Introducing the Team Pro Vlog: Follow Talbot’s Barcelona run in Episode One

Watch episodes from the Team Pro Vlog here

October 10, 2023

Poker

by Jack Stanton

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3 Minute Read

The Team Pro Vlog follows the Red Spades at PokerStars live events, showing you what happens on and off the tables…

PokerStars TV broadcasts and live streams are why many of us fell in love with the game. The fascinating characters, incredible production, world-class poker action…

Now PokerStars is taking things even further, documenting the goings-on away from the tables, as well as taking you behind the scenes on action you may or may not have seen on the screen.

It’s called the Team Pro Vlog and Episode One is out now on YouTube.

It follows Parker “Tonkaaaa” Talbot as he navigates his way through the enormous Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT) Barcelona Main Event – an event which proceeded the EPT Barcelona Main.

The Canadian Twitch streamer – who recently took down his third World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) title – battled through a record-breaking field to reach the event’s penultimate day, ultimately finishing seventh for €105,590.

You might remember the event due to the eccentric behaviour of France’s Lucian Cohen, a.k.a. the “Rat Man”, who went on to win it.

But Talbot also displayed some unusual behaviour during the event, calling the clock on himself early on Day 3 of the €1,100 buy-in tournament.

The Team Pro Vlog was on hand to capture it and give us a peek behind the curtain of why.

WHY CALL THE CLOCK ON YOURSELF?

Tricky spot for Talbot

Here’s the hand shown in Episode One of the EPT Vlog:

Blinds: 30,000 / 60,000

The cutoff opens to 125,000 and Talbot three-bets to 300,000 from the small blind holding K♦ K♣ . Both the big blind and the original raiser call to bring a flop:

J♦ 9♠ 4♣

Talbot continues for 275,000 and the big blind raises to 600,000, shaking off the original raiser. Talbot calls and the turn is the K♠ , giving him top set but completing some straight draws, as well as creating a potential flush draw. Both players check.

The river is the Q♠ , putting three spades on board as well as four to a straight. Talbot leads out for 725,000 but is quickly raised to 2.1 million. 

Talbot goes deep into the tank and eventually calls the clock on himself.

But why? 

Talbot explains that he imposes the same rules on himself as he does on other players. In other words, if you take too long to act (more than two minutes) he’ll call the clock, even if he’s the one who’s feeling the pressure.

Talbot eventually folds the hand – a correct decision, it turns out. The big blind player shows A♠ J♠ for a rivered flush.

Watch Episode One of the Team Pro Vlog now on YouTube.