Denise Pratt Confronts Poker Debtor Maurice Hawkins at Payout Desk | PokerNews Podcast #889
Release Date: 05/01/2025
Emergency Show After Collusion Controversy in 2025 WSOP Millionaire Maker
PokerNews Podcast
In the 902nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz do an emergency show to discuss the industry-shaking collusion controversy that stemmed from the heads-up match between Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll in the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Millionaire Maker. Not only were seven-figure prizes up for grabs, but there was also a $1,000,000 bonus if Yaginuma were to win thanks to an outside promotion. That fact made a big impact on what allegedly went down. Find out what happened, what fans and players are saying, and whether or not ClubWPT Gold will award the...
info_outline
Cheating Scandal Rocks Texas Poker Room & Man Wins Ladies Event Satellite
PokerNews Podcast
In the 901st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Kyna England are joined by PokerStars commentator James Hartigan at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas to talk about the latest poker stories including a cheating scandal at the JokerStars poker room in Texas, the same room that former NFL star Adrian Peterson recently got into a fistfight. They also discuss Albert Ng and his continued firing in ladies event satellites, nasty comments from a recent article recognizing Pride Month, and recent winners from the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) including Dylan Linde, Matthew Wantman,...
info_outline
NFL Star Adrian Peterson's Fist Fight in Texas Poker Room; PokerNews Celebrates 900 Episodes!
PokerNews Podcast
It's the milestone 900th episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Mike Holtz are at Level 9 Studio in Las Vegas, where they break down the recent viral video fist fight from a Texas poker room involving former NFL running back Adrian Peterson, highlight the upcoming Ladies Week, and discuss whether or not Daniel Negreanu is having a "good" summer at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP). Speaking of the WSOP, Phil Hellmuth got a political shoutout from Senator Ted Cruz, our fans showed their support for Martin Kabrhel in the comments of last week's episode, and a new...
info_outline
The Martin Kabhrel WSOP 2025 Situation is Crazy; Guest PokerStars Team Pro Maria Konnikova
PokerNews Podcast
In the 899th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Mike Holtz are joined by PokerStars Team Pro Maria Konnikova at Level 9 Studio to offer their thoughts on the most polarizing player at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Martin Kabrhel. Do you love him? Hate him? Is he either good or bad for poker? What sort of antics has he been up to? What poker player called him a p***y? Find out as the hosts don't shy away from sharing their thoughts on the boisterous high roller. Konnikova then talks about her upcoming book, hosting the Risky Business Podcast alongside...
info_outline
Doug Polk Kills Tony Stand-Up Comedy; Michael Kaplan’s Final Stu Ungar Story
PokerNews Podcast
In the 898th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Mike Holtz are back at Level 9 Studio to offer their thoughts on Doug Polk's recent appearance on Kill Tony, the popular Austin-based stand-up comedy program. How did Doug do in front of Tony Hinchcliffe and company? Let's just say you might be surprised. Mike, who made a recent appearance in Daniel Negreanu's vlog, then sounds off on the cancelled WSOP Online bracelet event, the crew discusses the recently-announced changes to the WSOP Circuit, Chad goes to the world's largest casino collectibles show, and Matt...
info_outline
Shooting Across Street from WSOP, Color Up Controversy & Event Cancelled
PokerNews Podcast
In the 897th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Kyna England are joined by PokerNews Ontario Ambassador Kyle Anderson, who fills in for Mike Holtz. The trio discusses the deadly shooting that took place across the street from the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in front of the Bellagio Fountains, and then dives into the color-up controversy involving Tyler Brown, who shared his story with PokerNews. Kyna then sounds off on the cancelled WSOP Online bracelet event, Michael Lavin won a gold bracelet and an extra $1,000,000 thanks to ClubWPT Gold, and Benny Glaser claimed two...
info_outline
WSOP Cash Games EXPOSED!
