NPL TV

The National Poker League (NPL) will be filming and distributing the PokerNews Cup Main Event and the PokerNews Australian Bad Boys of Poker Invitational for broadcast to over half a billion households as part of their 2007 Global Poker Circuit. Episodes from the PokerNews Cup are expected to air in mid-December, a full schedule will be released here closer to the date. Find out more about the NPL and their upcoming tournaments at www.nplworldpoker.com .

tv networks

PokerNews Australian Bad Boys of Poker $10,000 Invitational

This single-table $10,000 invite-only tournament is expected to be one of the highlights of the PokerNews Cup schedule. We've gathered some of Australia's highest profile names, plus some local heroes - all with the gift of the gab. Each player will have their own individual microphone, so you'll get to see - and hear - all of the trash talking that is bound to take place.

Lee Nelson

Lee "Final Table" Nelson's nickname wasn't born out of irony. He has notched up over fifty final tables at a rate that most young guns can only hope to emulate. Lee is a recognised author both within and outside the poker world. He co-authored the highly-rated "Kill Phil" with fellow poker professional Blair Rodman, and has also penned a book on prostate cancer. Now retired from medicine, Lee is doing anything but sitting back and relaxing - often running circles around younger players. Lee's tournament winnings stand at over $2M, his biggest success being his win in the 2006 Aussie Millions, in which he defeated 418 players for a AUD$1,295,800 first prize.

Antanas “Tony G” Guoga

Tony G (as he is known) burst onto tv screens around the world courtesy of his second place finish – and his trash talking - at the 2004 WPT Grand Prix de Paris. Tony’s brash style has made him the scourge of his opponents, and a YouTube hero the world over. However with over $2M in tournament earnings, he can certainly walk the talk. Tony is the reigning WPT Bad Boy of Poker, and will certainly live up to his name at the PokerNews Cup.

Mark Vos

Originally from South Africa, Mark Vos came to most people’s attention when he won his first WSOP bracelet in 2006, defeating Nam Le to win the $2,000 No Limit Holdem. However, he was well known in the Australian and online poker community as one of the most consistent and feared No-Limit cash game players. Mark can be found in the biggest games on the net, inbetween stops on the tournament circuit.

Jeff Lisandro

After going without a WSOP bracelet, Lisandro almost made it two in 2007 when he finished runner-up in the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha, and then went one better in the $2,000 Seven Card Stud. Known primarily as a cash-game player, Lisandro has also amassed a long list of impressive tournament results, including demolishing Phil Ivey heads up to capture the 2005 WSOP Circuit Event at Lake Tahoe, and making a deep run in the 2006 WSOP Main Event, where he finished 17th out of a field of 8,772 players.

Gary Benson

Gary is a stalwart of the Australian poker scene – he participated in the very first Australian Poker Championship in 1987 and has become a regular fixture at almost every major poker tournament since. In 1996, The first Australian ever to win a WSOP bracelet back in 1996, Gary has a long list of tournament cashes and shows no signs of slowing down, with a win in the $1,150 No Limit Holdem with Rebuys at the 2007 Aussie Millions, and two cashes at the 2007 WSOP.

Billy “The Croc” Argyros

Known for his eye-catching array of crocodile emblazoned apparel (including a crocodile shaped hat), Billy “The Croc” Argyros has been a stalwart of the Australian poker scene. Billy has a long list of tournament results from all over the world, dating back to the late eighties. Also an active high stakes cash game player, poker fans may have seen Billy on this year’s Aussie Millions Cash Game invitational.

Emad Tahtouh

Another Melbourne local, Emad carved out a name for himself in 2006 by making the final table of the $5,000 Pot Limit Holdem at the WSOP, followed by a 2nd place finish at the EPT London. Emad is also a columnist for Bluff Australasia, and interestingly, he is credited by friend Joe Hachem as the person that convinced him to attend the 2005 WSOP. In 2007, Emad along with good friend Arul Thillai started Card Academy – a poker strategy website.

Arul Thillai

Arul is housemates with fellow PokerNews Australian Bad Boys of Poker invitee Emad Tahtouh, and plays a similarly aggressive style of poker. Arul certainly plays to win and while this sometimes means a quick exit, more often than not he can be found behind a mountain of chips. Arul made three final tables at the 2006 Aussie Millions, cashed in the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha at the 2006 WSOP, and earlier this year took down third place in the PokerStars Sunday Million for just over $70,000.

David Saab

David Saab’s table demeanour can be summed up as, well, flamboyant. At the recent Asia Pacific Poker Tour event in Manila, the tournament director took the odd step of giving David an official warning for repeated etiquette violation, namely excessive chatter. David freely admits that his table talk is part of his strategy – and one that he has used very effectively to date. This year David won the $5000 Heads Up event at the Aussie Millions, and is a well-known high stakes player at Crown Casino.

Sam Khouiss

Sam Khouiss is another one of our Bad Boys who has been entrenched in the Australian poker scene since the early nineties. A regular and consistent winner in the local high stakes cash games, Sam has also been a prolific tournament player, with numerous cashes to his name. He has found favour in the WSOP Main Event, cashing in both 2006 and 2007, and has over $400,000 in tournament earnings. Sam is sure to have one of the loudest (and foulest) mouths on the table, so expect him to live up to the bad boy tag.