334. PokerStars Open Campione update with Luca Pagano, plus Fintan Hand

With the guys on the road for the next four weeks, there's a lot to get to in this episode. James and Joe talk about playing a £1k tournament at The Hippodrome and hosting the 'Big Game on Tour Uncut' streams, and recap this year's #SundayMillionAnniversary. There's also a lot of events to preview, including the Irish Open and the first European Poker Tour stop of 2025: the PokerStars EPT Presented by Monte-Carlo Casino. Plus, there's a PokerStars Open in Philadelphia later this month. Arlie Shaban will be there, so Ontario's finest makes a guest appearance on the show to discuss what's in store for players in Philly. Arlie also passes judgement on a couple of hands James butchered in the Sunday Million Anniversary in 'Hand of the Century of the Day'. Finally, Matt Mallams from Hawaii competes for merch in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. #PITE returns on May 15th. In the meantime, please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to [email protected]

James and Joe are in an actual studio, as they prepare for 'Big Game on Tour Uncut'. On Friday and Saturday (April 4th and 5th), they're streaming all 150 hands from the first session of 'BGOT' Season 1, ahead of the Season 2 premiere later this spring. The enigmatic Alan Keating - one of the stars of both seasons - will be making a guest appearance on the stream and joins the guys on the podcast to discuss what 'Big Game' fans can expect to see this weekend. He also reveals how his rivalry with Lex Veldhuis develops in the next series of TV shows. Plus, Alan reacts to a hand that Joe played on PokerGo in 'Hand of the Century of the Day'. Then, it's the return of the Poker in the Ears Book Club, as James and Joe delve into the poker-themed spy thriller 'Blood Game' and talk to the novel's author Jeffe Boats. Daniel Posey from the USA has also read the book, because it's the topic of 'Superfan vs Stapes' this week. Please follow/subscribe to the show and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to [email protected]

Sam Grafton joins James and Joe for a special announcement (which will be of particular interest to fans of 'The Big Game'). And then, poker boot camp is in session! Ahead of the Sunday Million Anniversary - which James is planning to play - the guys hear from actor and poker player Beth Hall and her coach Faraz Jaka. How has Faraz helped Beth's game and what advice and tips is he able to share? James, Joe and Beth also talk about the celebrity charity poker event they attended at the weekend, which provides a 'Hand of the Century of the Day' for Faraz to analyse. Finally, former Superfan Dan Baron is back on the show to compete for tournament tickets in the second half of James's stupidly tough poker quiz. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to [email protected] and sign up for the free Jaka Poker Strategy Newsletter at farazjaka.com

After recapping the first ever PokerStars Open, and their two-day live stream covering the Campione Main Event, James and Joe meet some of the poker stars of the future. They speak to three influencers making their mark in the community as content creators: Alexandra Loveless, Josh Kasen and Seth Moeller. As well as talking about their respective backgrounds, approaches to content production and personal ambitions, the trio are forced to participate in an unusual edition of 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Plus, 'Sethy Poker' has a tough spot for his peers to discuss and debate in 'Hand of the Century of the Day'. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to [email protected]

The first ever PokerStars Open is underway in Campione. James and Joe check in with their man on the ground, EPT legend Luca Pagano, ahead of this weekend's live streams (March 15th and 16th on the PokerStars Twitch and YouTube channels). The guys also recap their four nights in Las Vegas celebrating James's 50th birthday, and Joe talks about his success on 'No Gamble No Future', playing $25/$25 cash against Phil Hellmuth and Jennifer Tilly. In Fintan Hand's 'Hands of the Century of the Day', 'easywithaces' provides his feedback on a couple of Joe's key hands from the session. Finally, Gonzalo Araujo from Argentina competes for a Bronze Power Pass in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and join the #PITE community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to [email protected]

Welcome to the #PITE Post Oscars Party! Yes, the Academy Awards are in the books. And Caitlin is back. So, time for James, Joe, Ms Comeskey and their special guest - Global Poker Award winning photographer Danny Maxwell - to discuss the top films of recent months, including this year's Best Picture winner. Plus, they break down the Mike Matusow documentary on Amazon Prime. There's also poker news, with the headline story being the "accidental” elimination of a player at the hands of Maurice Hawkins. In 'Hand of the Century of the Day', Caitlin questions the actions of podcast listener Sam Pye. Finally, Kenoi Makanani from Texas is quizzed on 'Billy Madison' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please follow/subscribe to the show and join our community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications and hand histories to [email protected]

And the winner is… James and Joe run through some of the key names who scooped Global Poker Awards in Vegas at the weekend. Hear from some of the winners and a few highlights from the show (courtesy of PokerGo). Plus, the guys talk to GPI Female Player of the Year Cherish Andrews. They also check in with PokerOrg's Chris Land to find out what happened during the WSOPC at Harrah's Cherokee. And Clint Harrell from Las Vegas picks superhero alter egos as his specialist subject in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join the podcast community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to [email protected]

There's less than a month to go before a new series of European live events begins in Campione. So, what do poker players make of the PokerStars Open? What are their thoughts on the PokerStars Live League? Two circuit regulars - David Docherty and David Lappin - share their honest opinions, while Cedric Billot, Associate Director, PokerStars Live Events explains the ethos behind the new series and why the regional tours are no more. There's also discussion of this year's WSOP schedule, Phil Hellmuth's shock announcement and Joe's roasting at the Charity Series of Poker Awards. Plus, James has been mixing it up in the online streets, so asks the Davids to analyse one of his more unorthodox hands from an $11 tournament. Finally, Rob Fulfer from Tennessee answers questions about 'Good Morning, Vietnam' in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join the podcast community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to [email protected]

James and Joe are joined by guest co-host Caitlin Comeskey: multi-award nominated content creator and up-and-coming streamer. There's a summary of the week's poker news headlines, including the death of 'Miami' John Cernuto, the announcement of the new PokerStars Live League and an update on the Irish Open, as event owner Paul O'Reilly reveals what players can expect from this year's festival. The tables are turned in 'Hand of the Century of the Day', with the boys attempting to analyse Caitlin's play on PokerStars New Jersey. And Nicoletta Madden competes for a Bronze #PowerPass in 'Superfan vs Stapes'. Her specialist subject? The 1978 horror movie 'Halloween'. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join the podcast community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to [email protected]

Meet Jason Koon. He's a high stakes crusher with $60m in live earnings and one of the newest members of Team PokerStars Pro. In an extended interview, Jason talks to James and Joe about his start in poker and his journey towards playing the biggest buy-in tournaments in the world. Plus, he gives his take on AI and RTA software and the controversy surrounding Nacho Barbero's social media "goof.” Jason also provides analysis of a hand played/butchered by Joe at RunGood Tulsa in 'Hand of the Century of the Day'. And, as if all that wasn't enough, Jason Koon happens to be the subject of this week's Superfan quiz, with Ashok Sharma from the UK trying to win a Bronze #PowerPass. Please follow/subscribe to #PITE and join the podcast community on Discord (psta.rs/Discord). Send your Superfan applications to [email protected]