Jordan Handrich Exits PokerStars' Prestigious Big Game Poker Tournament
PokerStars' The Big Game on Tour: A Series with a Twist
The main charm of PokerStars' The Big Game on Tour lies in cheering for the underdog. This reality show is exceptional because it allows viewers to experience the rollercoaster journey of the Loose Cannons as they strive to turn a profit.
Unfortunately, our first Loose Cannon of the season, Jordan Handrich, has bid adieu. Despite her valiant efforts, luck just wasn't on her side. Jordan played her last hand during Saturday's session, much before the mandatory 150-hands mark.
The game moves on without her for the remaining hands before the next Loose Cannon takes over. Still, the show remains engaging with the 2024 Main Event winner, Jonathan Tamayo, filling Jordan's seat.
However, the thrill of uncertainty has somewhat diminished.
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Jordan's Unlucky Break
Jordan commenced her Big Game session with high spirits and a burning desire to win. But her hand was dealt a bad deck as she found herself frequently struggling to keep her chips stack above the $50,000 mark.
Halfway through the last session, with just over $30,000 in her stack, Jordan was dealt a pair of Jacks. Heading into the final stages, it seemed like Jordan's fortunes might just change.
But fate had different plans. Her opponent, Andre Akkari, found pocket queens. Jordan sensed danger but chose to play her hand, hoping to outdraw Akkari with a hand like A-K.
Jordan's perspective may have been optimistic, as she ended up being a huge underdog in this encounter. Despite quadrupling the board four times, she failed to win a single run, succumbing to her elimination.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a profit, Jordan was upbeat about her time on the show. She believes her appearance on The Big Game on Tour significantly enhanced her self-confidence, both as a poker player and as a person.
WSOP Champion Joins the Fray
With Jordan out and a few dozen hands still left before wrapping up the first session of the season, a fresh player entered the lineup - none other than the 2024 WSOP Main Event winner, Jonathan Tamayo.
Tamayo bagged the Main Event title last year, securing a $10,000,000 prize. His win, however, stirred debate within the poker community regarding the use of solvers and similar tools [6][7]. Now, Tamayo has an opportunity to prove his abilities in a diverse setting.
In the meantime, Jen Tilly remains the leader with close to $50,000 in profit. Excluding Jordan, only Sam Grafton manages to sport a net positive, with profits amounting to over $5,000 after around 120 hands.
We are approaching the finale of the initial leg, which will proceed without the Loose Cannon. The second session will kick off soon, bringing a fresh set of players along with one of the remaining LCs.
[6] "Jonathan Tamayo Wins 2024 WSOP Main Event", PokerNews, June 2025, [online] available at: https://www.pokernews.com/tours/world-series-of-poker/2024-wsop/2024-wsop-main-event/jonathan-tamayo-wins-2024-wsop-main-event-156577533
[7] "Controversy Over 2024 WSOP Main Event Winner’s Use of AI Tools", PokerMagnet, June 2025, [online] available at: https://www.pokermagnet.com/controversy-over-2024-wsop-main-event-winners-use-of-ai-tools-156588523
During the Big Game on Tour, viewers can immerse themselves in a variety of casino-and-gambling activities, including engaging in casino-games like poker. Spectators were thrilled as a newcomer, Jordan Handrich, joined the show, but unfortunately, Jordan's luck seemed to fade, and she was eliminated, leaving her seat for the 2024 WSOP Main Event winner, Jonathan Tamayo, who added another seasoned player to the mix.
