The voices of James Hartigan and Joe ‘Stapes’ Stapleton will be familiar to most fans of streamed poker. News that the well-known PokerStars commentary team is teaming up with PokerGO for free, live streaming of World Series of Poker events will be music to viewers’ ears.
And if ‘music’ isn’t quite the right word to use — thankfully, they don’t actually sing when on the mic — it’s not as far off as it might seem. Hartigan and Stapes have an established and natural chemistry, honed over many years of working together, which gives their commentary work all the rhythm and confidence of a globe-trotting improvisational jazz duo. Poker can't be rehearsed or choreographed, so their ability to tell stories as they develop in front of our eyes, while keeping things entertaining (often for hours on end), makes them a great addition to any poker broadcast.
Always fresh, funny and informed, the pair have traveled the world bringing tournaments to life for viewers everywhere from the European Poker Tour to PokerStars Big Game on Tour, among many others. They are also the hosts of the regular Poker In The Ears podcast, while 2024 also saw Stapes publish his first book, the poker-themed graphic novel Trapped!
The news comes as PokerStars is announced as lead sponsor of PokerGO’s WSOP livestream coverage. From June 16 to July 8, various WSOP events will be simulcast on PokerStars’ YouTube and Twitch channels, bringing more poker to more viewers for free.
Coverage starts with the $250K Super High Roller
Dream team: Hartigan and Stapleton.Many of the WSOP’s biggest buy-in events are confirmed for the free streaming treatment, including coverage of:
- The $250,000 High Roller, June 16
- The $50,000 Poker Players Championship, June 26-27
- The $10,000 WSOP Main Event (Days 1-3), July 2-8
Coverage will also be available in other languages, with other native-speaking commentary teams, including French, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese.
“This collaboration brings together two of the most respected brands in poker to serve fans across the globe,” said PokerGO President Mori Eskandani, announcing the partnership. “With PokerGO’s world-class production and PokerStars’ reach and storytelling, we’re setting a new standard for how the WSOP is experienced around the world.”
“Striking this deal with PokerGO to deliver free-to-watch, localized coverage of the World Series is good for the game, great for players,” added Director of PokerStars North America, Steve Preiss. “It’s a milestone moment for the poker community.”
Follow the action at PokerStars’ YouTube channel, Twitch channel, and on PokerGO, where you can also find televised WSOP action going back as far as 1973.
