The Poker Star is an Australian reality game show broadcast on One from 26 September 2009. It is created and hosted by former World Series of Poker Champion Joe Hachem, who will also act as judge and mentor to the contestants. New Zealand poker champion Lee Nelson will also appear as a judge.Airdate: The Poker Star The series is sponsored by PokerStars.
The show pits eleven amateur poker players against each other in a series of challenges that tests the principles of "Joe's Code", rules that Hachem believes are beneficial for success in life and for being a successful poker player. Players compete for $100,000 in cash and entry to four of the world's biggest poker tournaments, with Hachem continuing to join them as their personal mentor.About the ShowAuditions: The Poker Star
Over 18,000 people applied for the first series.
The 1st season saw 33-year-old speech pathologist and mother of two Amanda become 'The Poker Star', beating out the other two members of the final three, Josh and Chris. Amanda stated during the final episode that the $100,000 prize money would go a long way to helping with the mortgage on the home she had recently purchased for herself and her two daughters.
Players CandidateAgeStateResult Amanda – speech pathologist 33VictoriaThe Poker Star Josh – lawyer 27VictoriaEliminated in the Season Finale Chris – student 26Victoria Ben – creative director37VictoriaEliminated in week 7 Donna – marketing executive 29New South WalesEliminated in week 6 Shane – sales consultant 26New South Wales Katie – homemaker 26VictoriaEliminated in week 5 Ron – retired 60QueenslandEliminated in week 4 Sally – bookmaker 23New South WalesEliminated in week 3 Martin – fireman 48New South WalesEliminated in week 2 Tom – bar owner 26VictoriaEliminated in week 1
Weekly results Elimination ChartCandidate12345678WinningsAmanda 9th $1,500 2nd 7th* 3rd last 2nd* 2nd $1,500Josh exempt* 8th 7th 4th $3,000 $5,000* $7,500* 5th** $15,500Chris 7th 7th* last $2,500* last 3rd 3rd* $10,000 $12,500Ben $1,000 3rd $2,000 5th 6th 2nd last* $3,000Donna 4th 9th 8th* 2nd* 4th 4th -Shane 3rd 5th 6th 6th* 2nd 5th -Katie last 4th 5th last 5th* -Ron 2nd last 3rd 3rd -Sally 8th 2nd 4th -Martin 6th 6th -Tom 5th - * The player(s) won the weekly challenge. ** Invited to play were professional poker players Eric Assoudourian (3rd), Celina Lin (4th) and Emad Tahtouh (last).
The player became The Poker Star. The player was sent to the elimination room. The player was eliminated.
Weekly summary
Week 1: "Reading People" Air date: 30 September 2009 (special advance screening: 26 September 2009) Challenge: The contestants get to know each other and must decide who is the strongest player and who is the weakest player. Challenge winner: Josh Tournament winner: Ben ($1,000) Eliminated: Tom
Week 2: "Focus" Air date: 7 October 2009 Challenge: The contestants must maintain their focus in the shark tank at the Melbourne Aquarium. Challenge winner: Chris Tournament winner: Amanda ($1,500) Eliminated: Martin
Week 3: "Bluffing" Air date: 14 October 2009 Challenge: The contestants must bluff their way through a job interview with the "human lie detector". Challenge winner: Donna Tournament winner: Ben ($2,000) Eliminated: Sally
Week 4: "Composure" Air date: 21 October 2009 Challenge: The contestants must maintain their composure as they build a house of cards whilst listening to loud music. Challenge winner: Red team (Amanda, Chris, Donna, Shane) Tournament winner: Chris ($2,500) Eliminated: Ron
Week 5: "Recall" Air date: 28 October 2009 Challenge: The contestants must recall a series of events they witnessed which includes a car accident. Challenge winner: Katie Tournament winner: Josh ($3,000) Eliminated: Katie
Week 6: "Endurance" Air date: 4 November 2009 Challenge: The contestants are put in front of a screen with a blinking eye and must record every time the eye blinks. Challenge winner: Josh Tournament winner: Josh ($5,000) Eliminated: Donna, Shane
Week 7: "Courage" Air date: 11 November 2009 Challenge: The contestants get to live the high-life by walking across a thin plank of wood between two buildings, 16 floors above the ground. Challenge winner: Amanda, Ben, Chris, Josh Tournament winner: Josh ($7,500) Eliminated: Ben
Week 8: "Charisma" Air date: 18 November 2009 Challenge: The contestants are brought to a press conference where they have to answer questions on the spot from a team of reporters. Challenge winner: No challenge winner Tournament winner: Chris ($10,000) Eliminated: Josh, Chris The Poker Star: Amanda
References