The Season 2 finale of the UB.com sponsored poker news show “Poker2Nite” aired on Wednesday. Former “Amazing Race” contestant Maria Ho challenged Absolute Poker pro Trishelle Cannatella for the series’ “On the Clock” trophy.
First up was discussion of the recently completed World Poker Tour (WPT) Grand Prix de Paris, which saw World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe bracelet winner Theo Jorgensen earn €633,902. However, the final table largely featured unknown players, leading “Poker2Nite” host Joe Sebok to conclude, “I think it’s a bad situation. People tune into televised poker to see the big names.”
Despite Sebok’s criticism, Jorgensen was still elated to win, telling WPT Live Updates Hostess Jacque Williams from Paris, “Right now, I’m drinking champagne faster than anyone here in the room. It just feels fantastic.”
Also taking center stage was Supreme Court Justice nominee Elena Kagan’s love of poker. Her passion for the game has many online poker players expecting legalization of its internet version in the United States, but not everyone is drinking the Kool-Aid. Sebok noted, “It’s certainly great that more people in Washington play poker, but let’s not lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that she’s somehow going to change all of this legislation and make a bunch of decisions because that’s not going to happen.”
Tokwiro COO Paul Leggett then joined “Poker2Nite” to break down the security flaw that was plugged earlier this week on CEREUS Network sites UB.com and Absolute Poker. Leggett told viewers, “Just over a week ago, a security vulnerability was identified that [affected] our client-server communication. We believe it was very unlikely that someone was able to exploit it.”
Leggett added, “We do have additional layers of security that would help us identify if someone was able to exploit something like this.” Sebok referred to “Ultimate Bet” when talking about the vulnerability as opposed to “UB,” the re-branded site that sponsors the show.
Sebok and co-host Scott Huff then reviewed the top non-poker activities in Las Vegas for those players who bust prematurely from events during the upcoming WSOP. Among Sebok’s choices were Rehab at the Hard Rock, boating on Lake Mead, the Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace, Mystere at Treasure Island, and the Sapphire gentlemen’s club.
“P2N Online,” which features the latest buzz from cyberspace, featured a video posted by Jennifer Harman in which the two-time bracelet winner flaunts her chest in hopes of receiving WSOP Tournament of Champions votes. Also shown were images from Viktor Blom’s home, which featured little-to-no furniture and a color scheme reminiscent of an insane asylum.
Ho then took to the studio to challenge Cannatella’s mark of eight correct answers to rapid-fire questions as part of “On the Clock.” However, she could only muster six. Meanwhile, she discussed her experience on “Amazing Race” alongside fellow WSOP Main Event Last Woman Standing Tiffany Michelle: “The ‘Amazing Race’ was the best experience of my life, but it was definitely the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do. It feels so great to be able to challenge yourself and push yourself to the limits every day.”
On her upcoming WSOP plans, Ho admitted, “I’m probably trying to play 20 tournaments. I get burnt out really easily, so I want to try to have a schedule where I feel like I’m doing as much as I can.” She’ll also take to the felts in more Mixed Games this year. Ho finished 11th in last year’s World Championship of Limit Hold’em for $41,000.
UB.com officials have not released any information about the fate of “Poker2Nite” for Season 3, although Huff Tweeted that the show had not been renewed. The first season of the series aired on Fox Sports Net before being bumped to Versus. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest.
