button in Safari'Loose Cannon' Shows No Fear, Brings the Action on PokerStars Big Game on Tour
The PokerStars Big Game on Tour returned Sunday with a new table full of top pros, a celebrity athlete, and a "Loose Cannon" who earned the moniker.
Andy Taylor, a finalist last season, won a competition at Resorts World in Las Vegas to become the newest Loose Cannon, an unknown or up-and-coming player who receives a $50,000 stake to compete in a televised high-stakes cash game.
In most cases, the Loose Cannon plays anything but loose, typically waiting for a big hand to make a move. But that isn't the case for Taylor, who can only take home profits accumulated over 150 hands.
Loose Cannon Battles a UFC Star
The table featured Taylor, PokerStars ambassador Jason Koon, Randy "3Coin" Sadler, Matt Berkey, and reigning WSOP Player of the Year Shaun Deeb. It is a mix of top pros and recreational players, a traditional Big Game lineup. James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton worked together on commentary for the last time, as "Stapes" has left PokerStars to work for the WSOP.
O'Malley, known as "Suga Sean," made his televised poker debut. The UFC star recently took up poker as a hobby, and he's fallen in love with the game. But he was also the biggest loser, down $20,300, in the first episode with the current table, which spanned 26 hands.
The biggest winner thus far is Taylor, who was also the most active player in the game, a stark contrast to most past Loose Cannons. Taylor showed no fear against tough competition.
O'Malley, despite the loss, showed great restraint and discipline with K♣10♣ on a board of 10♠K♥3♣A♠4♥ when he minimized the damage with two pair, only losing a $22,000 pot to the Loose Cannon, who had Q♦J♥ for the nuts. It could have been worse for the former UFC Bantamweight Champion.
Taylor, an entrepreneur who also runs a nonprofit, ran into some tough situations against the more experienced players, including Koon and Berkey, folding to aggression. But he pulled off a semi-bluff with an open-ended straight draw and five-high on the turn in a four-way pot, which forced Deeb to fold pocket queens. He finished the show by winning a $16,900 pot after flopping the nut straight.
The Loose Cannon ended the first episode of the newest PokerStars Big Game on Tour with a $21,600 profit, bringing his stack up to $71,600. Koon ($17,100) and Deeb ($2,400) were the only other players to turn a profit.
The PokerStars Big Game on Tour will return to the PokerStars YouTube channel next Sunday.
