Matt Valeo

Tips for the @WSOP $1500 Badugi today: -Not all badugis are playable from all positions. If you open a rough K or Q Badugi (with no redraw) from early position be prepared to be put in some tough spots.

Patch or no patch I’m a proud ambassador for @PhenomPokerApp. If you see me on the felt this summer feel free to ask me about our player first approach to online poker. I’m confident that once you give us a shot you will feel the difference and join in on the revolution 🖤💪🚀

This is going to upset some poker players but @WSOP pre-approval requirement for patches on featured tables is smart business. Hear me out... Tell me where I am wrong . Every mature sport does this: the host controls the arena. The @PGATOUR enforces strict logo size, placement, and approval guidelines on its events, while asking @livgolf_league players to dial back their branding when competing on PGA stages. Augusta National sets its own rigid standards for the Masters. The IOC’s Rule 40 tightly restricts what personal sponsors athletes can promote during the Olympics. WSOP owns poker’s biggest stage. They have every right to curate sponsors on their broadcasts to protect mainstream appeal — approving established operators while blocking unregulated ones makes sense for long-term growth. This professionalizes the game, attracts premium partners, and expands the audience beyond the wild-west era. That's my take... yours? Good for poker’s future, or short-sighted gatekeeping?

Re: @25kfantasy not sure what/if I’ll play. Currently been denied to wear a patch, which I believe can lead to disqualification at the tournament directors discretion. I imagine, as with a lot of other players, this will complicate things. I understand and respect WSOP is more GGlive now and won’t break the rules. The rules are the rules, I’ll respect them even if I disagree with them. I do think that sites are extremely demotivated to invest in players in our space when the flagship series restricts outside investment. Probably playing $200 daily with Brad Owen at New Orleans. Good luck everybody at the draft & at the series.