Note:  This is an encore presentation of Match 35

NBC’s Poker After Dark brings viewers another match this week that most fans would give their eye teeth to play in, as 26 year-old amateur Paul Featherstone from Woodland, CA butts heads with five of his favorite players in Dream Match II.  The players Paul selected are Mike Matusow, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Sexton, Jennifer Harman, and Gavin Smith.  Paul won his seat in an online competition, while the others will put up $20,000 each and play for the $120,000 winner-take-all first prize.

This is the second dream match on Poker After Dark.  Viewers may remember Ken Light’s appearance in Dream Match I, where the amateur played well but was knocked out on the final hand along with Jennifer Harman when Phil Hellmuth made trip sevens on the turn to eliminate both players and win his first ever match on PAD.  It will be interesting to see if Paul fares better than Ken did, and he is sure to have a great number of supporters rooting for him as the match’s underdog.

At the time of this taping, Matusow’s 4th place finish in the “Mission Impossible” match kept him winless on PAD with a record of 0-9.  Mike’s obviously feeling the pressure of having the worst record on the show, so you know he’ll be focused.  Hellmuth comes into the match with a record of 3-8, and would love nothing better than to become the show’s first 4-time winner.

Proud new father Mike Sexton enters this match with a 1-1 record, scoring a victory in Match 19.  Jennifer Harman seems due, as she is now 1-6 with her victory coming way back in Match 8.  Gavin Smith currently sports a 1-2 record on the show, with a victory in Match 22.

Brief profiles of all six players follow.  The match will begin airing on NBC late night Monday at 2:05 a.m., January 19, and will continue for five consecutive nights in the same time slot.  A special program called the “Director’s Cut” will air late night Saturday, January 24, at 1:00 a.m., right after Saturday Night Live.  This show will feature Leeann with a behind-the-scenes look at the week with highlights and insightful player interviews.  Check your local listings for exact times. Viewers can also watch the match at www.nbcsports/msnbc.com/poker.

This match has plenty of action, with lots of all-in moves, a number of suckouts and bad beats, some behavior by Hellmuth that fans have come to expect, and a great heads-up match with a dramatic final hand.  Viewers can expect a very entertaining match, with plenty of opportunities to ride along on the emotional roller coasters of their favorite players.

Matusow, Mike:  (Seat 1)
· 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 tournament winnings in excess of $7.28 million, and ranks 20th 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
· Self-proclaimed unluckiest player in the game when he’s running bad

Hellmuth, Phil:  (Seat 2)
· Known as the “Poker Brat,” a name he now embraces, and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in July 2007
· 1989 World Champion, and won his 11th World Series bracelet in 2007, making him the first and only person in history to do so
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $10.74 million, and ranks 3rd on the all-time money list, despite never having a cash for more than $755,000
· Now has more World Series cashes (69) and has made more WSOP final tables (41) than any other player in history
· His fame has given him the opportunity to be involved in many businesses on the side, and he is highly acknowledged as the game’s best self-promoter

Sexton, Mike:  (Seat 3)
· A journeyman poker player, he began playing professionally in the late 1970s
· Owns one WSOP bracelet
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $3.70 million
· One of television’s most recognizable and respected poker commentators, and perhaps the game’s greatest ambassador
· At the age of 60, became a father for the first time on August 21, 2008 when he and his wife Karen celebrated the birth of a baby boy, Ty Michael

Harman, Jennifer:  (Seat 4)
· Only woman to regularly compete in the “Big Game” at the Bellagio
· Owns two WSOP bracelets, and finished 2nd in the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe H.O.R.S.E. event
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $2.21 million
· Wrote the section of playing limit hold’em in Doyle Brunson’s book Super System II
· Married to poker professional Marco Traniello, and spends considerable time hosting charity events which raise money for the Nevada SPCA and other worthwhile causes

Smith, Gavin:  (Seat 5)
· Born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and attended the University of Guelph
· Holder of 1 WPT title, and was the WPT’s Player of the Year for season IV
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $4.66 million, and ranks 43rd on the all-time money list
· Talkative at the tables, and a self-proclaimed “wild card” due to his aggressive play
· Known to engage in unusual prop bets during the World Series of Poker, especially with good friend poker professional Joe Sebok

Featherstone, Paul:  (Seat 6)
· Is a resident of Woodland, CA
· Won his seat to play on Poker After Dark via a freeroll at FullTiltPoker.net, and the players chosen to play against him are all among his personal favorites
· Has been playing poker for about 3 years, sometimes as much as 10 hours a day, both online and in home games with friends
· Worked for 5 years in the food service industry and is currently employed as a warehouse worker, but wants to return to college to become a veterinary technician
· Other hobbies include jogging, golf and basketball, and is a huge fan of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings

Dennis Oehring serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for the firm POKER PROductions.  Statistical information courtesy of The Hendon Mob database.  Photos courtesy of Stephanie Moore.