The "Survival Guide" of the poker world? Will Deepstack be the future of poker entertainment?

The brand-new cash game poker show Deepstack, hosted by Elton Tsang and Jelle Moene, will premiere in 2026. With its BLUVV game format and cinematic production, it aims to challenge the status quo of live poker streaming and become the future of poker entertainment.

The highest stakes. The most prestigious names. And the potentially largest audience.

This is Deepstack's new cash game poker show, which is slated to premiere later in 2026.

The concept was spearheaded by founder Elton Tsang and director Jelle Moene, who gave an exclusive interview to PokerNews, discussing their expectations for Deepstack and their motivation to challenge the status quo of poker streaming with a deep-stack version of the "squid game" format and technology-driven innovation.

Deepstack: Coming Soon

While the first episodes of this new show are not expected to be released until later this year, Tsang and Moene have made it clear that Deepstack aims to be completely different. This is evident in its episodic nature, cash game format, live poker streaming, and the way viewers consume the broadcast.

Tsang put it very clearly: "We wanted to present poker in a way that is completely different from what people are used to."

This brand-new cash game show will be entirely in the BLUVV Game format—a variant of the squid game with rules designed to create more action.

"I'm the one who invented this game," Tsang said. "We've played a lot of it in Asia."

"Not many people have experienced the squid game. I think once this show is launched, people can watch how we play, and through watching, maybe they can gain more experience and understand how fun this game is."

Meanwhile, Moene said things were going very well.

"You must think in the direction of 'The Way to Survive'."

"You have to think like 'Drive to Survive.' That's the top game. That's the highest stakes. We made it more cinematic, we learned as we went, and that's exactly how I think it should be."

"Our initial intention in filming was to learn through trial and error. I truly believe in the product we are making."

He also praised Tsang for everything he has brought to the project so far.

“Elton’s connections ensure we can always get the best players and the greatest legends at the table,” Moene said. “This means we’re already well-positioned in the market. From there, we can leverage our technology and ideas to create the most high-end programming ever for players and viewers. That’s the goal.”

"We know that the average poker player might be playing at lower stakes, have their own heroes, and have their own dreams for the future. We know what we like to do when we play at high-stakes cash games, and we also know what we want to show the world."

What is a BLUVV Game?

From an external perspective, two things set Deepstack apart from other poker streams or shows. First, the name itself. Deepstack is more than just a name. The cash game format is the perfect environment to put the concept into practice, which Tsang says is the perfect antidote for those who find regular tournaments boring.

"You're always playing with 10-30 big blinds, so you always have to play very tight, using standard ranges. If you can memorize all the charts, then you can become a super pro."

“When you’re playing deep, there’s a lot of action,” Tsang said. “You only really play that deep, 1,000 big blinds, in cash games, right? It’s interesting to watch people fight in poker; they’re not waiting for the nuts, not waiting for a set on the flop before betting big. Everyone is constantly battling against each other.”

Secondly, Deepstack is strictly focused on using BLUVV games as its cash game format.

“Triton is primarily focused on tournaments,” said Tsang, who has two titles and nearly $17 million in winnings on the world’s premier super high roller poker circuit. “But we don’t do any tournaments; we only do cash games, squid-type cash games.”

"With BLUVV games, you don't have to wait for big hands. People are fighting every hand. You quickly realize that people are fighting more for squid games, so there are more bluffs. And with so many bluffs, people play looser and with wider ranges. There are so many raises because people don't trust each other."

"I think this will create more excitement for both the audience and the athletes."

Looking to the future

At this early stage, Tsang acknowledged that there are still many unknowns, but he is optimistic about the future and excited about how the poker community will embrace this new initiative.

"We started as a very small team; first an idea, then a business plan. And here we are. We just wanted to start doing it, just try it out, see what happens, and learn from it. It's okay if the first season isn't perfect, but you know, we'll evolve, right?"

"This will be the future of poker entertainment. I'm quite certain of it."

At the same time, Moene stated that they are committed to providing a "high-end" product that will rival some of the more established brands in the industry.

"Deepstack will be the future of poker entertainment," Moene said. "The technology we're building will help break through the ceiling and make poker broadcasting something far more engaging, entertaining, and educational than it has to date."

"We basically want to have that cinematic broadcast quality, and then we want to add a few layers of entertainment, essentially treating it as a fan interaction platform. This will definitely revolutionize the poker viewing market."

Tsang stated that the main focus is on disrupting the status quo of poker and live streaming, thanks to the innovations Deepstack hopes to bring.

"I don't think any poker making right now can compare to us in terms of innovation. It's very different, and our positioning is very different. We're already planning the next one, and the next one after that. We'll keep doing this until we stop!"

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