PokerStars Unveils David Lappin as Ambassador Following Live League Success
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David Lappin has officially joined the ranks of PokerStars as its newest ambassador, securing the coveted Red Spade after a successful audition through the PokerStars Live League.
“I’ve always believed ambassadors should represent the players, not just a brand,” said Lappin in a statement. “I’m incredibly grateful to the Live League and the pathway it has given to become a PokerStars Ambassador.”
Lappin is set to become an "engaging and accessible voice" for the poker community, representing the brand at flagship events like the European Poker Tour and PokerStars Open stops throughout 2026.
Ambassadorship Caps ”Whirlwind” Month for Lappin
The announcement comes a month after Lappin, along with Dara O’Kearney, parted ways with WPT Global following their decision to appoint Ren Lin as ambassador.
"There was a lot of love and respect for doing what we did, knowing it could hurt us. "
“For PokerStars to recognize my independent voice and all that comes with it, and that’s someone they want to take a chance on feels really heartening.”
Lappin said he worried that despite his principled stance, other sites might have a dim view of the decision.
“I thought we’d basically burnt our bridge with anyone else,” he explained. “You worry that other people might not think it’s necessarily a good quality in an ambassador that they might leave!
“There was a lot of love and respect for doing what we did, knowing it could hurt us. But it's actually ended up being a really positive thing, and a way to open a new door with a brand that I didn't expect to be with.
Praise for the PokerStars Live League
In recent years, Lappin says that PokerStars has accounted for around half of all his live events, and Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars welcomed the news.
“David combines deep roots in the live poker scene with a respected voice that players listen to,” said Billot. “That balance of experience and authenticity makes him a natural fit for representing PokerStars.”
Lappin finished in the top ten of last year's PokerStars Live League, with the top ten across the Low, Medium and High tiers able to submit audition tapes to become Ambassador, with Lappin ultimately coming out on top. Lappin says that the addition of the Live League was an exciting addition to the live grinder’s schedule.
“As a poker player, you’re always looking for extra incentives to motivate you. The life of poker player is going to be ups and downs, and it can be fun to focus on a bigger goal, rather than just the daily grind and all the live trips you go on.”
Get Ready for the 2026 PokerStars Live League
The PokerStars Live League returns for 2026, this time offering the top 30 finishers from each of the three tiers entry to a €100,000 freeroll tournament that will be held during the first EPT in 2027.
| Tier | Qualification Criteria | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Top 30 Finishers | Entry to €100,000 Freeroll |
| Medium | Top 30 Finishers | Entry to €100,000 Freeroll |
| High | Top 30 Finishers | Entry to €100,000 Freeroll |
“Chasing leaderboards and the Live League is such a fun part of poker because individual tournaments never really reflect how good you are. They more so reflect your luck on the day.
“Obviously, you hope that you are good at poker, so you have more of those days, but a leaderboard makes you feel like it is something that's recognising a bit of longevity.”
Lappin said that PokerStars has always been an “enormous” part of his game, and is excited to keep the relationship going, while wearing the red patch proudly on his chest.
“It’s the platform that I played on to become a professional poker player. When you think about sites from all those years ago, PokerStars is the only one that is still around!
“A month ago, I could not have pictured myself in this situation. It’s a little surreal; it’s been a rollercoaster, whirlwind month.”
