When James Hartigan began working with PokerStars in Could 2005, he by no means imagined it might develop into his full‑time profession. “It was Could 2005 that I did my first ever poker commentary gig for PokerStars, the World Cup of Poker,” he recalled. “I assumed it was going to be a one‑off. I’d return to my job in radio. I used to be a journalist by commerce, and this was like a aspect hustle. I’d by no means executed TV earlier than…it simply appeared enjoyable. I by no means thought it might final.”
Quick ahead 20 years, and Hartigan has develop into the voice of the European Poker Tour. Since 2006 he has fronted the EPT TV broadcasts, bringing the joys of PokerStars’ flagship tour to thousands and thousands of followers worldwide. “I bear in mind watching season one and two of the EPT exhibits religiously on Eurosport and considering: wow, that is the very best poker content material Europe has ever had. Then a yr later, they requested me to take it over. That’s once I realized, okay, that is getting critical now.”
Two Many years and Nonetheless Recent
After 20 years, does it ever really feel repetitive? Hartigan admits there are acquainted rhythms — realizing how a Day 2 or Day 4 will play out — however he insists the sport by no means loses its potential to shock.
“One thing distinctive occurs each single yr,” he mentioned. “That’s one of many nice issues I like about poker. On paper, some conditions look equivalent — however the personalities make them play out utterly otherwise. Even equivalent poker arms don’t play the identical method. And so long as I can carry that enthusiasm, then it’s value doing. If I ever lose that keenness, it’s time to maneuver on, as a result of you’ll be able to’t faux it.”
Hartigan pointed to a unusual hand from the day earlier than at EPT Barcelona that underscored why poker by no means runs out of surprises.
“We had been approaching the bubble,” he mentioned, “and there was this hand on the river the place two gamers had gotten all of it in. Now, as is commonplace process near the bubble, the seller instructed them: hold the playing cards turned face down, please — we’ll look forward to the event director.
“However as a substitute of ready, the gamers sort of revealed their arms to one another. And the participant who was behind simply went, ‘Properly, I’m out,’ and walked off. He actually left the room realizing he’d misplaced.”
When the event director came visiting to the desk to make the formal name, he was met with a wierd sight. “They’re like: okay, let’s see the playing cards, after which — the place’s the participant in seat six? Properly, he knew he wasn’t going to win the hand, so he’s gone. So what we had on the stream was simply this shot of an empty chair,” Hartigan laughed. “And that vacant chair belonged to the man who was the final individual to go away the event with no cash.
“It’s such a ridiculous picture — that’s poker for you. Time and time once more, it finds methods to throw up these random, distinctive moments.”
Balancing Sport and Leisure
Hartigan says his philosophy has all the time been to current poker as leisure first, competitors second.
“After all there’s a hardcore poker viewers,” he defined. “These gamers need detailed hand breakdowns, blockers, solvers, all of that. However these individuals will watch anyway. My job is to make it partaking for the broader group of people that play the sport socially — those who play poker to unwind, as a pastime. That’s the broad church we need to attain.”
Meaning hanging a stability between evaluation and enjoyable. “Sure, we break down the important thing arms, however we additionally be certain that it’s entertaining over the course of a 4‑ or 5‑hour broadcast. If you’d like individuals to stay round that lengthy, you’ve bought to maintain them laughing too. That’s why the partnership with Joe Stapleton is so vital. He brings the humor, after which we have now execs like Maria Ho, Griffin Benger, or Jason Koon stepping in for deep evaluation. It’s about stability.”
Commentary Past the EPT: A Return to the WSOP
This summer season Hartigan discovered himself again in Las Vegas commentating on the WSOP for the primary time since 2010. “It was surprising,” he mentioned. “Nevertheless it felt a little bit like unfinished enterprise. Again in 2010, I used to be introduced in as a result of the WSOP was simply beginning to experiment with stay streaming, and I already had three years of EPT Dwell below my belt. That yr, I commentated six last tables, together with the November 9 received by Jonathan Duhamel. So to return again in 2025 felt like spherical two.”
The most important problem? Masking blended video games like PLO and the $50K Poker Gamers Championship. “They’re video games I’ve performed earlier than, so I do know the principles, however I needed to do some prep to verify I didn’t sound like an fool,” he mentioned with fun.
Whereas he loved the prospect to be a part of poker’s largest stage, Hartigan admitted he missed the EPT crew. “I’m vastly biased, however I believe we have now the very best poker manufacturing crew on this planet. Coming again to Barcelona and seeing our digicam angles and graphics once more — it felt like coming residence.”
A Partnership Constructed on Friendship
For greater than 15 years, Hartigan has shared the sales space with Joe Stapleton, forming one among poker broadcasting’s most beloved double acts. The chemistry, he insists, isn’t any accident.
“I actually imagine in any double act — you must be real pals, in any other case it received’t work lengthy‑time period,” he mentioned. “Joe and I first labored collectively again in 2010 on the NAPT. I assumed he was nice, a breath of recent air. When PokerStars pulled out of the U.S. market, I used to be one of many voices saying, let’s carry him to Europe, let’s carry him to the EPT. And I’m so glad we did.”
Their partnership has since develop into a cornerstone of PokerStars broadcasts. “We do spend time outdoors of labor,” Hartigan mentioned. “You possibly can’t faux that friendship, and I believe it comes throughout within the sales space. For me, it’s essential — in case you don’t like one another, the viewers will know.”
