Patrik Antonius is just one of the recognisable faces set to feature
This week, NBC’s Poker After Dark cash game presents an all star line-up guaranteed to trigger fireworks. America’s most popular poker show after GSN’s High Stakes Poker usually adopts a 6 player Sit n’ Go format, but this time players will fork out the $100k minimum buy-in for a high octane cash game.
Young sensation Tom Dwan, the impregnable Phil Ivey, cool Finn Patrik Antonius, hot headed PLO specialist Ilari ‘Ziigmund’ Sahmies, and veterans Howard Lederer and Eli Elezra will all feature. There’s sure to be some monster pots and crazy bluffs, with every player known for his aggression apart from the more conservative Lederer.
Viewers will be hoping for more of the same from Dwan, who capped his first appearance on PAD cash game with a $100k bluff at Bob Safai, throwing the real estate owner off top pair top kicker with a busted flush draw. In his short poker TV career, Dwan has thrilled poker enthusiasts with his sick bluffs and ability to 'think outside the box'. His unpredictable moves prompted High Stakes Poker host Gabe Kaplan to chime, 'welcome to durrrrland'.
Ziigmund’s first television appearance on High Stakes Poker Season 5 was unusually muted, with none of the trademark insults he dishes out on the Full Tilt chat box. Antonius and Ivey both have great live poker pedigree, and the experienced duo of Elezra and Lederer should provide intriguing foils. Lederer was victim to an outrageous Dwan play a few months ago on High Stakes Poker, when his AK suited was ousted by Dwan's measly 8 5.
Blinds will be $200/$400 with $100 antes, and there’ll no doubt be $2,000 straddles. Half-way through the show players will re-draw for seats, spicing the action up for viewers. For Americans, you can catch the show on television network NBC. For Europeans, the episodes will no doubt appear on Pokertube in the following days.
We'll bring you updates as the action unfolds.