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Pro-Am Poker Equalizer
The ''Pro-Am Poker Equalizer'' is a televised poker tournament in which professional poker players play Texas hold 'em against celebrities which began airing on ESPN in January 2007. In order to "equalize" the playing field, the celebrities start the tournament with 50% more chips than the professionals. The Pro-Am Poker Equalizer is commentated by Phil Gordon and Ali Nejad. The winners of each of the six regular episodes will face off in the final episode for a $500,000 grand prize. Episodes Six episodes of the Equalizer have been produced, featuring commentary by Phil Gordon and Ali Nejad, and sideline reporting and interviews by Mieke Buchan. The series features the following celebrities and pros: Episode 1 (first aired January 7, 2007): *Phil Ivey (episode winner) *John Juanda *Erick Lindgren *Daniel Negreanu *José Canseco *Cheryl Hines Episode 2: *Johnny Chan *Gus Hansen *Mike Matusow *Shawn Sheikhan *Yancey Arias *Nicholas Gonzalez (episode winner) Episode 3: *All ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poker On Television
Poker television programs had been extremely popular, especially in North America and Europe, following the poker boom. This has especially become the case since the invention of the " pocket cam" in 1997 (and its first use in the United States in 2002), which allows viewers at home to see each player's hole cards. However, viewership has been declining dramatically in recent years, due to laws that restricted online play in the United States. History Poker has been appearing on television somewhat regularly since the late-1970s. In the United States, CBS started airing the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event as an annual one-hour show around this time and later by ESPN, which were casino-produced shows produced under a time-buy arrangement for sports omnibus programming such as the ''CBS Sports Spectacular''. For many years, the coverage was less than robust because viewers at home could not see what cards the players had or follow their progress visually ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gus Hansen
Gustav Hansen (born 13 February 1974) is a Danish professional poker player from Copenhagen, Denmark who has lived in Monaco since 2003. In his poker career, Hansen has won three World Poker Tour open titles, one WSOP bracelet and the 2007 Aussie Millions main event, and was the season one winner of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament. Before turning to playing poker professionally in 1997, Hansen was already a world class backgammon player and a youth tennis champion. Poker career Tournaments Hansen started playing poker at the Ocean View Card Room in Santa Cruz, California, while he was an exchange student at UC Santa Cruz. Hansen finished in the money in 150th place in the 2004 WSOP Main Event. In the 2006 Tournament of Champions, Hansen made a World Series of Poker final table, but lost on the very first hand with Ace King against a pair of 9s. In 2007, Hansen cashed in the $10,000 no limit Texas hold 'em championship, coming in 61st place out of 6,358 players, wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jennifer Harman
Jennifer C. Harman (born November 29, 1964) is an American professional poker player. She has won two World Series of Poker bracelets in open events, one of only four women to have done so. Career Harman won her first World Series of Poker bracelet in 2000 at the No Limit Deuce to Seven Lowball Event (at a final table that also included fellow professionals Lyle Berman and Steve Zolotow). She had never played that game prior to the event, but received a five-minute tutoring session from Howard Lederer before playing. She won her second WSOP bracelet in 2002 at the $5K Limit Texas hold 'em event (the field also included Mimi Tran, Humberto Brenes, and Allen Cunningham). She was the first woman to hold two bracelets in WSOP open events, joined by Vanessa Selbst in 2012, Loni Harwood in 2015, and Kristen Bicknell in 2020. In 2004, Harman took a year away from poker to have her second kidney transplant. Problems with her kidneys – shared by her sister and mother, who died from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris Ferguson
Christopher Philip Ferguson (born April 11, 1963) is an American professional poker player. He has won six World Series of Poker events, including the 2000 WSOP Main Event, and the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Ferguson is a computer scientist by training and education. On September 20, 2011, the U.S. Justice Department filed a motion to amend a civil complaint, complaining that Ferguson and three other directors of the poker website Full Tilt Poker were running a Ponzi scheme that paid out $444 million of customer money to themselves and the firm's owners. Early life and education Ferguson was born in Los Angeles, California. Both Ferguson's parents have doctoral degrees in mathematics and his father, Thomas S. Ferguson, teaches game theory and theoretical probability at UCLA. Ferguson attended UCLA, where he earned a Ph.D. in computer science (focusing on virtual network algorithms) in 1999 after five years as an undergraduate and 13 years as a graduate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Series Of Poker
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a series of poker tournaments held annually in Paradise, Nevada and, since 2004, sponsored by Caesars Entertainment. It dates its origins to 1970, when Benny Binion invited seven of the best-known poker players to the Horseshoe Casino for a single tournament, with a set start and stop time, and a winner determined by a secret ballot of the seven players. As of 2020, the WSOP consists of 101 events, with most major poker variants featured. However, in recent years, over half of the events have been variants of Texas hold 'em. Events traditionally take place during one day or over several consecutive days during the series in June and July. However, starting in 2008, the Main Event final table was delayed until November. The 2012 and 2016 Main Event final tables commenced in October because of the United States presidential election. As of May 2017, the World Series of Poker has done away with the November Nine concept and instead gone back ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly (born Jennifer Ellen Chan; September 16, 1958) is an American–Canadian actress and poker player. Known for her distinctive voice and comedic timing, she has been nominated for an Academy Award, two MTV Movie Awards and three Saturn Awards. Tilly had her breakthrough playing Olive Neal in the black comedy film ''Bullets Over Broadway'' (1994), which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She subsequently earned Saturn Award and MTV Award nominations for her performance in the neo-noir thriller ''Bound'' (1996). She rose to widespread recognition for playing Tiffany Valentine in the slasher film franchise '' Child's Play'' (1998–present), which established her as an icon in popular culture and a scream queen. Since 1999, Tilly has voiced Bonnie Swanson on the animated comedy series ''Family Guy''. Tilly's other film appearances include Let It Ride (film), ''Let It Ride'' (1989), ''The Fabulous Baker Boys'' (1989), ''Made in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Penn Jillette
