There’s no shortage of poker training sites, but most are geared toward online play and charge a monthly subscription fee. Not Chip Leader Coaching, which launched in 2016 with a focus on live multi-table tournaments (MTTs), and a business model that charges students only when they win.
Just over a year old, Chip Leader Coaching was founded by World Series of Poker bracelet winner Chance Kornuth, who took a few students under his wing. Now, the stable has grown to more than 40 students being guided by six coaches, including Nick Petrangelo, 2015 WSOP Main Event champ Joe McKeehen, Ryan Leng, Ryan Jones, and CardsChat Ambassador Ryan Laplante.
Chip Leader Coaching has already paid off big for several students. This past summer, Nipun Java won two WSOP gold bracelets and $468,536 in prize money, while Alex Foxen just finished runner-up in the World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic for more than $1.1 million.
(Their coaches continue to put up big results, too. Back in February, Jones won the WSOP Circuit Rio Main Event for $269,327, and Leng placed second in a WSOP $1,500 NLHE this summer for $237,776.)
No Pay to Play
John “KasinoKrime” Beauprez is helping run the business side of things for Chip Leader. He spoke with CardsChat about the unique business model, and the void it filled in poker.
“In 2016, Chance saw the potential to build a stable of mid-stakes players who with a little bit of training could become high stakes crushers,” Beauprez explained. “Chance noticed that most of the training sites were tailored to beginning players, and felt there wasn’t a community for serious players to connect with each other and be mentored by some of the greatest players in the game.”
Chip Leader Coaching is designed specifically for live mid-stakes MTT grinders, and to help them reach the next level, they offer one-on-one sessions with instructors.
“They’re really mentors who are personally vested in their student’s progression as a player and are willing to connect them with the resources and guidance that drives consistent, long lasting success in tournament poker,” Beauprez said. “Our philosophy is simple. We’re held accountable for the quality of our coaching because instead of asking for a monthly subscription, we take a small percentage of winnings.”
That percentage is actually five percent of gross cashes up to $400,000 total. Satellites aren’t included, and only tournaments that get listed on Hendon Mob qualify towards the contract, which is in effect until students hit $400K in winnings.
Students only pay when they win, meaning they don’t owe until and unless they put up results at the table.
According to Beauprez, this model incentivizes the coaches to share their “battle tested tactics, strategies, and closely held secrets for crushing MTTs.”
Students are guaranteed a minimum of 20 hours of personal coaching. They also receive access to online webinars, full access to video archive, group lessons, and access to a private Discord channel where they can post strategy, chat with pros, and interact with fellow learners.
Not for Everyone
Chip Leader Coaching is not open to everyone. Interested students must pass a rigorous application process, and then sign an agreement to be paired with a coach.
“We only want players who are serious about improving their games,” Beauprez said. “Our target is mid-stakes players who see poker as a long-term passion or career.”
And it’s not just on-the-table success that matters.
“We seek players who work hard and put in volume,” he said. “When players apply, we even call other players from their hometown to see what kind of personality they have and if they have any bad habits. We only include devoted players who are good people to boot.”
