Poker tournaments and online casino poker games highlighted poker players, celebrities and pros with their outstanding skills. Some keep simple, just wanted to enjoy with their poker tables while others are known enough and find themselves followed by cameras. Are you wondering who are this players whose performances reaches the screen and televised poker shows? Overexposed? Well, judged them yourself…
Prahlad Friedman
Born on May 20, 1978, Friedman is an American professional poker player form Los Angeles, California. Under the screen name “Spirit Rock” he played for Full Tilt Poker. He has other alias like “Mahatma” on Ultimate Bet, “Zweig” on Prima Network, and “Poopers” on PokerStars.
His skills stand out in World Series of Poker. In 2003, he won WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 pot limit hold’em event earning him $109,400. In August 2009, he again won the WPT Legends of Poker event for $1,000,900, defeating 2009 WSOP Main Event “November Niner” Kevin Schaffel heads up.
Friedman is very well known on the Internet poker message boards for his raps, making him a favorite camera spot. Aside from his poker skills, he has rapped for ESPN for a “The Nuts” segment at the WSOP circuit event at Harrah’s Rincon in 2005, the Main Event in the 2006 World Series of Poker, and also for the poker website RakeBreak.
Phil Laak
Phil was born in September 8, 1972 in Dublin, Ireland. He’s a professional poker player and a winner of a World Poker Tour (WPT) Celebrity Invitational in 2004 and has appeared on numerous national-aired television shows. He has made two WPT final tables- six place in both the season two Battle of Champion and the 2005 Five Diamond World Poker Classic.
The screen chooses him well. He appeared on seasons two through six of High Stakes Poker on GSN, and served as the dealer on the short-lived television series E! Hollywood Hold’em. In 2008, Laak made a cameo appearance in the Knight Rider television movie, where he was credited as “Poker Pro”. Aside from an active poker pro and poke shows actions, Laak also had written a monthly column called “Being Phil Laak” in the poker-themed Bluff Magazine since late 2005. He also co-hosted a show called I Bet You on the (MOJO network) with his friend Antonio Esfandiari. He often find his way into every televised cash game and invitation-only tournament.
Vanessa Rousso
Vaness Ashley Rousso was born on February 5, 1983. She’s a law student at the University of Miami and a professional poker player. She’s known for the pretty face, and it takes her long way making her the favorite spot of the ESPN cameras.
Vaness was also known by her Pokerstars online screen name Lady Maverick. Though, Rousso has never made a WSOP or WPT final table, you will often find her on televised poker shows, whether they be buy-in events or made-for-TV cash grabs. Yes, she did take down an European Poker Tour event for almost $750,000 and was second in the Heads-Up Championship in 2009, but most of all her pretty face let the cameras follow her wherever she goes at the WSOP despite the fact that she doesn’t make a deep run.
There were just few of the favorite screen icon on every televised poker shows. Whether its on the talent, popularity and the pretty faces that made them always the camera’s favorite spot, what’s important is their contribution to the poker world.
Others familiar faces of the screen are: Gabe Kaplan, Phil Gordon, Tony G, Annie Duke, Gavin Smith, Antonio Esfandiari and Howard Lederer. Find out more about them in my next poker players review.
By yorimisori
Yori Misori is an author of online casinos and gambling related articles to render you quality reviews and updates. Feel free to choose the best online casino that suits your choice and preferences. For more entertainment, Yori’s Celebrity Poker Face Blog surely got the perfect mix.