The year 2026 had barely begun when the poker world was hit with shocking news - Lex Veldhuis announced his departure from PokerStars, ending a partnership that lasted over fifteen years. He didn't delve into the reasons, but it was clear from his words that he wants to turn the page and leave 2025 behind. He told his fans it's time for a new chapter and that he's excited to play a lot in 2026.
Interestingly, Lex also mentioned that after 17 years of a "long" partnership, he's not looking to jump into a new one immediately. Veldhuis now enters the market as one of the most recognized free agents in the poker world.
After 17 years I have left Pokerstars.
— Lex Veldhuis (@LexVeldhuis) January 3, 2026
I'm excited about the future and 2026 is going to be a big year!
New chapter begins on stream today. <3
Quiet Year 2025
After winning his first WCOOP title in September 2024, Lex had big plans with a new studio, but he was almost invisible during 2025. His streams featured other games, he didn't make it as a captain in the SCOOP League, and only fragments of his old routine remained. But then came a major comeback; the community returned, the chat revived, and Lex seemed like someone who needed to be part of this ecosystem again.
The turnaround was immediate - after initial setup, Lex logged into GGPoker and joined the $108 Bounty Hunters Special, which he won for $2,541.22. The chat also displayed an automatic message indicating Lex was currently playing from the Netherlands, allowing him to play only on GGPoker and not as a sponsored pro for any platform.
Big Question Mark Over the Future
Veldhuis wasn't just another name in the roster of a poker giant - he became a PokerStars ambassador back in 2009, played millions of hands, achieved Supernova Elite status three consecutive times, and for many years stood out as someone who could bring online tournaments to audiences through streaming. Anyone who watched his emotional rides in MTT finales knows that Lex wasn't just creating "content" but delivering a show: bubbles, hero calls, the frustration of bad beats, and the euphoria of deep runs.
Lex has previously spoken about the need for more freedom and creative control in how and where he creates. In 2024, for example, he described that he didn't want to be bound by "golden handcuffs" and yearned for more freedom in planning time and building content. And so, everything culminated in the moment when, after 17 years, he took off the PokerStars patch. Whether another platform will snap him up or he'll remain independent for a while is now open. One thing is for sure: when Veldhuis returned, he did it his way.
Sources – Flickr, X, PokerNews
