The North American Poker Tour (NAPT) is back once again in Las Vegas, with a schedule full of opportunities to win a fortune at the poker tables of Resorts World.
The festival also features the opportunity for a ‘loose cannon’ to be selected to join in with PokerStars’ The Big Game on Tour - the line-up for which has just been confirmed. And it's safe to say it’s shaping up to be one of the most interesting and entertaining televised poker games in years.
How would you fare against a table like this?
Phil Hellmuth
With a string of appearances on the world’s biggest poker TV shows, cash games and tournament tables, the ‘Poker Brat’ is one of the most recognizable figures in the game. Want to get under his skin and set him off on a trademark ‘Hellmuth blow-up’? You wouldn’t be the first, and definitely not the last.
Antonio Esfandiari
The man they call ‘the magician’ won his first WSOP bracelet 20 years ago, but is probably best known for his victory in the 2012 Big One for One Drop. Esfandiari won the $1M buy-in tournament for a payday north of $18M, and is known for being an entertaining, charismatic and amusing player to watch.
Alan Keating
A regular in high stakes live-streamed and televised cash games, Keating is known for playing a lot of hands, for a lot of money. He’s never been accused of being a nit, loves to get his chips in the middle, and plays with a freedom that makes him fun to watch and tough to play.
Lex Veldhuis
In recent years Veldhuis has transitioned from a focus on live cash games to online tournaments, but as a young gun he faced off against some of the best in the world, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Doyle Brunson and Daniel Negreanu. His poker streams are some of the most popular in the world.
Nick Wright
Wright is best known for his sports broadcasting and podcast work, but has serious poker credentials too. He’s appeared in poker TV series including PokerGO’s No Gamble, No Future and Poker After Dark, and took on Phil Hellmuth heads-up in High Stakes Duel.
Rob 'Gronk' Gronkowski
4-time Super Bowl winner Gronkowski is credited with revolutionizing the tight end position, but has left his mark on more than just professional football. Not only did he make the NFL’s 100th anniversary All-Time Team, he’s also appeared in the WWE, been a cover star for the Madden video game series, and appeared in numerous TV shows such as Family Guy and The SImpsons.
The Loose Cannon
An unknown quantity - literally - the loose cannon’s seat will be filled by a lucky player who makes it through the selection process, which includes a qualifying tournament and an audition. Previous loose cannons include Nikki Limo and Lily Newhouse.
Images courtesy of Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd/Fox Sports
