Steve Lipscomb's World Poker Tour has announced that it has started
work on a new poker television special entitled, "Fathers and
Sons" with filming on the WPT set at the Foxwoods Casino Resort
in Mashantucket, Conn. The unique show will feature poker’s
most prominent personalities and players competing for family pride
and a $25 000 seat in the WPT World Championship.
The innovative “tag-team” father-son poker match will
feature “Texas Dolly” Doyle Brunson and his son, high-stakes
cash game stalwart, Todd Brunson, who will headline the table of famous
last names along with Barry Greenstein and son Joe Sebok. Also joining
the table is CardPlayer Magazine publisher and media mogul Barry Shulman
with son Jeff Shulman; firefighter Steve Stolzmann with son John Stolzmann
(Season III WPT World Poker Open champion); and Romeo Simon with son
Michael Simon (Season IV WPT World Poker Challenge winner).
Completing the table will be WPT host Vince Van Patten as he finally
steps down from the host stand to take a seat at a WPT table with
famous father, Dick Van Patten, at his side. Profssional Poker Tour
host Matt Corboy will fill Vince’s usual seat beside Mike Sexton
to provide commentary.
Changing the rules of the usual WPT final table, the six father-son
duos will each act as one player. Starting with $250 000 in tournament
chips, the sons will kick-off the six-handed Texas Hold ‘em
game while their fathers look on. At any time during the game, the
fathers can “tag” their sons out to let them know how
the game should be played – even if they are in the middle of
a hand. The twist in this tournament comes at the end when the last
remaining father and son square off against each other for the $25,000
seat in the WPT World Championship, which will be held in April 2007
at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
“We wanted to create a unique special that would bring
a fun and emotional perspective to poker playing families,”
said Robyn Moder, Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of
the WPT. “Millions of Americans engage in weekly family
poker matches and pride is often the biggest stake in the prize pool.
What better way to show our viewers how the pros handle the pressure.”
WPT Fathers and Sons will air on the Travel Channel on June 17, 2007,
appropriately on Father’s Day.