Penn Fraser Jillette (born March 5, 1955) is an American magician, actor, musician, inventor, television presenter, and author, best known for his work with fellow magician Teller as half of the team Penn & Teller. The duo has been featured in numerous stage and television shows, such as '' Penn & Teller: Fool Us'' and '' Penn & Teller: Bullshit!'', and is currently headlining in Las Vegas at The Rio. Jillette serves as the act's orator and raconteur. Jillette has published eight books, including the ''New York Times'' Bestseller, '' God, No!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales''. He is also known for his advocacy of atheism, scientific skepticism, the First Amendment, as well as previously identifying as a libertarian, and supporting free-market capitalism. Early life Jillette was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts. His mother, Valda Rudolph Jillette (née Parks; 1909–2000),Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index atabase on-line Provo, UT, USA: ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Williams (card Player)
David Anthony Williams (born June 9, 1980) is a professional poker player and popular ''Magic: The Gathering'' player who also competed on Season 7 of the popular FOX cooking show ''MasterChef'', where he finished as co-runner-up. Personal life Williams was born in Arlington, Texas. At 16, he attended the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, a two-year early college entrance program at the University of North Texas. Later, he briefly attended Princeton University before switching to study economics at Southern Methodist University. Williams currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Williams has one daughter, Liliana. Poker career Williams's poker success was capped at the 2004 World Series of Poker. He won his buy-in through an online poker site and made it to the final table of the Main Event, ultimately finishing second to Greg Raymer, but still winning $3.5 million for the runner-up prize. Four months later, he finished second at the Borgata Open World Poker Tour, where ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clonie Gowen
Cycalona "Clonie" Gowen (born November 6, 1971) is an American professional poker player, based in Dallas, Texas. Early life Gowen was born in Florida, and grew up in Kiowa, Oklahoma. Her first name was inspired by the fact that she was born while a tornado (cyclone) moved through the region. She won Miss Teen McAlester, Oklahoma, at age 15, and as a teenager moved to Corsicana, Texas. She was a member of the varsity basketball team and placed seventh in state high jump. Poker Gowen was introduced to poker by her boyfriend's father, and started playing while living in Dallas, driving to Shreveport, Louisiana, on the weekends. She finished tenth in a World Poker Tour (WPT) event in late 2002, before gaining national recognition in 2003, winning the televised WPT Ladies' Night event. Over the next five years, Gowen added ten more top-40 finishes in WPT and World Series of Poker events. She has not been active in tournament events since a high finish in the 2009 Aussie Millions ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ted Forrest
Ted Forrest (born September 24, 1964) is an American professional poker player, currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tournament wins Forrest won three bracelets at the 1993 World Series of Poker (WSOP). After the mid-1990s, Forrest turned his attention full-time to cash games. He made a triumphant return to the WSOP by winning 2 bracelets at the 2004 World Series of Poker. Since then he has moved his focus from seven card stud to hold 'em with some success, including reaching 5 final tables on the World Poker Tour and winning a championship on the Professional Poker Tour. Forrest competed in the second season of Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, where he advanced to the quarter-final stage. He did not fare as well in season three, being mathematically eliminated early in the preliminaries. He played in the first two seasons of the GSN series High Stakes Poker. In March 2006, Forrest won the annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship, defeating (in order) Erik ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allen Cunningham
Allen Cunningham (born March 28, 1977) is an American professional poker player who has won five World Series of Poker bracelets. Career Cunningham studied civil engineering at UCLA before dropping out of school to play poker professionally. At the age of 18, he began playing at Indian casinos. Previously a Full Tilt sponsored pro, he became a full member of Team Full Tilt in October 2006. Cunningham earned the title 2005 ESPN/Toyota Player of the Year and came close to winning it again in 2006. He was also voted by fellow professional poker players the Best All Around Player under 35. Cunningham's single largest tournament payout occurred at the 2006 World Series of Poker when he finished in fourth place in the Main Event, earning $3,628,513. Frequently during the tournament, when other players tried to take on Cunningham, ESPN's Norman Chad would respond with comments such as: "What are they thinking of? It's ''Allen Cunningham''!" Cunningham joined a short list of playe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nicholas Gonzalez
Nicholas Edward Gonzalez is an American actor. He is best known for playing the roles of Alex Santiago on the Showtime television series ''Resurrection Blvd'' and Dr. Neil Melendez on the ABC television series ''The Good Doctor''. Early life Gonzalez Born in San Antonio, Texas, He is of Mexican descent. He is the son of dermatologist surgeon Dr. John Gonzalez and his mother Sylvia Mosier, Gonzalez is conversant in Spanish, having lived in a bilingual household. He attended Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, where he was an accomplished cross-country and track runner, winning the Texas State Championship in the mile and two-mile. After graduating in 1994 and turning down a presidential appointment to West Point, Gonzalez pursued an English degree at Stanford University in California. He spent two terms at Oxford University in England. The following summer, he returned to Europe on a research grant where he studied at Oxford and Trinity College, Dublin to complete his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
