Poker After Dark airs mega-match

It is only fitting that this match features elite players accustomed to playing for very high stakes. Five of the players, David Benyamine, Jennifer Harman, Eli Elezra, Barry Greenstein, and Phil Ivey, all play regularly in the "Big Game" in Bobby's Room at Bellagio. The other is Allen Cunningham, who has proven himself as one of the most successful tournament players in the world.

Harman and Ivey have won previously on Poker After Dark, and look to become two-time winners. Benyamine, Greenstein, and Cunningham have also participated on the show before, but have come away empty-handed and return in search of their first title.

This will be our first look at Eli Elezra on PAD, though he is certainly no stranger to television, having participated in all four seasons of High Stakes Poker. His loose aggressive style of play is in sharp contrast to many of his opponents at this table, and it should be interesting to see how this style fares against some of the most prolific players in the game, especially those like Cunningham and Harman who possess much tighter images.

Brief profiles of all six players follow. The match will begin airing on NBC late night Monday at 2:05 AM, October 8, 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, October 13, at 1:00 AM, right after Saturday Night Live. This show will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the week with highlights and insightful player interviews.