The PokerStars Big Game on Tour is back, and much sooner than we had anticipated! The last season wrapped up just a few weeks back, and PokerStars did not give us much to go on as to when (and even if) the show would come back.
The good news is that, yes, The Big Game is coming back with a full set of fresh episodes, and even better news is that it will start airing on YouTube this Sunday, May 17.
The initial announcement came through a few days ago, during the live streaming of the €100,000 High Roller Invitational. Jason Koon was the last player standing, picking up a cool million, but all poker fans walked away with big smiles on their faces, knowing that one of the most popular shows was about to return, featuring another exciting lineup.
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Jason Koon Headlines the New Season
PokerStars never fails to deliver when it comes to The Big Game lineups. The recently-concluded set of episodes saw a great mix of hardened pros and famous recs, and it looks like we’re headed for another treat.
Headlining the lineup for the upcoming show is Jason Koon, one of the operator’s biggest ambassadors and the player who currently holds the third spot on the All-Time Money List. It’s completely fair to say that Koon is currently one of the best poker players alive.
Joining him at the table are Shaun Deeb, two-time WSOP Player of the Year winner, and Matt Berkey, the man who’s no stranger to the cash game action of the highest variety.
Randy ‘3Coin’ Sadler, a regular on many popular cash game streams, and Sean O’Mailey, an MMA fighter and a poker enthusiast, are in the mix as well, adding some flair and also creating an environment where the Loose Cannon won’t have to deal only with the best of the best. Even still, he’ll have his work cut out for him.
It’s One Tough Table
Taking on the role of the ‘Loose Cannon’ for the next 150 hands will be one Andy Taylor, an operations manager hailing from Canada. In his day-to-day life, Andy runs a property maintenance company, which, no doubt, requires some serious planning.
Will that skill set come in useful for his Big Game appearance, though?
As always, he’ll receive a $50,000 stake, and, after a total of 150 hands, any profit he has over that initial amount is his to keep. If he ends up with $50,000, $20,000, or just $1, it doesn’t matter — any profit over the initial stake is his to keep, but he can’t take home any of the staked amount.
In addition to his job, Andy and his wife also run a non-profit organization in Toronto that helps young athletes improve their skills and mindset. That type of experience could certainly come in handy in a high-pressure environment he’s facing.
In this kind of lineup, there is hardly a player who wouldn’t be an underdog. However, anything can happen in poker over a few dozen hands, and the ‘Loose Cannon’ only needs to catch a few lucky hands at the right time to lock up some serious cash.
The first episode of the new segment of The Big Game on Tour airs this Sunday, May 17, on PokerStars’ official YouTube channel. After that, there will be four more episodes airing on the following Sundays, May 24 and 31, and June 7 and 14.
