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Farewell to Poker on Calvin Ayre

By jili tutorial · August 31, 2026

Farewell to Poker on Calvin Ayre

A Resilient Game in a Changed World

When the global pandemic struck, many expected poker to suffer the same fate as live music festivals—large gatherings of players and fans suddenly impossible. But poker showed its strength. Online poker thrived, the industry adapted, and new players found their way into the game. It was a hand that revealed pocket kings: strong, steady, and resilient.

Yet every cowboy eventually rides into the sunset. That day has come for the Poker page on CalvinAyre.com.

The End of an Era for Poker Coverage

Great poker players always have an exit strategy, and the same should hold for those who bring the game to the world. Calvin Ayre has been at the forefront of poker coverage for years, and CalvinAyre.com has been a trusted beacon in poker reporting. As the outgoing writer for this role, I can’t take all the credit—far from it.

A huge thank-you goes to Lee Davy, whose outstanding reporting brought poker to life on this site for many years. I owe him a deep debt of gratitude. He not only prepared me well to take over when he moved on, but he also built the Calvin Ayre brand into a respected name in poker. Ours is a niche industry, but it’s a wonderful and welcoming one. The Calvin Ayre name opened doors, helped me interview some of the biggest poker players in the world, and allowed me to share stories that matter.

What We’ve Covered Together

Recent articles have focused on the issues that matter to poker fans: the future of online poker, the dream of quitting a job to become a professional player, and the practical steps to get there. Writing about poker through a pandemic has been strange—yes, that’s odd to say—but also deeply rewarding. From inspirational quotes for new players to advice on turning pro as a career alternative, it’s been a job I’ve treasured.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the content I and the incredible Calvin Ayre content team have produced over the past 18 months. Series like Poker on Screen and Poker in Print have been a source of pride. I even had the chance to discuss poker in movies and TV on a recent episode of the award-winning podcast The Chip Race.

Gratitude and Moving On

I’m indebted to too many people to name individually, but Derek, Bill, Jasmine, and every member of the Calvin Ayre team—along with Calvin himself—have shown immense faith in me. I hope I’ve done them credit.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to you, the reader. You’ve kept coming back to find out what I’m writing about, day after day, week after week. It’s you I write for. If you’ve enjoyed the content, feel free to follow me on Twitter—a new destination will be announced soon.

I’m as excited about my own future as I am about the future of poker. I’m changing seats, but I’m staying at the table. After all, I’ve still got chips in the game.