Mike Sexton

Mike Sexton is poker's consummate promoter. He's well-known for his contributions to the sport and his commitment to raising poker's profile around the world. A former European poker champion with his own coveted World Series of Poker bracelets, Mike is one of the premier ambassadors of poker.

Mike's hard work and dedication have allowed him to successfully achieve his goals. He attended Ohio State University where he received a full four-year scholarship after winning a state championship title in gymnastics. It was during his time at college where Mike developed his life-long passion for the sport of poker.

Upon graduation Mike joined the 82nd Airborne Division in Ft. Bragg as a paratrooper. After completing his service, Mike stayed in North Carolina working as a salesman and playing poker at night. Realizing that he could make a living playing cards, he left his day job to become a professional poker player.

In 1985, Mike made the jump to Las Vegas where his dedication to the sport prevailed. Mike won a WSOP bracelet in Seven-Card Stud Split in 1989. From there, he has amassed well over $2.7 million in prize money and become a regular fixture in tournaments.

Recently, in June 2006, Mike battled it out on the felt with Daniel Negreanu at the WSOP Tournament of Champions to win his second gold bracelet and pocket $1 million. However, he elected to donate half his winning to several charities. As a sound commentator for the WPT and successful player in the poker circuit, Mike has become and always will be a great in the poker community.

Mike Sexton is truly an ambassador of the sport and a pioneer for charities outside of poker.

Vincent Van Patten

Success has come in many forms for the actor, producer, director, author, and former tennis player, Vincent Van Patten. The son of actor Dick Van Patten, Vince has thrived in all his endeavors through a winning combination of talent, ambition, and dedication.

As an actor, Vince launched his career at the age of 9, staring in a Colgate commercial. He went on to guest star in over three dozen classic television shows, including “Bonanza,” “High Chaparral,” and “Adam 12.” He also starred in such television specials as “The Bionic Boy, “Gidget’s Summer Reunion,” and “Dirty Dozen III.”

Graduating from television to film, Vince appeared in a number of movies along side such major actors as Kurt Russell and Charles Bronson. Prior to that, he starred in and co-produced the feature film, “The Break,” playing the role of Nick, a washed up tennis pro whose bookie (Martin Sheen) forgives his gambling debts in exchange for coaching his 17-year old son. Vince wrote and directed another feature film, “The Flunky,” starring Farrah Fawcett, Dean Stockwell, and Vince’s brother, James Van Patten.

For his work, he was awarded the prestigious award of Best Director at the Port Hueneme International Film Festival in 2000. Vince and his brother have also written a screenplay about a young poker player entitled, “California Kid”, which is currently with Universal Studios. Vince also co-authored the fictional poker novel, "The Picasso Flop," with Robert Randisi, which hit shelves in February of 2007.

Beyond his achievements in the entertainment industry, Vince is a remarkably talented tennis player who competed professionally through the mid-1980s. At his peak he ranked 25th in the world, scoring wins over almost every major player including John McEnroe.

Vince’s passion for poker started at the young age of 13, when his father taught him how to play poker at the LA Tennis Club. Soon Vince was playing in side games in between tennis matches. By the time he turned 16, Vince had accumulated enough skill to play in his Dad’s poker game. One night on a winning streak, he played until 7AM, when he finally had to throw in the cards to go to school. Vince continues to play poker every week with his buddies in a pot limit game in Beverly Hills. He has tried his hand at the World Series of Poker three times, and brings solid experience hosting televised sports and poker broadcasts to the World Poker Tour.

Layla Kayleigh

Bringing an international flair to the World Poker Tour, Layla Kayleigh joins the WPT as hostess for Season VI. Originally from London, England, Layla’s TV appeal stems from her knockout looks and witty humor that brings a fresh and exciting approach to the season. 

Specializing in celebrity interviews, video game industry events, and pop culture trends, Layla is already well-versed in television and media. Her vast resume includes being an on-air correspondent for Fox Sports' “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and The Vegas Insider, as well as co-hosting G4’s Attack of the Show and hosting “The Feed” news segment. 
 
The London native previously hosted for MTV in Britain, ABC Football, and on Al Gore’s Current TV, and can be heard weekly on Sirius Maxim Radio on the Covino and Rich Show. Layla has been featured in Maxim and King Magazines. 
 
Layla lived on her own since she was 15 years old and has overcome many obstacles in her life. Her vast experiences give her a fearless voice in today's media, and with her Caucasian, African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern background, Layla radiates true exotic beauty. What sets her apart from the crowd is her down-to-earth personality mixed with an edgy intelligence and the ability to connect with people from all walks of life.  
 
She will make her World Poker Tour television debut in early 2008 when Season VI episodes begin airing as part of GSN’s Monday night casino lineup where the network has built a substantial following in the casino game genre.

Kimberly Lansing

 A chance encounter between Kimberly Lansing and the World Poker Tour at the Season V WPT Celebrity Invitational sealed her fate in poker when the WPT offered her a role as the online hostess for WPT Live Updates. Live from the tournament floor, Kimberly reports all the exciting poker action while conducting player interviews over the WPT Live Updates Webcam on www.worldpokertour.com. Her unabashed interviewing style helps audience members get a heads-up perspective of poker’s finest competitors. From each Season VI tour stop Kimberly introduces you to a premiere Casino destination, broadcasts up to the minute breaking news and entertains with behind the scenes footage. You can now catch Kimberly doubling up as part-time TV hostess alongside Layla Kayleigh on the World Poker Tour show for play-by-play action of the WPT Final Table.

Kimberly grew up in Rancho Mirage and Laguna Hills before attending the University of Southern California. During her time at USC, Kimberly worked at the college news station, Annenberg TV News. After receiving a BA in Broadcast Journalism at USC, Kimberly began her career as an entertainment journalist for the Associated Press and Us Weekly Magazine.

Since 2004, Kimberly has been a reporter for PEOPLE Magazine, covering almost every red carpet event in Hollywood. In addition to her work at PEOPLE, Kimberly also writes for In Style Magazine and the German publication, Gala. You can also catch her as a host/correspondent on Hollywood.com Television.

Starting her path toward the poker world, Kimberly hosted in December 2006 the OnGame Network's Poker Classic at the Casino de Barcelona, in Spain. In March of 2007, Kimberly attended the WPT Celebrity Invitational tournament to report for PEOPLE. Kimberly’s charming disposition and impressive background in poker prompted WPT to create a position for Kimberly where she would travel the poker circuit and report live from the tournament floor via streaming video blogs.

May 2007, Kimberly joined the WPT Team as the Hostess for WPT Live Updates. WPT has also tapped Kimberly’s talents for the WPT television show—her first job on the tour was hosting in front of TV cameras June 2nd at the Mandalay Bay Poker Championship final table.