According to a post on TwoPlusTwo, the upcoming season of “Survivor: Nicaragua” may feature a poker player. During “Survivor: China,” former Bodog pro Jean-Robert Bellande tried to outwit, outlast, and outplay the competition, but was the eighth person voted out.
In mid-May, TwoPlusTwo poster “HeyIzDro” set the rumor mill ablaze by posting that a producer from the hallmark CBS reality series had contacted him “and told me they were looking for a high-stakes pro to go on the show.” However, in order to film “Survivor” in the Central American country, “HeyIzDro” would have been forced to miss the ongoing World Series of Poker (WSOP), his first, and so he declined. In his place, “HeyIzDro” pitched players like Tom “durrrr” Dwan, Tony “Bond18” Dunst, Shaun Deeb, and DoylesRoom pro Alex “AJKHoosier1” Kamberis to “Survivor” casters.
Posters weighed in on whether having a young internet gun would make for a compelling 21st season of “Survivor.” One responder argued, “I’d say almost close to zero 21 year-old online pro poker players would be very entertaining on ‘Survivor.’ Jean-Robert is a pretty electric and interesting character on the felt, but on ‘Survivor,’ he was a total dud.” Flight attendant Todd Herzog ultimately took down “Survivor: China,” banking $1 million.
Who could be the purported poker player on the show? Among those responding was Kamberis, who said that producers hadn’t yet called him to hop on a plane to Nicaragua. Players including Huck Seed, Tony G, Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies, and Phil Laak were tossed around as candidates. If a poker player fails to make it on the cast for Season 21, “Survivor” crew members are staying in Nicaragua to film Season 22 shortly thereafter.
According to “HeyIzDro,” who may have had a change of heart about putting the WSOP ahead of a once-in-a-lifetime television show, producers of the CBS reality series “told me they contacted a lot of other pros, but I watched every season, so I think they wanted people familiar with the game… If I don’t get on this season, I’m sure I or someone else will get on in upcoming seasons.”
“Survivor” is as much a social game as it is a physical one, leading TwoPlusTwo members to come around to Jamie Gold: “I agree that Gold possesses the social skill set that would thrive on ‘Survivor,’” wrote one poster. “Pure duplicity… Shameless to a degree. This would probably be enough to get to the final three, but based on the past few seasons, it doesn’t matter how much you outwit and outplay people strategically, the bitter and resentful jurors will vote for some nice floater to win the million.” The ruthless strategic player Russell Hantz, for example, made the top three of two consecutive “Survivor” cycles, but failed to win either.
“HeyIzDro” added that he was set to fly from New York City to San Diego to meet with “Survivor” host Jeff Probst and other staff members: “One of the 22 people selected had to drop out for personal reasons. So they told me I am in. I still have to go interview. But I was told, it’s a done deal I am in.” Whether he’ll make the on-air cast or simply be an alternate remains to be seen.
Now, the mystery is on as to his identity. Players like former WSOP Main Event champs Johnny Chan and Peter Eastgate have been largely absent from the Las Vegas tournament series, although the latter is rooting on his homeland of Denmark in the World Cup in South Africa. Prahlad Friedman is apparently in Vietnam and Patrik Antonius was last seen playing high-stakes cash games in Sin City. However, “HeyIzDro” stated that it was his first WSOP, meaning that these players would likely not fit the description.
“Survivor: Nicaragua” will air later this year on CBS.
Clonnie Gowen?