Last week’s episode of the UB.com sponsored poker news show “Poker2Nite” featured former “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander. The franchise airs on Wednesday nights at 11:00pm ET on Fox Sports Net.
“Poker2Nite” kicked off with highlights from the 2010 Aussie Millions, which featured Tyron Krost defeating a Main Event final table that included Betfair pros Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi and Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad. The festivities Down Under also saw 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member Phil Ivey move to the top of the all-time tournament money list at $12.6 million by finishing second in a $100,000 buy-in event. A debate ensued between “Poker2Nite” hosts Joe Sebok and Scott Huff as to whether a six-figure buy-in tournament should count towards prestigious leaderboards like the all-time money list.
Victory Poker pro Antonio Esfandiari joined the show via Skype to discuss his $1.4 million win in the 2004 running of the World Poker Tour’s (WPT) L.A. Poker Classic, whose 2010 installment kicks off on February 26th from the West Coast casino. Esfandiari discussed his charge through the tournament six years ago: “It was a sweet victory… An unknown kid on the poker market taking down the LAPC was a life-changer.” Esfandiari was 25 years-old at the time.
Alexander joined the set to break down his Day 3 run in the 2009 WSOP Main Event. He explained, “What I’ve learned more than anything else over the last couple of years is patience.” Alexander also noted that a change in mentality was partly responsible for his recent success in poker: “I go into a tournament thinking not how long will I last, but how smart can I be.”
Alexander will take to the felts of this year’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship invitational tournament and noted that he felt no pressure to perform. He often tells his pro opponents, “If I lose to you, no big deal. If you lose to me, your career will never be the same.” Alexander fell to Huck Seed in the first round of the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship; Seed went on to reach the semi-finals.
Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo gave “Poker2Nite” viewers the nickel tour of the Panorama Towers in Las Vegas, home to world-class pros like Esfandiari, Bodog’s David Williams, PokerStars front man Barry Greenstein, Scott Seiver, UB.com’s Adam “Roothlus” Levy, Shaun Deeb, Evelyn Ng, and Steve “MrTimCaum” O’Dwyer. The complex features two gyms, two pools, game rooms, conference rooms, limo service, and even a pet park for dog-lovers. It also hosts a bevy of high-stakes poker home games.
Sebok broke down a hand against J.C. Tran during the 2007 L.A. Poker Classic in the debut of High Mistakes. Tran was the chip leader in the event when the hand occurred, while Sebok was second on the leaderboard. Sebok mistakenly limped pre-flop with Q-8 of diamonds after tossing in the wrong chips and Tran came along with K-10. Two other players also saw the K-10-5 flop with two diamonds, leading to a bet from Sebok and a call from Tran.
Sebok check-raised to 35,000 after a third diamond hit on the turn to give him a flush and Tran called. The river was a 10, improving Tran to a boat, and Sebok called all-in for his tournament life after Tran pushed. The hand was set up for Sebok to fold to an all-in river bet, but he failed to do so.
Dana Workman doled out the Weekly Misdeal, offering a satirical look at the week’s poker headlines. Workman poked fun at soccer star Charlie Davies playing at the Bellagio, embattled swimmer Michael Phelps taking to the felts at the Borgata, a poker table equipped with a built-in drink dispenser, and Doyle Brunson being named Best Poker Twitterer by Bluff Magazine’s readers for his parade of blonde jokes and Doyleisms. Brunson underwent dental surgery today in Las Vegas that may sideline him until the 2010 WSOP.
Sebok concluded “Poker2Nite” by breaking down his prop bet with Gavin Smith and Jeff Madsen that involves a unique last longer bet during the upcoming L.A. Poker Classic Main Event. Whoever busts first must tattoo the faces of the other two players on their body. Whoever busts second must ink the surviving player’s face. The “Poker2Nite” host is trying to get out of the prop bet.
Next week, “Poker2Nite” will feature a Best of Season 1 episode. The series has purportedly not yet been renewed for Season 2, although Huff and Sebok explained that “Poker2Nite” would go on hiatus during the L.A. Poker Classic.
