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Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin Rebuild Fast After WPT Global Exit

03 Mar 2026

Samantha Doyle 03 Mar 2026

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Dara O’Kearney joins Paddy Power Poker, enhancing their Irish identity.
David Lappin signs with PokerStars after a strong performance and values alignment.
The Chip Race podcast continues with a dual-sponsor model from both brands.

For a few weeks, Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin were in an unusual spot for two people so closely tied to modern poker media. They were suddenly unattached, highly visible, and being watched by an industry that loves a good sponsorship storyline.

Their exit from WPT Global in January, following disagreement over the signing of Ren Lin, was not a quiet contract expiry. It was public, values-driven, and widely discussed.

Now, in March 2026, the next chapter is clear. Both have signed with major brands, and they have also managed something that looked tricky on paper: keeping The Chip Race together.

Paddy Power Gets a Familiar Irish Voice in Dara O’Kearney

Dara O’Kearney’s move to Paddy Power Poker feels like one of those signings that makes immediate sense once it is announced.

O’Kearney has tournament credibility, strategy depth, and a long track record as an educator and author. He is one of the few ambassadors in poker who can genuinely speak to serious players without sounding like he is reading copy, which is part of why the pairing works.

On the brand side, Paddy Power has deep roots in Irish gambling and poker culture, plus a public tone that often leans playful without trying too hard to be cool. Dara’s presence gives that profile extra substance, especially ahead of the Irish Open, where he has already signaled he will be active in the green patch and involved in plans around the festival.

PokerStars Signs David Lappin After a Results-Driven Run

David Lappin has taken the other route and joined Team PokerStars Pro, but this was not a simple media hire.

Lappin put together a strong run in the PokerStars Live League in 2025, finished in the top ten, and then came through an audition process before getting the nod.

Lappin has also made it clear that values mattered in the decision. He pointed to PokerStars’ approach to game integrity and player security as the biggest factor, describing it as a “huge” reason for joining.

The Chip Race Finds a Way to Keep Both Hosts (and Both Brands)

The most interesting part of this story may be the one that could have gone wrong.

When two co-hosts sign with different major poker brands, the usual expectation is friction, compromise, or a slow fade for the shared project. Instead, The Chip Race has gone in the opposite direction with a dual-sponsor model.

Beginning with the March 3, 2026 episode, the podcast is co-sponsored by PokerStars and Paddy Power. That arrangement lets O’Kearney and Lappin continue together without forcing a false choice between their new partnerships.