The ClubWPT Stream Team came to life during the Covid era when Lynn Gilmartin, Matt Savage, Vince Van Patten, and Tony Dunst got together to stream ClubWPT events on Twitch. Other players from the ClubWPT player pool hopped in to view the streams and, just like that, the 'Stream Team Family' was born.
After Covid restraints eased up, the founding members found it harder to stream as often as they would like. Without hesitation, members from within the community stepped up to keep the streams alive and take the family to new heights. Now, the ClubWPT Stream Team has undergone a period of massive growth, including the introduction of a Discord channel that was established to streamline announcements and community engagement.
As Gilmartin sums it up, "The Stream Team holds a special place in my heart. During the pandemic, when we were all looking for ways to connect, we came together, bound by our love of poker. Since then, it's continued to grow into a special community of players."
PokerOrg reached out to two ClubWPT Stream Team members – Derek Vest and Brad Nessar – to hear directly from them about the existing community and how each of them found their way to it.
How did you become part of the ClubWPT Stream Team?
Derek Vest: My entry into the ClubWPT Stream Team felt like a serendipitous turn of events. While playing a ClubWPT tournament, I happened to be seated at Matt Savage’s table and found out he was actually streaming his play. I tuned into the stream and saw myself at the table. I mean, it’s Matt Savage and I’m playing against him and he is streaming it on Twitch – that's pretty cool.
Then, in late 2023, one of the streamers fell ill and I offered to step in for him while he recovered. It turned into a window to a new realm where my passion for poker could flourish alongside a vibrant community.
Brad Nessar: After Covid, I was talking with a friend about playing more, and he suggested that I practice by playing on ClubWPT. After playing there for about a month or two, a player I often played with suggested I join the Stream Team Family.
I watched the streamers and when we ran deep, they would have our table on the stream as their feature table. Everyone in the chat was always rooting for whoever was being featured and I truly thought the experience was amazing. I was hooked. I eventually started streaming for this community and it has truly been an incredible experience. The support from this community on and off the felt is truly special!
Can you tell us a bit about your own journey through poker?
DV: My relationship with poker has been a profound journey of reconciliation and rediscovery. Growing up in a gambling household, I witnessed first-hand the highs and lows that come with the territory. Gambling for my father covered three-cushion billiards, pocket billiards, golf, gin, backgammon; you name it. What I subsequently learned was that he played for high stakes. After seeing the negative impact it had on my family, specifically the online poker issues faced by my father, I distanced myself from the game for most of my adult life. Iin 2023, however, I made peace with my past and rekindled my interest in poker.
For me, the pivotal moment came when I was checking into the Encore for the WPT in December 2023. I ran into a group of ClubWPT members during check in and spontaneously joined a late-night tourney at Southpoint, which I won – my first live tourney. Then, I paid my entry into the Prime, made Day 2 and bagged chips in my first large tourney. And then I won a WPT Voyage package on ClubWPT. These experiences, coupled with the growth and learning fostered by the ClubWPT Stream Team and Discord community, have significantly shaped my poker aspirations.
BN: I grew up in SoCal and my favorite places to play were The Gardens and The Bicycle. I now live in Arizona and Talking Stick Casino has been a mainstay poker room for me through the years. I’ve been playing poker for 20+ years in casinos, 95% of which were cash games until a few years ago.
One thing that is unique about my poker stream, is that I often collaborate with DJs on the stream. I am working on bringing this type of experience to live poker where music and poker can coexist. Also people have often seen me wear lensless glasses. I wore them for several years and then one time I sat down at a table and Tiffany Michelle was sitting to my right. Tiffany was the first person I gave a pair out to on the table and other players at the table wanted a pair as well. Even the dealer asked for a pair!
Since then, when I play live, I bring hundreds of pairs and give them out to whoever wants a pair and even to players that I’m playing with. It’s a way for me to have fun while I play, and I feel it has inadvertently impacted how I play on the felt as well.
What's the community like within the Discord channel?
DV: The ClubWPT Discord community is akin to a diverse, welcoming family brimming with individuals passionate about poker. The range of members' backgrounds – in terms of education, professions, and personal stories –creates a rich tapestry of experiences. It's a space where open, meaningful discussions about poker strategies, sharing of personal victories, and mutual support thrive.
BN: It’s definitely a mixed crowd. We have men, women, and even couples that are part of the community with an age range from approximately 25 years old to 80+. We all have various poker background experiences that range just as wide as well. There are plenty that have experience in the live arena and others that are new to that scene. The community is very supportive of each other. The rail when anyone makes a deep run live or online is remarkable!
What's your favorite part of the ClubWPT Stream Team Family?
DV: Without a doubt, the camaraderie and friendships I've forged are the highlights of my experience with the ClubWPT Stream Team. It's a bond that transcends the virtual environment, as some of us have had the privilege to meet in person during live events like the WPT in December at the Wynn and the Voyage. These gatherings underscore the genuine connections we've established, turning colleagues and online friends into real-life friends.
BN: The family and community factor is incredible. Many of the members have met with each other live at WPT events and other private meetups that were planned separately as a community. I have certainly made some lifelong friends.
Life happens to all of us, because bad beats don’t just happen to us on the felt, they happen off the felt as well. The community always finds ways to support each other no matter what. It truly is like a family in my opinion.
What are the benefits of joining the Discord channel?
DV: The opportunity to immerse oneself in a nurturing poker community. It's a platform for growth, where members can exchange knowledge, strategies, and personal experiences, thereby elevating their game.
That said, it’s not built on an academic level of study, it's far more an organic social gathering of serious players. The chance to build lasting friendships with people from diverse walks of life adds a rich, social dimension to the poker-playing experience. Additionally, the virtual railing of players during streams and the inspirational stories shared within our community can be incredibly motivating. It's more than just a channel; it's a gateway to becoming part of a family that shares a love for poker and a dedication to each other's success.
With its subscription model, ClubWPT has unlocked completely legal real-money online poker for millions of players who otherwise would struggle to find a game. It’s currently available online and as a standalone mobile app in the UK, Australia, France and Canada, as well as in 43 US states. A full list of eligible states and territories, as well as Terms & Conditions, can be found at the WPT site.
Images courtesy of the WPT
