It’s an exciting time on the World Poker Tour this season. We are currently in our ninth season, meaning we’ve done more TV shows than legendary franchises like “Seinfield” and “I Love Lucy.” Just look at the history of television and you will discover that a very small percentage of TV shows last nine years. In addition to its longevity, and what is incredible to me, is that the WPT airs in over 150 countries around the world!
Vince Van Patten and I are back again for our ninth season to do commentary. A number of additions have been made to improve the TV show, our tour stops, and our player relationships. And players around the world should be excited because the WPT has added about a half-dozen international tournaments to the schedule. They now have the opportunity to play WPT events in their own country! It’s great to see the WPT expanding the brand and truly going global. We have reinstated our Paris WPT event and have added events in England, Spain, Austria, Italy, and elsewhere. Go to worldpokertour.com for a complete schedule. What could be better than traveling the world and playing poker?
We’re also excited about a new stop on the U.S. tour. It’s the hottest spot for poker anywhere right now, Florida. They recently passed a state law that allows for higher stakes and that has created quite a buzz. Our WPT event there will be at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood. If you haven’t been there, take it from me: it’s an amazing property. Trust me, our WPT Hard Rock event next April will be a happening (and mega) event that you will not want to miss. South Beach may never be the same.
To improve player relationships, the WPT has hired Matt Savage as its Tour Director. Matt is a renowned tournament director who is known for his player-friendly structures. He currently serves as Tournament Director for two events on the WPT (Commerce’s L.A. Poker Classic and the Bay 101’s Shooting Star tournament) and will now be a consultant and serve as a player liaison for the WPT. Players love Matt and it’s great having him on board.
Kimberly Lansing is the new anchor on the WPT. She was with us in Season VI and we’re delighted to have her back, especially in a much larger role. She will kick off the shows, do tosses to and welcome backs from commercials, and conduct numerous interviews with players. Kimberly is a real pro and her role is substantial. I have no doubts that our viewing audience will love her. I must tell you that Vince and I are already a little jealous of Kimberly. They built her an amazing perch on the set while we’re still down on the floor. We like to say that she’s in the “penthouse” and we’re in the “outhouse.”
And I’m sure you’ve all heard about the WPT’s Royal Flush Girls. They are Melanie, Michelle, Melyssa, Sunisa, Jennifer, and Katrina. They are beautiful, bright, and classy and four of them will be going to every stop on the tour and appearing in every TV episode. Prestigious Models brought them to the WPT and we are thrilled to have them. They definitely brighten up a poker tournament.
In August, we auditioned about 200 people for a new role on the WPT, a segment called “The Raw Deal.” The guy who got the job as its analyst was Tony Dunst. Dunst is a high-stakes online and tournament player (“Bond18”), poker writer, and instructor. He recently finished 50th in the Main Event at the World Series of Poker and was the only player playing in a coat and tie (which I liked).
WPT Executive Producer Joe Grimm said about Dunst, “Tony is young, smart, and knows the game. He stood out for his candor, his knowledge, and his delivery. He’s going to have a big impact on the broadcast.” To go along with Vince, it’s just what I need: another James Bond look-alike. I think you’re going to enjoy Tony’s edgy, witty, and savvy commentary. I predict he’ll be the talk at the water cooler every Monday. We air the new season on Fox Sports Net on Sunday nights starting January 16th.
You won’t recognize these names, Kristin Cranford and Cindy Fraser, but I can’t tell you how important they are to the WPT – and how much I love them. They are in charge of production (and anything else that needs to get done). They were with the WPT when it started, left for a couple of years, and are now back – and we’re so happy about that! These ladies are pros with a capital “P.” They are hard workers and do an incredible job. Welcome back to the WPT, girls!
And to hopefully add some excitement to every event, for the first time in nine seasons, Vince and I will be going to all of the venues from Day 1 through the final table. That means I’ll get to play a number of events this year – and I’m excited about that (I still consider myself a player first and commentator second).
I played my first event this season at Borgata – which had the most entries (1,042) of any event in WPT history – and finished in 20th place. Not bad. Hopefully, I’ll make a final table this year and cause a minor headache for the producers to find a replacement for me. Or, they can just mic me up at the final table and let me go from there. Obviously, I’d rather be at the final table playing for the big bucks rather than talking about it from the booth.
These additions should make for an exciting Season IX on the WPT. If you’re out on the WPT this season, make sure to come up and say “Hi.”