The PokerStars, Million Dollar Challenge has been a machine when it comes to making the headlines of most poker news sites. The first, most shocking aspect is that we all know that millions of people love playing poker online at PokerStars.net, but it was unclear whether or not that would translate into television ratings. Apparently it has, and this show is now the most watched poker show in history. Taping has just finished up on the latest episode, and two of the celebrity poker players they have added to the show are apparently a huge hit. While former UFC champion Tito Ortiz, and Supermodel Joanna Krupa are not poker stars in the vein of Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke, they not only played great, but also connected with the audience.
The first round saw Tito Ortiz playing against a wrestling coach. The back and forth between these poker players was simply epic. If there was a “heads up encounter of the year” award out there, what transpired between these two would probably run away with it. While they are not established poker stars, that didn’t take away from the push and pull, emotional rollercoaster of their heads up game. What also happened during one of the Texas Hold’em hands was an unscripted moment where Tito opened up about his background, and is life. He told the wrestling coach, "Wrestling is what saved my life," said Ortiz, in the middle of playing a hand. "I was a kid who was on the streets. My parents weren't ready to grow up, you could say. They had a drug habit and wrestling is what saved me. I got into wrestling, it kept me off the streets, kept me out of gangs. It changed my whole life completely." In the end it was extremely compelling television.
Joanna Krupa has been all over the place lately. She had a deep run in the show “Dancing with the Stars”, is the current Playboy cover model, and Maxim dubbed her the sexiest swimsuit model on the planet. She has also been a favorite in the community of poker fans. She exhibited some impressive skills during the Million Dollar Challenge. At times hands she showed the type of aggression that is common to those who play poker online, and then during other Texas Holdem hands she was the picture of conservative play. This jumping between styles kept her opponent off balance. On a related note, our interview with the lovely and talented Joanna Krupa will be up on LaunchPoker.com next week.
The PokerStars.Net Million Dollar Challenge is sure to keep creating headlines for the poker news industry. If you haven’t tuned in to this show, you should.
