Ryan Feldman is one of the most popular poker personalities. He is a renowned poker player, producer and game runner who co-owns Hustler Casino Live, a widely watched live poker game show on YouTube. Feldman recently appeared on 888poker Ride with Dave Tuchman, where he discussed his journey from being a sports researcher at ESPN to becoming a prominent figure in the poker world and a poker producer.
This interview was recorded before the Nick Vertucci allegations, so there was no mention of that controversy. Below are some highlights from the latest episode.
Ryan Feldman’s Journey as a Sports Researcher
Dave Tuchman immediately asked Ryan Feldman about his early life, and Feldman eagerly shared his story.
Feldman was a hardcore basketball fan and aspired to become an NBA star, but that dream didn’t materialize. Instead, he chose to stay close to the sport by becoming a researcher for ESPN in Connecticut, where he reported on high school basketball tournaments.
While working for ESPN, Feldman learned of an open position on NBA Countdown in Los Angeles. As a passionate NBA fan, Feldman quickly took the job and moved to LA, marking the beginning of a new chapter.
Ryan Feldman’s Poker Journey
In addition to his work in Connecticut, Feldman told Tuchman that he played poker at Foxwoods Resort Casino. However, unlike other players, he wasn’t initially very good at the game. “I was a terrible player back then,” Feldman admitted. “Players actually studied the game, and I didn’t do any of that for years. I kept losing money.” Things changed when he started learning more about the game and improving his skills.
Feldman began befriending poker pros at the table, gaining insights into strategy and how to play better. One of those pros was three-time World Poker Tour champion and bracelet winner Brian Altman, who helped Feldman refine his game.
While living and playing poker in LA, Feldman started to feel envious of his poker friends’ lifestyle. Around the same time, ESPN began shifting toward a more corporate culture, prompting Feldman to make a life-changing decision: he left ESPN to pursue a career as a professional poker player.
From Playing Poker to Creating Hustler Casino Live
Ryan Feldman’s dream of becoming a professional poker player quickly fell apart. He lost a significant amount of money and even considered applying to work for Fox Sports. Around this time, he learned that Live at the Bike was looking for a new producer to run the show.
Feldman applied and shared his ideas for improving Live at the Bike. Though his poker results weren’t great, he had built strong relationships in the poker world. He organized two successful games, which led to more opportunities, and after inviting Doug Polk to play, Live at the Bike started to take Feldman more seriously.
However, Feldman’s journey with Live at the Bike eventually ended due to internal conflicts with the show’s owners.
Hustler Casino General Manager Shaun Yaple got to know about the situation and invited Feldman to discuss running poker games for Hustler Casino.
Ryan Feldman on the J-4 Controversy
In a bold move, Tuchman asked Feldman about the infamous Robbie Jade Lew J-4 hand, which beat Garrett Adelstein. The hand was so shocking that many suspected Lew had cheated by knowing what Adelstein was holding. Feldman commented, “I don’t think Lew cheated, but obviously, we’ll never know the 100% truth.”
Feldman also discussed the aftermath of the controversy with his former friend Garrett Adelstein. The incident strained their friendship, with Adelstein attacking Feldman on Twitter Spaces and social media. Feldman believes that Adelstein used him to gain access to the Hustler Casino Live game, and once it was over, their relationship ended.
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