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Note:  This is a rebroadcast of Week 37

For those who enjoyed the first-ever cash game earlier this season on NBC’s Poker After Dark, this week’s show should put a smile on their faces as six players with reputations for their cash game prowess face off in a $200/$400 no-limit hold’em game with hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line. The first cash game was extremely well received by the viewing community, and this week’s action will see five familiar faces and one new one looking to increase their bankrolls at the expense of one another. Those competing are well-known pros Patrik Antonius, Howard Lederer, Doyle Brunson, and Eli Elezra; actor/comedian/commentator/poker player Gabe Kaplan, and amateur player Dee Tiller.

All of the professional players, of course, are very experienced at playing poker for these stakes, and most have played against one another many times. The wildcard in the mix is Tiller, the self-proclaimed “Ten Pound Bass” who is a successful businessman from Texas but is no stranger to high stakes games, despite having played poker recreationally for only the past six years. He also brings a witty and down-home personality to the table that viewers are sure to enjoy.

Antonius is this week’s youngest player and is known for playing in the highest stakes cash games, especially online, where he has established a reputation as one of the best short-handed cash game players in the world. Elezra has played in the “Big Game” at Bellagio for many years, while Brunson, Lederer, and Kaplan have decades of experience between them playing at this level or even higher, and have amassed considerable wealth over the years by doing so.

The game will start with $200/$400 blinds and viewers can expect lots of straddles. Look for the players to agree to add an ante early in the session to increase the size of the pots.  Players could buy in for a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $250,000. And as is customary on PAD, all of the players’ hole cards will be shown, even if they are mucked preflop, so that viewers can see what cards players don’t play as well as the ones they do.

Brief profiles on all six players appear below. The game will begin airing on NBC late night Monday at 2:05 a.m., February 2, 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, February 7, at 1:00 a.m., right after Saturday Night Live. This show will feature Leeann Tweeden with a behind-the-scenes look at the week with highlights and insightful player interviews. Viewers can also watch the game at www.nbcsports/msnbc.com/poker.

The game will feature several very interesting hands, some great conversation, and some pretty wild swings. Viewers will definitely want to tune in this week to catch all of the action, as there will be plenty of it!

Antonius, Patrik:  (Seat 1)
· Native of Helsinki, Finland now living in Monte Carlo, but also has a home in Las Vegas
· Considered one of the best short-handed high-stakes cash game players in the world, and has a huge following in the Internet community
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $2.84 million, and ranks #1 on Finland’s all-time money list
· Former male model and tennis player, and the proud new father of a baby girl named Mila
· Cool, calm, and calculating at the tables, with a propensity to never go on tilt

Tiller, Dee:  (Seat 2)
· Born in 1968 and now lives in Boerne, TX outside of San Antonio
· Is an oil and gas service provider to major oil companies such as Conoco and BP throughout the United States
· Recreational/amateur player who plays maybe 3 times a week, and has been playing poker for about 6 years
· Plays mainly NL cash games, usually at $100/$200 or $200/$400 blinds, and is accustomed  to six-figure swings in a session
· Likes to see flops, and considers himself a loose player, saying he sometimes plays every hand

Lederer, Howard:  (Seat 3)
· Nicknamed “The Professor,” and one of the most respected of all players among his peers
· Has won two WSOP bracelets and two WPT titles
· Lifetime tournament winning in excess of $4.91 million, and ranks 40th on the all-time money list
· Won the $100,000 buy-in event at the 2008 Aussie Millions, good for nearly $1.1 million
· Highly regarded as a television poker commentator and analyst

Brunson, Doyle:  (Seat 4)
· At the age of 75, 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 tournament winnings in excess of $5.55 million, and ranks 34th on the all-time money list
· Owner of 10 WSOP bracelets, tied for 2nd with Johnny Chan
· Had the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic renamed the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in his honor in 2007

Kaplan, Gabe:  (Seat 5)
· Long time actor and comedian best remembered for his role in the 1970’s hit television sitcom Welcome Back Kotter
· Proficient in many games, and has played poker for more than 30 years
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $1.34 million
· In 1980, challenged 1978 World Champion Bobby Baldwin and 1979 World Champion Hal Fowler to $200,000 heads-up freezeouts, and defeated them both
· Oft-seen analyst on several poker television programs and highly regarded for his knowledge of the game and the humor he infuses into his commentary

Elezra, Eli:  (Seat 6)
· 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 tournament winnings in excess of $1.89 million
· Highly successful Las Vegas businessman and entrepreneur who owns several retail establishments on the Las Vegas Strip
· Frequent player in the “Big Game” at Bellagio, but considers poker just a hobby

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.