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Jared Bleznick, the sports card entrepreneur and 2024 WSOP bracelet winner, has responded to criticism of his commentary style during this year’s WSOP livestreams. Speaking on the Late Reg podcast with Brian Rast and Phil Laak, Bleznick argued that his blunt, high-energy approach does more to attract casual fans than traditional hand-focused commentary.
Bleznick drew backlash over the summer after remarks he made during the $250,000 Super High Roller, when the broadcast cut away to the Seniors High Roller event. Visibly annoyed, he told co-commentator Ali Nejad he didn’t want to watch “a Seniors Event” while a $4 million pot was being played out three-handed elsewhere.
That comment, along with his generally outspoken and frequent interjections, upset some fans who felt he was disrespecting other tournaments and players. On the podcast, Bleznick pushed back, insisting that most poker commentary today is “horrible” because it focuses too heavily on analyzing hands rather than entertaining viewers.
He singled out Nick Schulman, widely regarded as one of the sport’s top commentators, arguing that while Schulman’s game knowledge appeals to poker players, it fails to engage newcomers. According to Bleznick, viewers already following events like the WSOP Main Event or High Stakes Poker are already committed fans, meaning commentary should instead target potential new players.
Bleznick admitted his vocabulary and delivery aren’t polished, but claimed that his willingness to be provocative—even joking about events like the Seniors or Ladies tournaments—helps introduce amateurs to the game in a way technical analysis cannot.
Despite his comments, poker broadcasting already features a range of styles, from the entertainment-driven approach of ESPN’s Norman Chad and Lon McEachern to the analytical commentary of Schulman and Rast.
