Joey Ingram Talks WPTWC, Pursuit of Being a Hold'em God, and Big Plans for 2025

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Dec 16, 2024 4 min read

The World Poker Tour World Championship has swiftly cemented its place as one of the most prestigious events on the poker calendar in just three short years. Hosted at the Wynn Las Vegas, the atmosphere has nothing short of electric, with the likes of the WPT Prime Championship continuing to build its reputation as the Super Bowl of mid-stakes poker along with the historic ClubWPT Gold $5M Freeroll Invitational.

This has all made it a fitting stage for Joey Ingram to make his mark.

Known affectionately as "PapiGTO," Ingram has built a devoted following through his charasmatic personality and unwavering dedication to the poker community. This year, fans of the content creator are in for a treat as he steps into the spotlight at the WPT World Championships, ready to compete, connect, and entertain.

"This is basically one of the big $10Ks I play every single year, and I’m excited," he shared. "I’ve been visualizing, meditating, working with solvers—you know, solvers, meditation, and reading Twitter. Everyone always has nice things to say on Twitter."

Though Ingram is primarily known for his skills in Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), his decision to play the WPT World Championship is more than a competitive pursuit. "I’m a big supporter of the World Poker Tour. I love these guys, and I love the Wynn. It’s one of my favorite casinos in the world. So, it’s pretty much a perfect event for me to be a part of, to help support, and to play."

Partnering with GTO Wizard

This year, Ingram also embraced a new chapter in his career through a partnership with GTO Wizard.

"Wizard? I love them. They’re great," he said. "I’ve got the best coaches now. I’ve probably played thousands of hours using the Wizard, and it’s helping me a lot. I’m getting better, grinding, studying, and just working with my coaches to keep improving."

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A New Perspective on Hold'em

Ingram’s journey has long been tied to PLO, but this year, he’s made strides in transitioning to No-Limit Hold'em. While the adjustment hasn’t been seamless, he sees it as a valuable challenge. "I started seeing all these high-stakes cash games with people who didn’t know how to play Hold'em. They’d have $10K, $20K, and I’d meet celebrities who wanted to play. But I realized I had to learn Hold'em because they didn’t know how to play," he admitted.

Despite his affection for the dynamic nature of PLO, Ingram has found a growing appreciation for the nuances of Hold'em. "PLO is just way more fun. You can play a lot of hands, call every three-bet, every four-bet. In Hold'em, it depends on the table and the person. Some of these people aren’t making big mistakes, so you’ll get punished if you’re not careful," he explained. "But I’m embracing it. I’m taking on the challenge to become a god of two cards."

2025 Looking to Be a Year of Reinvention

While 2024 has been quieter on the content side, Ingram has been laying the groundwork for a massive comeback. "I’ve been grinding behind the scenes, working on my skills, my knowledge, and my business. In 2025, I’ve got a deal with the Venetian. They’ve got a stream coming, and I’ll be helping them build it, hosting my events there and at other locations soon to be announced."

His plans don’t stop there. "My show is coming back in 2025, and it’s going to look all different—it’s going to be sick. I’m working with partners, casinos, and creators to try new things and push boundaries."

A Star-Studded Return

When asked about potential guests for his revamped show, Ingram hinted at an impressive lineup. "Anyone you can imagine is a potential guest—top players, people who run the companies, the real people behind Vegas and poker. It’s going to be a mix: up-and-coming players, some of my regulars, and the usual suspects like Doug Polk, the GOAT," he teased.

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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