I just had an email from one of the Poker Dome producers that was sent to all six of the contestants in my heat. So of course, I’ve been using this boob to do a little research 🙂
I already knew one of my opponents would be Carl Olsen, as he was the other qualifier from my heat. He was a runner up in the 2005 EPT French Open (apparently dumping out to his best mate) and has a string of other live cashes to his name, and online success as colson10. In fact, when searching for just his name, Google suggests: "See results for: carl olson poker".
Turns out we also have another possible online pro at the table in Steve Day. Sharkscope actually lists him (ackbleh) as a loser on PokerStars (current form is "tilt", it unhelpfully says), although he does play $210 and $315 turbo SNGs, which are perfect training for a speed poker TV crapshoot. Steve has a handful of respectable recent cashes to his name. Olson also is listed as playing $525 turbos and $500 and $200 heads up SNGs, although he hasn’t been on Stars for a few months.
Of the other three players, I only found one possible hit – Trey Aitken, a cafe owner from Alabama.
I still don’t think there’s any reason to let this intimidate me. I’ve known all along the game will be fast and furious, and at least I already expect two of the guys to be prepared for that and play accordingly. Besides, there’s a very good chance that any skill or experience will be rendered neutral by the TV format. Virtually every contestant I’ve seen on Poker Dome so far has appeared to be as poor as the show itself. Oh, should I not say that? I still have a one in six chance of $25k on Saturday, but I figure my odds of looking clueless are much higher.
Comments