WPT World has drawn equal elements criticism and mockery for its selection of admitted poker cheat Tony ‘Ren’ Lin as its newest ambassador.
On Monday (January 12), WPT World introduced that Tony ‘Ren’ Lin had been appointed, writing on X: “Tony ‘Ren’ Lin joins WPT World as our latest Ambassador! One of the achieved gamers on the worldwide dwell circuit, Tony brings over $16 million in dwell earnings and years of success on poker’s greatest phases.”
NEW AMBASSADOR
Tony ‘Ren’ Lin joins WPT World as our latest Ambassador!
One of the achieved gamers on the worldwide dwell circuit, Tony brings over $16 million in dwell earnings and years of success on poker’s greatest phases.
Welcome, Tony!
pic.twitter.com/QvD13HDKjL
— WPT World (@wpt_global) January 12, 2026
Nevertheless, the choice has been met with criticism on social media, as Lin has beforehand admitted to dishonest, serving a suspension from poker within the second half of 2025. Lin was disqualified from the World Collection of Poker Tremendous Circuit Principal Occasion in Cyprus final 12 months for utilizing prohibited real-time assistance (RTA), ensuing within the participant being “indefinitely suspended” from each GGPoker and WSOP occasions in consequence.
Different World Poker Tour manufacturers, together with the dad or mum model, have distanced themselves from WPT World within the wake of the announcement. ClubWPT Gold posted an image of controversial alleged poker scammer Maurice Hawkins on X, joking that it had signed him as an envoy too.
And whereas we’re at it… pic.twitter.com/TTDDQfbZjP
— ClubWPT Gold (@ClubWPTGold) January 12, 2026
The World Poker Tour took to X in a now-deleted put up to say: “WPT World is a licensee of the World Poker Tour. We don’t formally endorse any of their ambassadors.”
WPT World doubles down
WPT World has doubled down on its selection of ambassador since then, writing in a now-deleted X put up: “We’re thorough when reviewing each ambassador we work with, together with Tony Lin, and we’ve got full confidence in his integrity and requirements. We choose ambassadors based mostly on confirmed efficiency and outcomes, not follower counts.
“Gamers like @TheBradOwen & @rampagepoker are nice at farming vlog watchers, however are they nice poker gamers? Whereas others could prioritise ‘affect. We stand aside.”
— WPT World (@wpt_global) January 12, 2026
In a second, longer statement also shared to X, WPT World not directly acknowledged the dishonest scandal, writing: “WPT World stays devoted to sustaining the best requirements of integrity, safety, and equity in on-line poker. Our determination to collaborate with Tony is rooted in our perception in second possibilities and our give attention to the longer term.”
Featured picture: WPT Global
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