then Deletes Again
On Monday morning, WPT Global fired back with a bold public response to ClubWPT Gold:
“Can’t have a winning ambassador in 2026? 🫣 … We have full confidence in Tony Lin’s integrity and standards…”
That statement, too, was deleted.
Then came the plot twist:
WPT Global re-announced Ren Lin as an ambassador. Again.
That prompted Lappin’s final meme contribution—this time featuring Malcolm Tucker from The Thick of It with one devastating word:
“Omnishambles.”
The Official Statement (For Now)
Eventually, WPT Global posted a longer, more measured statement explaining its position:
“We are honored to welcome Tony Lin as our newest brand ambassador. Tony has openly addressed past controversies, taken full responsibility, and accepted the consequences with humility… Our decision is rooted in our belief in second chances.”
As of 11:30 a.m. ET, that post remains live.
The backlash, however, has not subsided.
So… Who Exactly Is ‘The WPT’?
Beneath the memes and deleted tweets lies a genuine issue: brand confusion.
- WPT Global: A real-money online poker site and licensee of the WPT
- ClubWPT Gold: The sweepstakes poker platform
- World Poker Tour: The flagship live tour and global brand
Technically distinct.
Practically? Players don’t see it that way.
To the public, they’re all simply “WPT.”
That perception is only muddied further when ambassadors like Phil Ivey appear across all WPT platforms—Global, ClubWPT Gold, and the main tour itself.
So when the WPT says it doesn’t endorse WPT Global ambassadors, the natural follow-up becomes:
“…except when you do.”
The Bigger Picture
From now on, Ren Lin will wear a WPT Global patch bearing the WPT logo, regardless of internal distinctions. That reality makes the controversy unavoidable—especially given that his ghosting admission and competitor ban are still fresh in the collective memory.
As ever, poker’s talent for self-inflicted chaos remains unmatched.
And perhaps no one summed it up better than Barry Carter, whose post captured the community’s mood perfectly—earning him the unofficial last word on a saga that felt, from start to finish, like a masterclass in omnishambles.
