David Lappin has formally joined the ranks of PokerStars as its latest ambassador, securing the coveted Purple Spade after a profitable audition by means of the PokerStars Dwell League.
“I’ve all the time believed ambassadors ought to symbolize the gamers, not only a model,” mentioned Lappin in a press release. “I’m extremely grateful to the Dwell League and the pathway it has given to turn out to be a PokerStars Ambassador.”
Lappin is ready to turn out to be an “participating and accessible voice” for the poker neighborhood, representing the model at flagship occasions just like the European Poker Tour and PokerStars Open stops all through 2026.
Ambassadorship Caps ”Whirlwind” Month for Lappin
The announcement comes a month after Lappin, together with Dara O’Kearney, parted methods with WPT International following their determination to nominate Ren Lin as ambassador.
“There was lots of love and respect for doing what we did, figuring out it may damage us. “
“For PokerStars to acknowledge my unbiased voice and all that comes with it, and that’s somebody they need to take an opportunity on feels actually heartening.”
Lappin mentioned he anxious that regardless of his principled stance, different websites might need a dim view of the choice.
“I believed we’d mainly burnt our bridge with anybody else,” he defined. “You are concerned that different individuals may not assume it’s essentially a superb high quality in an envoy that they could go away!
“There was lots of love and respect for doing what we did, figuring out it may damage us. Nevertheless it’s really ended up being a very optimistic factor, and a technique to open a brand new door with a model that I did not anticipate to be with.
Reward for the PokerStars Dwell League
In recent times, Lappin says that PokerStars has accounted for round half of all his dwell occasions, and Cédric Billot, Affiliate Director of Dwell Occasions Operations at PokerStars welcomed the information.
“David combines deep roots within the dwell poker scene with a revered voice that gamers take heed to,” mentioned Billot. “That steadiness of expertise and authenticity makes him a pure match for representing PokerStars.”
Lappin completed within the high ten of final yr’s PokerStars Dwell League, with the highest ten throughout the Low, Medium and Excessive tiers capable of submit audition tapes to turn out to be Ambassador, with Lappin in the end popping out on high. Lappin says that the addition of the Dwell League was an thrilling addition to the dwell grinder’s schedule.
“As a poker participant, you’re all the time on the lookout for additional incentives to encourage you. The lifetime of poker participant goes to be ups and downs, and it may be enjoyable to give attention to an even bigger aim, reasonably than simply the each day grind and all of the dwell journeys you go on.”
Get Prepared for the 2026 PokerStars Dwell League
The PokerStars Dwell League returns for 2026, this time providing the highest 30 finishers from every of the three tiers entry to a €100,000 freeroll event that shall be held in the course of the first EPT in 2027.
LowTop 30 FinishersEntry to €100,000 Freeroll
MediumTop 30 FinishersEntry to €100,000 Freeroll
HighTop 30 FinishersEntry to €100,000 Freeroll
“Chasing leaderboards and the Dwell League is such a enjoyable a part of poker as a result of particular person tournaments by no means actually mirror how good you might be. They extra so mirror your luck on the day.
“Clearly, you hope that you’re good at poker, so you’ve extra of these days, however a leaderboard makes you’re feeling like it’s one thing that is recognising a little bit of longevity.”
Lappin mentioned that PokerStars has all the time been an “huge” a part of his recreation, and is happy to maintain the connection going, whereas carrying the pink patch proudly on his chest.
“It’s the platform that I performed on to turn out to be knowledgeable poker participant. When you concentrate on websites from all these years in the past, PokerStars is the one one that’s nonetheless round!
“A month in the past, I couldn’t have pictured myself on this scenario. It’s a bit surreal; it’s been a rollercoaster, whirlwind month.”
Will Shillibier
Managing Editor
He graduated from the College of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He additionally holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports activities Journalism.
