The Show
Season 6
High Stakes Poker is the premier cash game in the history of television. The world's top amateur poker and professional poker players risk hundreds of thousands of their money this season.
The Host
Gabe Kaplan - Analyst
Gabe Kaplan returns for his sixth season as an analyst on the hit poker series, HIGH STAKES POKER. Highly regarded for his knowledge of the game, Kaplan's ability to explain the nuances of the cash game has made him a viewer favorite within the poker community.
As a world class poker player for more than 30 years, Kaplan is no stranger to high stakes games and tournaments. He has made the final table in six World Series of Poker events, won the Super Bowl of Poker twice and finished third in the WPT 2004 Mirage Poker Showdown. To date, Kaplan has earned over one-million dollars in career tournament winnings.
Kaplan is best known for his starring role as the teacher and reformed "Sweathog" on the hit television series "Welcome Back Kotter." He has also appeared in theater productions, originating the role of "Groucho, A Live In Review," while also starring in the national touring company of the successful Broadway comedy, "Doubles."
In addition to being on HIGH STAKES POKER, Kaplan continues to work as a stand-up comedian, performing mostly as a speaker at corporate and civic events. He is also an active participant in the stock market whose Wall Street investment strategies have been written about in several leading financial magazines.
The Co-Host
Kara Scott - Co-Host
The co-host of HIGH STAKES POKER and a self-described "massive poker geek," Kara Scott is one of the top female poker players in the world and a well-known TV personality and journalist. Scott served as the television host for the European Poker Tour in 2007 and 2008 (handling her 2007 duties with aplomb while dressed in a bunny suit, the result of losing a prop bet to Chris Tessaro, host of The Hardcore Poker Radio Show). Along with Nick Wealthall, whom she credits with teaching her how to play poker, Scott hosts the UK podcast "On the Rail" on the UK's leading poker entertainment website (http://www.ontherail.co.uk/), which launched in March 2009.
Born in northern Alberta, Canada, Scott moved to the United Kingdom in 1999, and has been working in UK media since 2002. She has hosted "High Stakes Backgammon," the fist televised backgammon series shown in Canada and the UK; the award-winning "Poker Night Live," the UKís first live Internet poker show; and Sky Poker on Sky Television, a dedicated poker channel launched in 2007.
As a player, Scott boasts lifetime live tournament winnings in excess of $557,000. She was the only woman to cash in both the 2008 and 2009 World Series of Poker Main Events, finishing 104th in 2008 and 238th in 2009, and only the second woman in history to cash in back-to-back years. She finished second in the 2009 Irish Open in Dublin, good for $413,000. Scott has written columns for and has been the subject of many articles in the poker media, appearing in such publications as Poker Pro magazine, Card Player magazine, and UK Poker News.
While living in Canada, Scott trained in Muay Thai, a form of martial arts, which helped her land the job of sports presenter and associate producer for an English martial arts show entitled "Now is the Time: Night of Combat." Scott was also one of the stars and the line producer of a martial arts film called "Sucker Punch," starring Danny Don-Jules.
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Season 6 Players
Antonio Esfandiari
Nicknamed "The Magician" for having been a professional magician before becoming a poker player. Winner of one WSOP bracelet and one WPT event. Career live tournament winnings in excess of $3.56 million. Went deep in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, finishing 24th, collecting his biggest WSOP payday ever of nearly $353,000. Hired Mindset Coach Sam Chauhan for a six-month period beginning in 2009 to help him regain his poker focus and his hunger and desire to win.
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Barry Greenstein
Dubbed the "Robin Hood of Poker" for donating winnings to charity, his favorite being Children, Incorporated. Winner of three WSOP bracelets, the latest in the 2008 $1500 Razz event, and two WPT titles. Career live tournament winnings in excess of $6.97 million, and ranks 25th on the all-time money list. Had a great 2008 WSOP, cashing 6 times for nearly $800,000, winning a bracelet, and finishing second to Erick Lindgren in the Player of the Year race, and also cashed 7 times in the 2009 WSOP. Signs and gives a copy of his book Ace on the River to any player who knocks him out of a tournament.
