PokerGo has hired professional poker player Nick Schulman as the new commentator for High Stakes Poker, replacing the legendary Gabe Kaplan, who retired from the show last week.
“To join the show that started it all and replace the best to ever do it is a tremendous honor,” said Schulman in Tuesday’s press release. “Thank you to Gabe for having his blessing, see you soon.”
Schulman is extraordinarily accomplished on the felt, with over $15 million in live tournament winnings, a World Poker Tour title, and three World Series of Poker bracelets before the age of 40, but he has become one of the industry’s most respected on-air poker commentators over the last several years.
He is arguably best known to the general poker public for his time behind the mic at WSOP Main Event final tables, but he has a lengthy broadcasting resume in just the past decade. In addition to the WSOP, has contribute to loads of PokerGO streams like High Stakes Duel, PokerGO Cup, Poker Masters, the Super High Roller Bowl, and the U.S. Poker Open.
“Nick represents the modern era of poker as one of the most knowledgeable, dignified minds in the game, and we are thrilled to welcome him to High Stakes Poker,” said PokerGO president Mori Eskandani. “When Nick first started working with PokerGO, it quickly became apparent that he had a bright future on this side of the felt. Nick’s fresh, insightful perspective has added immense value to PokerGO over the years, and we believe he is the perfect fit to carry on the legacy of poker’s most iconic cash-game show.”
Schulman will be paired with A.J. Benza, with whom he worked on his first PokerGO broadcast in 2015. Of course, nobody is truly going to be able to replace the inimitable Gabe Kaplan, whose cutting humor played a large role in High Stakes Poker’s popularity.
Schulman doesn’t quite have the comedy chops that Kaplan does (not many do), but he has certainly shown a dry wit in his other broadcasting work that should serve him well in his new gig. Most importantly for the show, though, Schulman is one of the most knowledgeable players/commentators around and has done a great job discussing the action with his broadcasting partners and explaining things to the audience.
High Stakes Poker is in its tenth season. Unlike the “old days” when it was on television, the show is only available on the subscription PokerGO streaming service.
