Note:  This is a rebroadcast of Match 29

When the idea for this week’s match on NBC’s Poker After Dark was first conceived, it was met by a variety of opinions from those involved in having a say on which matches will eventually be filmed as taken from a long list of suggestions with different themes.  But in the end, “Love at First Raise” received the nod and wound up being one of the more entertaining matches to be filmed in the show’s history.

The match brings together three couples who are romantically involved in Jennifer Harman and husband Marco Traniello, David Benyamine and fiancée Erica Schoenberg, and Phil “The Unabomber” Laak and longtime girlfriend and Hollywood actress Jennifer Tilly.  All have previously appeared on PAD and played against one another several times before, but the potential for a actual confrontation between both members of a particular couple, verbal or otherwise, is something that the show’s producers thought might add an additional element of drama and a few laughs as this situation doesn’t often occur in regular tournament play.

Here are some quick facts on the players:  the women lead the men in the number of World Series of Poker bracelets won with 3 (Harman has 2, Tilly has 1) as none of the men have ever won a WSOP bracelet.  The men, however, have more WPT victories, as Benyamine has both a WPT open and invitational title under his belt, and Laak has an invitational title.  Tilly also owns one WPT invitational title, while the rest are seeking their first in either category. And interestingly, the women have accrued roughly the same amount of lifetime tournament winnings as the men. 

Harman has 23 cashes in World Series events lifetime to lead the pack in that category, while husband Marco is 2nd with 17 despite only playing for the past 3 years.  And though Schoenberg, Tilly, and Traniello are probably more recognized for their tournament play, the opposite is true for Benyamine, Laak, and even Harman despite her WSOP success, as these three are primarily considered high-stakes cash game players within the poker community.

Brief profiles of all six players follow.  The match will begin airing on NBC late night Monday at 2:05 a.m., June 16, and will continue for five consecutive nights in the same time slot.  A special program called the “Director’s Cut” will air late night Saturday, June 21, at 1:00 a.m., right after Saturday Night Live.  This show will feature Marianela with a behind-the-scenes look at the week with highlights and insightful player interviews.  Viewers can also watch the match at www.nbcsports/msnbc.com/poker, which has recently undergone an upgrade that visitors are sure to enjoy.  Be sure to bookmark this link and check back often for the latest updates on the players, including those scheduled to play next season which are now posted with pictures.

These players are all good friends, and the match at times is reminiscent of a home game around the kitchen table.  But one thing viewers can count on is that there will be some emotion on display this week, and it won’t all be lighthearted.

Harman, Jennifer:  (Seat 1)
· Only woman to regularly compete in the “Big Game” at the Bellagio
· Owns two WSOP bracelets, and finished 2nd in the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe H.O.R.S.E. event
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $2.18 million
· Wrote the section of playing limit hold’em in Doyle Brunson’s book Super System II
· Married to poker professional Marco Traniello, and spends considerable time hosting charity events which raise money for the Nevada SPCA and other worthwhile causes

Benyamine, David:  (Seat 2)
· Native of France, but now lives in Las Vegas where he is a frequent player in the “Big Game” at Bellagio
· Owns one WPT open title and one WPT invitational title
· Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $1.40 million
· Regarded as one of the best high-stakes cash game players in the world
· Is engaged to be married to poker professional Erica Schoenberg

Tilly, Jennifer:  (Seat 3)
· Her exotic looks are attributable to her being half-Chinese and half-Caucasian
· Winner of one WSOP bracelet and one WPT invitational title
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $455,000
· Has appeared on many television shows and in numerous movies in a variety of roles
· Both loveable and a little wacky, she and romantic interest professional poker player Phil Laak seem to make an ideal couple

Traniello, Marco:  (Seat 4)
· Born in Gaeta, Italy, and moved to the States after a trip here in 2000 when he met his wife Jennifer Harman in Bellagio’s parking garage
· Achieved 7 cashes in his first World Series of Poker in 2005
· Lifetime tournaments winnings in excess of $434,000
· Won his seat into the 2007 NHPC by defeating approximately 70 players and winning the supersatellite hosted by Caesars Palace
· A former renowned hairstylist in Italy, his list of clients included many of Italy’s most celebrated residents

Schoenberg, Erica:  (Seat 5)
· Nicknamed “Poker Babe” and one of the game’s more attractive female players
· Studied how to win  at blackjack with members of the infamous MIT blackjack team, and derived much of her income from blackjack until turning to poker full-time in 2005
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $627,000
· Engaged to be married to poker professional David Benyamine
· Former model and personal trainer

Laak, Phil:  (Seat 6)
· Nicknamed “The Unabomber” for the trademark hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses he usually wears
· Holder of one WPT invitational title
· Career tournament winnings in excess of $1.38 million
· Dates actress and poker player Jennifer Tilly
· Known for his unusual and often humorous antics and mannerisms at the table

Dennis Oehring serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for the firm POKER PROductions.  Statistical information courtesy of the Hendon Mob database.  Photo courtesy of NBC’s Paul Drinkwater.