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Daniel Negreanu
Dubbed "Kid Poker" and one of poker's most likeable and recognizable personalities. Owns four WSOP bracelets, the latest in a 2008 WSOP $2000 limit holdíem event, and two WPT titles. With his 2nd place showing in the 2009 WSOPE Main Event in October 2009, now has lifetime live tournament winnings in excess of $12.43 million as of 01/22/2010, and ranks #1 on the all-time money list. Had 9 cashes, including 3 final tables, in the 2009 WSOP, more than any other player. 2004 Card Player magazine Player of the Year.
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Doyle Brunson
At the age of 76, perhaps the greatest player of all time, and is the author of several books, including Super System and Super System II. Back-to-back World Series of Poker Champion in 1976 and 1977. Lifetime live tournament winnings in excess of $5.87 million, and ranks 35th on the all-time money list. Owner of 10 WSOP bracelets, tied for 2nd with Johnny Chan, and is tied for 1st with Jesse Alto and Johnny Moss for making the most WSOP Main Event final tables in history with 5. Had the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic renamed the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in his honor in 2007.
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Eli Elezra
A native of Israel, he served in the Israeli army in a commando unit similar to the Green Berets in the United States. Won his first World Series bracelet in 2007 in 7-card stud hi/lo, and also owns one WPT title. Lifetime live tournament winnings in excess of $1.91 million. Highly successful Las Vegas businessman and entrepreneur who owns several retail establishments on the Las Vegas Strip. Frequent player in the ìBig Gameî at Bellagio, but considers poker just a hobby.
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Gus Hansen
Known as "The Great Dane" and "Gambling Gus". Is the only player in history to have won 3 WPT open titles, and almost won his 4th in the 2008 WPT Championship at Bellagio, finishing 2nd. Lifetime live tournament winnings in excess of $7.52 million as of 01/22/2010, and ranks 21st on the all-time money list. Difficult players to read because of his loose aggressive style of play . Winner of the 2007 Aussie Millions, and authored a book detailing his play in that event entitled Every Hand Revealed.
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Mike Matusow
Known as "The Mouth" for trash talking at the tables, and one of poker's most recognizable players. Winner of three WSOP bracelets, his latest in the prestigious 2008 $5000 no-limit 2-7 draw event w/rebuys. Lifetime live tournament winnings in excess of $7.29 million, and ranks 23rd on the all-time money list. Won a $100,000 prop bet with Ted Forrest at the beginning of the 2008 WSOP by losing more than 50 pounds since the 2007 WSOP, weighing in at a svelte 179. Released his autobiography entitled Check-Raising the Devil in May 2009, a candid and revealing look at his life and the battles heís faced with demons over the years.
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Phil Ivey
Highly regarded by many as the best player in the game today. Winner of seven WSOP bracelets, including two in 2009 in the $2500 NL Deuce to Seven Lowball event and $2500 Omaha/7-card stud hi/lo event, and one WPT title. Career live tournament winnings in excess of $12.26 million as of 01/22/2010, and ranks 2nd on the all-time money list. Capped off a terrific 2009 WSOP by finishing 7th in the Main Event, good for $1.40 million. One of only five players to win three WSOP bracelets in one year (2002).
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Phil Laak
Nicknamed "The Unabomber" for the trademark hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses he usually wears. Holder of one WPT invitational title, and won the PartyPoker.com World Open V in London in October, 2009, good for $225,000. Career live tournament winnings in excess of $1.80 million as of 01/22/2010. May be the man mostly responsible for "hoodies" becoming popular apparel among poker players. Known for his unusual and often humorous antics and mannerisms at the table.
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Tom Dwan
Nicknamed "durrrr" and has a huge following in the online community. Primarily a high-stakes cash game player with remarkable success despite his young age, and is considered one of poker's premier cash game players. Live career tournament winnings in excess of $1.15 million. Made two final tables in the 2008 World Series of Poker, the first he was old enough to play in. In 2009 issued a $1 million heads-up challenge to anyone except Phil Galfond to put up $500,000 and play 50,000 hands at blinds of $200/$400 while playing 4 tables of NLHE or PLO at once online, saying that if his opponent finished up a minimum of $1 after rake once the hands were completed he would pay them an extra $1.5 million; if Dwan was up $1, the opponent would pay him $500,000.
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Season 1
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