Las Vegas Weekly

May 13, 2010 · 12:14 PM

Photos: PokerStars.net’s The Big Game features $200,000 bets

By Robin Leach

Filming of The Big Game at South Point.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

A new poker TV show has just wrapped a 30-episode shoot here in Las Vegas, and poker pros have bet their own $100,000 to play amateurs betting the same amount with somebody else’s money. The unique format is presented by PokerStars.net, and The Big Game is hosted by Amanda Leatherman.

Many of our own big names of the Las Vegas poker scene participated, including Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Phil Lark, Phil Hellmuth, Barry Greenstein and Vanessa Russo. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue captured all the action on location at South Point for this extraordinary and exclusive photo gallery.

The amateur players had to first qualify online at PokerStars.net, and then they were selected as the loose cannons for play. PokerStars.net stakes $100,000 to each player, but the pros themselves put up their own money to grab the winning pots.

Obviously, I can’t tell you who won or lost because that would spoil the suspense of the series when it airs. But I can tell you not only is the play hair-raising and super-exciting, but it’s also pretty wild!

Vegas DeLuxe will post TV air dates, times and stations when they become available.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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