David Lappin and Dara O’Kearney have officially stepped away from WPT Global, citing irreconcilable differences following the controversial signing of Ren Lin as a brand ambassador. Lin, who was banned from both GGPoker and WSOP live events in October 2025 due to a ghosting scandal, reportedly triggered the decision.
“In June 2025, we joined WPT Global as ambassadors, putting The Chip Race content slate under their sponsorship,” the duo said in a joint statement. “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.”
They added that while they have no immediate plans, fans can expect a return of Chip Race, Lock-Ins, and strategy videos in the near future.
Walking the Talk
The departure highlights that Lappin and O’Kearney prioritize principles over position or financial gain. The pair had previously been long-time ambassadors for Unibet, sponsoring The Chip Race for over eight years, producing 170 episodes, 101 Lock-Ins, and multiple strategy videos, reaching listeners in 72 countries and earning five GPI Global Poker Award nominations with three wins.
WPT Global Turmoil
The Ren Lin signing also sparked internal conflict across WPT brands, including WPT Global, ClubWPT Gold, and the WPT umbrella brand, with posts deleted and reputational fallout reported over the weekend. A now-deleted X post from WPT stated, “WPT Global is a licensee of the World Poker Tour. We do not officially endorse any of their ambassadors.”
The situation contrasts sharply with the reception of Fintan Hand’s ambassador signing just a week earlier, which drew minimal controversy, underscoring the divisive nature of Lin’s appointment.
Lappin and O’Kearney’s exit leaves the poker world watching closely to see how The Chip Race brand returns—and whether WPT Global can recover from a week of public relations turbulence.
