MANSIONPoker.net Poker Dome Challenge Premiers Tonight on FSN

May 28, 2006 (Las Vegas, NV) - Memorial Day weekend on the Strip boomed with poker possibilities, but it was MANSIONPoker.net's Poker Dome Challenge at the Tropicana that lured spectators. Taping went into the early hours of Sunday morning, and FSN will edit and air the event tonight at 11pm nationally.

An audience of over one hundred poker fans enjoyed plush leather theater seating, while Ali Nejad entertained and related play-by-play action. Though players were isolated in a soundproof room, thirteen plasma screens gave spectators a rare and detailed glimpse inside the Poker Dome. The giant center screen allowed viewers a full view, while six other screens zoomed in on each player. Separate screens below let us sneak a peek at their hole cards, and allowed us to monitor each player's chip count and heart rate.

For six MANSIONPoker.net qualifiers, every move brought them closer to the $25,000 in prize money, or FOX Sports Net sports reporter Lisa Dergan - waiting on the rail for bust-out interviews.

Matt Savage oversaw the technical aspects of the game as the event's official tournament director.

Mathematician Paul Dreyer, the cool beauty Rhowena Colclough (wife of "El Blondie"), 2005 WSOP $5,000 Pot Limit Hold'em champion Brian Wilson, poker consultant Jonathan "Mr. Flash" Sullivan, restaurateur Frank Lacava, and television director Peter Lawler, all won a seat into the event. The speed-poker format forced each to dedide whether to call, raise or fold, within fifteen seconds of their turn, lest their hand be declared dead. One by one, five players were eliminated until the winner was crowned.

Card Player was there to partake in the inaugural event, but we can't divulge the winner, yet. That would be unsportsmanlike. However, we will present you with tonight's Mansion Poker Poker Dome Challenge results on Monday morning after it airs tonight at 11pm, nationally, on FSN.

So what did the six contestants have to invest to win a seat into the Poker Dome Challenge, including a trip to Las Vegas, first class hotel accommodations and a generous expense account? One cent. Yes, that's right, one penny.

Every Sunday, MANSIONPoker.net players will have a chance to qualify for the Pokerdome Challenge. Six winners will advance to the second round to compete in Las Vegas. But, it doesn't end there. The semi-finals will take the winner of each of these events and parlay them into a $50,000 semi-final. Eventually, six finalists will go on to compete for $1 million.

And, for those planning a weekend in Las Vegas? No trip to the poker Mecca would be complete without spending a Saturday night at the Poker Dome as an audience member. Tickets are available online through Tvtickets.com, where visitors and locals can reserve their seating.

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