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Poker After Dark Battle of the Sexes

Fans who do not enjoy listening to the banter between the players during a poker match may want to hit the mute button on their remote controls for this one. At times there is so much chatter going on that you'll think you are watching someone's home game, let alone a match between some of poker's more colorful and talented players!

In another first for PAD (http://www.nbcsports.com/poker/index.html), this 6-handed match will be comprised of three men and three women, making it truly a battle of the sexes. It just so happens that the men, Howard Lederer, Gabe Kaplan, and Poker After Dark's own Ali Nejad, are all television poker commentators, so you know they'll have the gift of gab. But they'll struggle to get a word in edgewise against the likes of Annie Duke, Vanessa Rousso, and Kristy Gazes.

This will be our first look at "The Voice" behind Poker After Dark, as Ali Nejad brings his unique brand of humor to the match. It should be interesting to hear Ali exchange verbal barbs with Gabe Kaplan, one of the game's most prolific poker jokers. And while Nejad may not be as well known of a player as the others, he has been playing poker successfully for many years and has the added advantage of having seen how most of these players approach playing under the show's structure and format.

Kristy "Mixed Games" Gazes also makes her Poker After Dark (http://www.nbcsports.com/poker/index.html) debut. Kristy was the first woman professional ever to reach the Round of 8 in the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, doing so this year by defeating Clonie Gowen, Isabelle Mercier, and Scott Fischman before eventually succumbing to runner-up Chad Brown. She's been running well of late, and a victory here would only solidify her reputation as a top-notch player.

Kaplan, Lederer, Duke, and Rousso have all appeared on Poker After Dark in the past, but only Lederer has laid claim to a victory. It will also be the first time Howard squares off against his sister Annie Duke on PAD, adding yet another element of drama to what turned out to be a match that the players obviously enjoyed participating in and one that viewers won't want to miss.

Brief profiles of all six players follow. The match will begin airing late night Monday at 2:05 AM, June 25, 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 30, 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, and conclude with the winner sitting down with Shana Hiatt to discuss and analyze the match.

Each of the match's six segments can also be viewed daily on www.nbcsports.com/poker. More detailed information on the players is also available at this website.

Kaplan, Gabe: (Seat 1)

* Oft-seen commentator on several poker television programs and highly regarded for his knowledge of the game and the humor he infuses into his commentary

* Long time actor and comedian who has played poker for more than 30 years and has career tournament winnings in excess of $973,000

Lederer, Howard: (Seat 2)

* Has won two WSOP bracelets and two WPT titles

* Lifetime tournament winning in excess of $3.39 million, and ranks 46th on the all-time money list

Nejad, Oliver "Ali": (Seat 3)

* Began playing poker in 1996, and has been a low-limit player, prop player, dealer, online player, and high-limit player

* Has served as commentator on several televised poker shows, including Poker After Dark, Poker Superstars 2, and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship

Rousso, Vanessa: (Seat 4)

* Graduated cum laude from Duke University in 2 � years and now balances playing poker and attending law school at the University of Miami

* Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $744,000

Duke, Annie: (Seat 5)

* Winner of one WSOP bracelet, and ranks 2nd on the women's all-time money list, trailing only Kathy Liebert

* Career tournament winnings in excess of $3.37 million, and ranks 47th on the all-time money list

Gazes, Kristy: (Seat 6)

* Began playing poker in 1986 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, and is primarily a cash game player

* Lifetime tournament winnings in excess of $798,000

(Statistical information courtesy of The Hendon Mob player database)

(Group photo courtesy of Paul Drinkwater)

Dennis Oehring is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas and is associated with POKER-PROductions.

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