PokerStars Big Game on Tour added another dose of star-power this week with the addition of a man known to millions of football fans as Gronk. The recently revived TV cash game with a twist just wrapped up its third season, but PokerStars’ team is already putting together next season’s roster.
First to be drafted is four-time Super Bowl winner and FanDuel ambassador Rob Gronkowski. The NFL legend has been finding ways to fill his since retiring from football in 2022, but this will be his first real foray into the world of poker.
Gronkowski, ever the competitor, is eager to put his skills to the test in what he calls “an amazing new adventure.” That, of course, is part of the Big Game’s appeal. Getting to watch some of PokerStars’ finest pros do battle in a cash game is great, but it’s the addition of loose cannons that make it unique.
Rob Gronkowski to stir things up in PokerStars Big Game
Rob Gronkowski won’t be an official loose cannon. That role will be played by a selection of amateurs who pass PokerStars’ selection process. However, as a relative newbie to the game himself, Gronkowski is likely to stir things up by running a few unorthodox plays.
Joining Gronkowski for the new season of PokerStars Big Game on Tour is sports media personality Nick Wright. Although he’s not quite a pro, Wright has been around poker long enough to hold his own, and getting a shot at PokerStars Big Game is a dream come true.
“I’ve loved playing poker since my grandfather taught me, and playing in The Big Game, one of my all-time favorite poker shows, is truly a dream come true. I can’t wait to be competing with some of the best players in the world and Gronk,” Wright told PokerStars’ media team.
Fans of TV showdowns will remember Wright’s heads-up match against Phil Hellmuth in 2021 as part of PokerGO’s High Stakes Duel III. Wright edged ahead of Hellmuth for a time in the match but ultimately lost his $50,000 buy-in.
Exciting set-up for PokerStars Big Game on Tour
Winning that money back in PokerStars Big Game on Tour might be tough but not impossible. The blinds are $100/$200, and the loose cannons are given a $50,000 stake and 150 hands to make a profit. As ever, the games are Texas Hold’em, and hands start as Pot Limit before switching to No Limit after the flop.
The dynamics certainly help the Big Game live up to its moniker. Indeed, during season three, which wrapped up at the end of August, we saw numerous six-figure pots. In the first episode alone, Lex Veldhuis put on a strong performance, as did Jennifer Tilly and loose cannon Nikki Limo.
Rob Gronkowski and Nick Wright are the first of many stars to be added to season four’s line-up. They’ll be joined by players who make it through various Big Game satellites and, subsequently, the audition process.
Indeed, it’s the audition phase that helps separate PokerStars Big Game on Tour from other TV poker showdowns. Loose cannons need the right mix of skill and personality to earn a $50,000 stake. This, combined with a unique set of rules, makes it one of the most exciting cash games on TV right now.
