Joe Stapleton Joins WSOP Commentary Team: What to Expect

Joe Stapleton, a veteran poker broadcaster known as ‘Stapes,’ has joined the World Series of Poker (WSOP) commentary team. The WSOP announced the signing on May 13, 2026, following Stapleton's final broadcast from the European Poker Tour Monte Carlo on May 10, 2026. Stapleton had been a commentator for PokerStars for 15 years before joining the WSOP.

Stapleton will be working alongside Jeff Platt, another commentator for the WSOP. Platt expressed his excitement about working with Stapleton, stating, “Pumped to work with somebody who is going to add so much to our team.” Stapleton, however, is still unsure about his exact role in the upcoming WSOP coverage.

The WSOP plans to have daily coverage in 2026, including a renewed partnership with ESPN. The main event final table will be set on July 13, 2026, with the final nine players returning on August 3, 2026, to compete for the championship bracelet. This format is a return to the delayed format used during the November Nine era (2008-16), but with a shorter break in play.