Maybe in 3d? Probably not in 3D!
Pokerstars was first in the
race to announce their new show, calling it “The Big Game.” It will
air on Fox, and looks to be a competitor and or out and out copy of
GSN’s High Stakes Poker. Fox’s “The Big Game” will have a $200/$400
NLHE cash game with a $100,000 minimum buy in. So far, Pokerstars and
Fox have only signed Daniel Negreanu to sit in on this game, and i’m
sure that we’ll be seeing a lot of big push advertising with him as the
main face. This is kind of strange, because i could have sworn that
Negreanu had his own brand of poker to promote (he does, Full Contact
Poker…). It also appears that “The Big Game” will not be a strictly
pro player paradise, instead, it will allow online qualifiers.
Pokerstars (as it’s Pokerstar’s show) will be holding daily free rolls
until June 25th, and then the winners will move on to the Big Game
Final Round. But it doesn’t end there! If you make it to the top 200,
you then have the chance to send in a casting video, and make your
pitch directly to pokerstars as to why you should be on the show. I’m
not sure i like that final twist, it seems like it takes the purity of
poker, and cheapens it with “hey, you don’t get to actually win
anything, just the CHANCE to send us a video about yourself!” But,
hey, i’m sure it will appeal to some people. Oh, and one final turn of
the knife from pokerstars? If they do choose you to sit down at the
table, they’ll stake you $100,000, and you can even bring your own
money to the table (lucky us eh?), and get this? if you earn any profit
above the $100,000, you even get to keep it! If you turn a profit,
you’ll also be invited back the next episode. Great.
When
Pokerstars announced their show, Full Tilt also announced their show.
It is called “The Poker Lounge” and is a series of ten 6 handed sit n
go tourneys. Each one has a $20,000 buy in, and the winner will walk
away with $120,000. Full Tilt will also be allowing it’s players a
chance, although not through freeroll. You will be able to win in a
$600+40 direct qualifier (next one is April 11). Of course, you can
satellite into the $600 game. Winners get $22,000…$20,000 for the
buy in to the tourney, and $2000 travel expenses (you have to get to
the tourney yourself!) The Poker Lounge will be broadcast primarily in
Britain on Channel 4, and will likely make it’s way to GSN in the near
future.
Neither show is perfect, and me? I’ll probably stick to High Stakes Poker.