Sky Poker's New Series Goes In Search Of The 'Total Player'

Sky Poker’s new reality show ‘Total Player’ got underway Saturday and introduced the poker mentors who will be aiming to select, train and turn 18 aspiring poker hopefuls into professional players by the end of the 13 week series.
The show follows an X-Factor type formula, where ex-cricketer Ed Giddens, Matt Broughton and poker analyst David Tuckman will decide on who, from the Sky Poker felts, will progress to the next rounds, while the public will decide the eventual winner.
The best 50 players from Sky Poker’s cash, MTT and SNG tables will be put forward as candidates for the mentors, each based on a set of specialised criteria, such as a good comprehension of position and bet sizing, as well as the ability to make tough decisions and lay downs. The mentors will then choose 6 players each, who will then be set a series of challenges and goals each week which they will have to fulfill in order to make progress in the competition.
At stake for the contestants is the chance to benefit from weeks of professional guidance and tutoring, as well as the first place winner enjoying a buy-in to three poker tournament events, which includes a £100 tournament, a £1,000 buy-in tournament and finally a $10,000 buy-in for the World Series of Poker Main event in Las Vegas.
Commenting on the new poker show, Des Duffy, Head of Poker at Sky Betting & Gaming said: “Total Player will contain everything that has made Sky Poker so popular: it will deliver a great deal of excitement and opportunity to our playing community; an educational element; and, of course, the chance to win big. I’m particularly excited that Total Player will offer Sky Poker players at all levels, an opportunity to showcase their potential and realise a dream of sitting with some of the biggest names in world poker.”