Antonio Esfandiari to Make Poker Return on Upcoming PokerStars Big Game on Tour
Antonio Esfandiari is back. The poker boom era fan favorite who famously won the 2012 $1 million buy-in World Series of Poker (WSOP) Big One for One Drop is returning to poker for the second season of the PokerStars Big Game on Tour.
“The Magician,” who hasn’t played much poker the past few years, will compete in high-stakes cash games against a stacked lineup and a “Loose Cannon,” a non-pro chosen through an audition phase to be staked into a game that could change their life. Nikki Limo and Lily Newhouse were chosen during auditions at Resorts World during the 2023 North American Poker Tour (NAPT) series in Las Vegas.
Stacked Poker Game Lineup
Speaking of the NAPT, the PokerStars US event got underway at Resorts on Friday. The audition process for the next Big Game on Tour show Loose Cannons are underway. The winners of those competitions will get staked to face high-profile poker players such as Esfandiari and Phil Hellmuth, who competed in the game earlier this year.
The Loose Cannons won’t only be facing experienced poker pros. Rob Gronkowski, a future Hall of Fame NFL tight end and four-time Super Bowl champion, is slated to compete. Hustler Casino Live fan favorite Alan Keating, sports talk personality Nick Wright, and PokerStars ambassador Lex Veldhuis are among the star-studded cast of characters who will appear on the Big Game on Tour Season 2.
Esfandiari is, perhaps, the biggest get for PokerStars this season outside of “Gronk” given that he has essentially retired from poker. The three-time WSOP bracelet winner doesn’t show up to play in just any game these days. He didn’t even compete in the WSOP last summer and his last appearance on a major televised poker show — High Stakes Poker Season 10 — aired in February 2023.
But the Magician is back, and he’s going to be facing a stacked lineup of entertaining players including Hellmuth, one of the most recognizable faces in poker history. The Big Game on Tour is the new edition to the popular Big Game show, which aired in the early 2010s. PokerStars brought the show back last year (taped episodes began airing in 2024) and the relaunch was a rousing success.
Season 1’s games included Hellmuth, actress Jennifer Tilly, comedian Michael Ian Black, and numerous popular poker pros such as Phil Laak and Maria Ho. More of the same intrigue is expected when Season 2 launches in 2025.
Adding to the entertainment aspect of Season 2 will be the longstanding rivalry between Hellmuth and Esfandiari. The poker legends went head-to-head during the first PokerGO High Stakes Duel heads-up poker game in 2020. Hellmuth won all three matches for a $350,000 profit against “The Magician,” who will be looking to get some of that money back on the Big Game on Tour.
FAQ
How do you become a WPT player?
How do you become a WPT player? Players can qualify for the WPT at the local casino where the event is held. In addition, online poker operators including partypoker offer satellites to many WPT events. Players can also qualify for free via the Club WPT app and will be able to qualify in the future at WPT Global.
How does account verification work?
How does account verification work? WPT Global reserves the right to request documents to verify the identity of players and prevent problem or fraudulent activity. The types of documents required are: proof of identity (ID card, passport, driver’s license), proof of address (utility bills or bank statements not more than three months old) and proof of deposit (cards or e-wallet). When requested, players must provide full, clear, color photos or screenshots of verification documents. Further information regarding account verification is available on the WPT Global FAQ page.
What are the Big Bass Bonanza multipliers for each retriggered 10 free spins round?
What are the Big Bass Bonanza multipliers for each retriggered 10 free spins round? The first retrigger gives the wild a 2x multiplier, the second retrigger gives a 3x multiplier, and the third retrigger gives a 10x multiplier on your wild.
Who is the best WPT player?
Who is the best WPT player? Leaderboard Rank Player Titles 1 Carlos Mortensen 3 2 Daniel Negreanu 2 3 Michael Mizrachi 2 4 Fedor Holz 1
How do I install WPT Global?
How do I install WPT Global? Windows - minimum system requirements: Windows 7, min 500MB disk space, 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended) 1. Press the button to start the download 2. Once the app has downloaded to your computer, open the file (check your “Download” folder) to launch the installer 3. Follow the installer’s instructions Mac - minimum system requirements: macOS 10.14, min 500MB disk space, 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
Download & Play WPT Global Application In Shortly
This site only collects related articles. Viewing the original, please copy and open the following link:Antonio Esfandiari to Make Poker Return on Upcoming PokerStars Big Game on Tour