Jared Bleznick ruffled some feathers this summer with some controversial comments he made while commentating on the WSOP livestreams. But the outspoken high-stakes crusher defended his style behind the mic and why it’s good for the game.
The sports card industry entrepreneur, on the Late Reg podcast with Brian Rast and Phil Laak, said his way of announcing poker brings in more “amateurs” than those in the broadcast booth who focus heavily on analyzing hands.
Bleznick was a topic of conversation among poker fans this past summer, but not for his performance on the felt as he only played a few events with no cashes. He instead struck up a controversy over his poker commentary.
Bleznick Says Livestreams are About ‘Entertainment’ and Not the Poker
The 2024 WSOP bracelet winner became irritated during the $250,000 Super High Roller when the broadcast shifted to the Seniors High Roller event. He turned to his fellow commentator Ali Nejad and said, “Ali, I can’t take this… I’m not watching a Seniors Event when we’re three-handed for $4 million dollars. Get me out of the Seniors Event, Ali, get me out of here folks!”
It wasn’t just that one comment that triggered some angry fans who felt he disrespected the Seniors Event. He often likes to say what’s on his mind during a livestream and talks more frequently — and loudly — than certain poker players prefer. But he defended his style of commentating.
“Poker commentary is horrible, okay?” Bleznick said on the Late Reg podcast.
Bleznick expounded on his claim, stating that “the problem with poker commentary is that everyone that’s doing it is all focused on the poker. They’re all doing it wrong — every one of them. It’s not about the poker. It’s about the entertainment of what you’re watching.”
Blez Talks Schulman’s Commentary
The trio of poker stars agreed that Nick Schulman, a Poker Hall of Famer for his poker and commentating skills, is the best in the business. But Bleznick claims that even polished announcers such as Schulman don’t bring “amateur” players into the game.
“All these guys, Nick Schulman’s the best commentator, you know who’s saying that? Poker players,” Bleznick said. “So, my point is, to poker players, Nick Schulman is the best. Now, I love Nick, I don’t want to be disrespectful … but what makes Nick great is that he’s one of the best players in the world and he’s a good speaker, and he knows what he’s talking about. But you’re not going to watch Nick and be like, ‘holy f**k, I was so entertained.”
The point Bleznick was making is that most poker commentators these days are lazer focused on providing hand analysis, which “Blez” claims turns off the casual or amateur poker audience who don’t understand the game beyond a beginner level.
“What people need to understand is this, is that everyone that’s watching the WSOP Main Event, everyone that’s watching (High Stakes Poker), you’ve already captured all the poker players. It doesn’t matter who is commentating, they’re already watching.”
Bleznick says that to bring in the new blood and non-poker players, Schulman is “not good” because he “talks on too high of a level.”
So, when he’s talking about ranges and spots, an amateur player has no idea what the hell they’re talking about. — Bleznick on Schulman.
Bleznick then praised his own commentary and suggested his style brings people into the game. He argues that the way to bring in the “amateur player that doesn’t know poker” is by doing what he does.
“It’s not about the poker. It’s about entertainment and getting people engaged. That’s what I do,” Bleznick said. “Ali and Nick, they’re incredible, they’re the best — for poker players.”
Bleznick admitted that he has “one of the worst vocabularies in the world” and that he’s “not good with words.”
“So, if you put me in a room to commentate on a regular level, I would be horrible. But if you put me, no holds barred, throw me out there, s**t on the Seniors Event, talk about the Ladies Event, my point is this … I would bring in more new people into poker, whereas Nick and Ali, you know what they’re doing, they’re keeping the poker in it,” Bleznick claims.
Although Bleznick may not agree, poker has a mix of commentators who fit into both the poker analysis and entertainment categories. Norman Chad and Lon McEachern, ESPN announcers who’ve been commentating on the WSOP since 2003, don’t break down hands from a game theory optimal (GTO) standpoint. But the poker community also has plenty of more analytical announcers, including Schulman and the Late Reg co-host, Rast, who has been part of the Triton Poker livestreams many times.
Jared Bleznick Sparks Debate With Criticism of Seniors Event on WSOP Stream