Reality TV star “Boston” Rob Mariano doesn’t mind getting some sand in his pants if it earns him entry into January’s PokerStars Players Championship in the Bahamas. The experienced Survivor survivor is offering to live on the beach in self-made housing during the tournament in exchange for a $30,000 Platinum Pass to the event.
PokerStars hasn’t yet decided if the avid poker player will get his wish. On Twitter, the site said it would first have to contact the Bahamian Atlantis Resort to see if they’d “even allow someone to sleep on their beach.”
Hey @PokerStars @RealKidPoker I’m still looking for a #platinumpass …tell you what hook me up and I will live on the beach in the Bahamas for the duration of the tournament, I’ll build my own shelter and legit cook all my meals on a camp fire #SurvivorStyle what u think? Deal?
— Boston Rob (@BostonRob) November 18, 2018
Reality Survivor
Mariano is one of the better-known reality TV stars. He appeared on The Amazing Race twice and Survivor four times. It’s paid off: in 2011, he won Survivor: Redemption Island for $1 million.
So, if anyone is capable of surviving on an island, it’s “Boston” Rob. Survivor, which debuted in 2000, is one of the longest-running reality TV shows. Contestants each season are placed with a group of strangers on a deserted island. They compete in challenges to remain on the island with the goal of eventually winning big money.
Mariano certainly has a following within the poker community. He’s a regular at the poker table these days. Almost everyone who responded to his Twitter post supports the idea of Rob receiving a Platinum Pass. That includes Scott Seiver, Jason Somerville, and also Chris Moneymaker.
Moneymaker’s support comes with a stipulation, however. He said he only approves of the request if “he built me a wing and made my dinners as well.” You’ll probably get better meals inside the resort, Chris.
Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
“Boston” Rob wants to be one of 300 poker players to receive a Platinum Pass, which includes a $25,000 buy-in to the Pokerstars Players Championship in January along with $5,000 for travel expenses.
Rather than host its annual Caribbean Adventure (PCA), PokerStars is switching things up in 2019. The world’s most popular online poker site is getting ready for the first-ever PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC), an $8 million guaranteed tournament.
PokerStars ambassadors — including Moneymaker and Daniel Negreanu — are awarding the passes all over the country in different ways.
Moneymaker hosts an $86 buy-in tournament at various stops throughout the US with the winner at each location receiving a pass. Negreanu has used creative methods to award his passes, including a video contest.
Players can also win passes online via satellites and through other Team Pro members such as Liv Boeree and Jason Somerville. Author-turned poker pro Maria Konnikova awarded one of her passes to CardsChat forum member Jacki Burkhart for winning a poker story contest.