PokerNews Podcast
In the 896th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway takes it to the STREETS! The WSOP Cash Game streets that is! Watch a series of interviews with Daniel Negreanu, Phil Galfond, Norman Chad, and regular podcast sidekick Mike Holtz. Time Stamps: Introduction The WSOP spreads everything you want Mike and the wild stripper at 2/5 Norman Chad remembers Puggy Pearson Daniel Negreanu calls out Alan Keating Phil Galfond in Ivey's Room A wild chip runner story in the Rio
info_outline
WILD Billionaire WSOP Stories: Ultra-Rich Poker Players Revealed
PokerNews Podcast
In the 895th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, is joined by and four-time bracelet winner to dive into the world of the ultra-rich at the . Which billionaires have participated in the WSOP over the years? How much money has the WSOP actually awarded? And who are the wealthiest players at the tables today? After introducing the topics, Chad, Mike, and Jeff take a deep dive into WSOP statistics to determine just how many billions the World Series of Poker has awarded to players over the last five decades. They also take a closer look at some of the most...
info_outline
2025 WSOP Fantasy Draft with Joey Ingram & Christina Gollins
PokerNews Podcast
In the 894th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, , is joined by , , and to draft their favorite teams for the . Each of the four hosts can pick seven players and one alternate player who will score points throughout the 2025 WSOP. The hosts need to follow several rules, such as drafting at least one female poker player, and one poker vlogger/creator, as well as adding an alternate that they can swap in for any of their seven players. The rules of this draft are simple: WSOP Fantasy Draft Scoring Achievement Points Cashing an event 1 point ...
info_outline
Poker Players Who've Murdered Their Parents + Jeff Madsen's 40th Birthday
PokerNews Podcast
In the 893rd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England celebrate Jeff Madsen's 40th birthday before talking about two poker players who murdered their parents. Recently in Texas, Benjamin Frakes, 39, was taken into custody at Doghouse Poker Club in Cypress, a town 25 miles northwest of Downtown Houston. He was charged with capital murder for allegedly shooting his parents. The tragic situation was reminiscent of poker player Ernie Scherer, who was convicted in 2011 of killing his parents in an elaborate plot to collect an inheritance. It's a true crime story...
info_outlineIn the 889th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and [Kyna England talk about the recent drama involving, you guessed it, Maurice Hawkins and Denise Pratt. The latter claims to be owed $11,200 after backing the former, and things boiled over when she confronted him at the payout desk at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica stop.
What's more, the crew reacts to an interview Hawkins gave on his own podcast, him agreeing to come on the PokerNews Podcast before not responding, and then goes one-on-one with Denise Pratt to hear her side of the story.
Mike then shares his experience as the last guest on the final episode of the Only Friends Podcast (they were kind enough to gift a piece of their set to the PokerNews Podcast set), Kyna joins Team Hotdog at the LIPS Spring Festival, and Chad headed up to the NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Oh, and Connor was busy at PokerGO Studio interviewing Jennifer Tilly, Mike Matusow, and comedian Ray Romano during the One Step Closer Foundation's "All in for CP" charity event.
Other stories include Pennsylvania online poker joining the MSIGA merged player pool, Mori Eskandani interviewing PA Governor Josh Shapiro, and Robbie Strazynski & others voicing concern over YouTube's algorithm crackdown on poker content. Check out all those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!
The podcast is sponsored by the #1 free-to-play WSOP app. Remember to use the bonus code "POKERNEWS" if you download and play for an extra 1,000,000 in chips!
A new PokerNews Podcast will drop weekly every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Time Stamps
*Time | Topic*
00:15 | Welcome Kyna England & Mike Holtz
01:00 | Maurice Hawkins does a podcast defending himself
06:25 | Maurice wins 19th WSOP Circuit gold ring
07:29 | Denise Pratt confronts Maurice Hawkins in Tunica
09:05 | Was it backing or buying action?
12:05 | Maurice invited to appear on PokerNews Podcast
14:35 | Interview w/ Denise Pratt
25:28 | Sponsor – WPT Global
26:15 | OnlyFriends ends after 719 episodes – Mike the final guest
27:54 | Adding a part of the OnlyFriends set to the PokerNews Podcast set
28:549 | Kyna heads to LIPS Spring Festival at South Point
30:43 | Video – Highlights from the Ladies Tag Team Event
31:44 | Chad attends Round 1 of the NFL Draft in Green Bay
33:00 | Video – Highlights from the “All in for CP” charity event
35:15 | Sponsor – WSOP Free-to-Play App
35:47 | Pennsylvania finally joins MSIGA
37:07 | WSOP releases online bracelet schedule
38:12 | PokerGO scores interview with PA Governor Josh Shapiro
39:37 | Recent Tournament Winners Presented by WPT Global
41:37 | Poker content under fire from YouTube algorithm
42:19 | CardPlayer Lifestyle’s Robbie Strazynski speaks out
47:37 | Mixed Game Festival XI coming to Bellagio June 8-19
48:25 | Kyna headed to MSPT in San Diego