For those of you who just can’t get enough poker on television, the World Poker Tour (WPT) returns with brand new episodes beginning Sunday night.
Although Season IX is still in full swing, the WPT and Fox Sports Net (FSN) will open up brand new episodes of the current season at either 8:00pm or 11:00pm local time. The veteran announcing team of Vince Van Patten and Mike Sexton will be on hand to call the action, but there will be several changes to the format that should make it appealing to longtime viewers and newcomers alike.
Former hostess Kimberly Lansing returns to the WPT as a booth announcer, handing interviews with players and passing the broadcasting baton back to Van Patten and Sexton. Lansing was last seen on the WPT in 2007, when she served as hostess. The new position of booth announcer was created especially for her, as she holds a Broadcasting Journalism degree from the University of Southern California.
Another change to the program is expert commentary from someone other than Sexton. Top online and live pro Tony “Bond18” Dunst makes his debut with the WPT’s new show-in-a-show, “The Raw Deal.” Dunst will break down the play at the final tables, offering stark and sometimes harsh criticism of what he is seeing. Dunst will also be a fixture at WPT events, usually in action on the felt.
For the first time in its history, the WPT will be broadcasting all Season IX events from Day 1, giving poker aficionados a feel for what the tournament was like from the start. For newcomers, this demonstrates the skill – and sometimes the luck – it takes for some of the best players in the world to make it to the final table.
Also, the Royal Flush Girls, who have captured a great deal of attention at live WPT events since their first appearance at the Bellagio Cup VI, will make their television debut for final table money presentations and other activities.
Each tournament will be telecast over two episodes, with the first two installments on Sunday, February 13th and Sunday, February 20th covering the Bellagio Cup VI. The event kicked off Season IX with a bang and had a final table featuring one of the best players in the game today, Phil Ivey, squaring off against top online pro Justin “Boosted J” Smith.
“As Season Nine rolls out, fans will find all the great poker action they’ve come to expect with a new, faster-paced, edgier tone,” Steve Heller, the Chief Executive Officer of World Poker Tour, said during the announcement. “We are introducing new elements, graphics, and talent throughout the season. Each week, viewers are guaranteed to see something unexpected and uniquely WPT.”
David Sussin, Vice President of Programming for Fox Sports Network, stated, “We’re very excited about the new season of the World Poker Tour. WPT has really amped up everything about the production and it shows in the product. Sunday nights are again the destination viewing for poker fans.”
New episodes featuring the action of the Legends of Poker from the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles and the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic from the Bellagio in Las Vegas are just two of the highlights of the upcoming season.
Even though Season IX is beginning its broadcasts on FSN, the remainder of its action will be playing out over the next few months. The WPT’s next stop is at the Commerce Casino for the L.A. Poker Classic and the WPT Invitational later this month. In April, the WPT will wrap up Season IX with the Championship event at the Bellagio.
