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After her semi-final performance at this year’s NBC Heads-Up Championship, we weren’t sure whether Shannon fit the title for this feature. Maybe we should call it Full time poker player…Full time actress.
Bluff: Tell us how you initially found your way to a poker table?
Shannon: The first season that Bravo did their Celebrity Poker Showdown, I learned how to play strictly for that, to raise money for my charity, Animal Avengers. So I went into one of the producer’s offices, he taught me the basics, and I played on the show. I didn’t know what I was doing at all, but I kept on playing after the show. It seemed there was a number charity opportunities mixed in with poker. Somewhere along the way, I just got hooked.
Bluff: So it was a gradual addiction?
Shannon: I actually didn’t really like it at first. I grew up playing dealers choice, and there were a lot more fun options in those games. I didn’t really get Hold’em at first. It took me a while, learning the intricacies of the game and the different strategies, to really get hooked on it.
Bluff: Is that when you began to take poker seriously?
Shannon: I guess it was about 2 years ago. In 2005, I played in the WSOP Main Event for the first time. Last year I played in a number of events, so I was definitely more serious last year. This year I plan on playing almost all of the No-Limit events if I can. I am definitely focused and ready to play a lot of poker this summer.
Bluff: Did you have anyone who mentored you along the way?
Shannon: A lot of people have helped me along the way. There is no one in particular that I would call a mentor. Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak were there in the very beginning, helping me out. I have talked to Daniel Negreanu, and even Phil Ivey. They all have been really great, and taught me a lot.
Bluff: Not a shabby list of instructors, that’s for sure. What about on set? Do you get a chance to play at all when you are working on film or television projects?
Shannon: Actually, on my television show I heard that the crew was playing poker during our filming days in one of the offices. They weren’t telling me, because they were worried I would come and beat them. I was really bummed, because I was hoping someone would want to play. When I found out they were playing, and weren’t going to let me play, I was really sad.
Bluff: Ok, we know you have been immersed in both communities, Hollywood and the poker scene. Which is a better group of people to hang out with?
Shannon: They are both great groups of people, and I wouldn’t want to say one is more fun than the other. However, I tend to get along better with poker players. I think it has to do with my eagerness to learn and soak up everything I can from them.
Bluff: When did you first find out you were invited to play in the NBC Heads-Up Championship?
Shannon: I first found out in January during the Aussie Millions. I actually didn’t think I was going to play initially. $20K is a lot of money to lay out, and I didn’t see myself realistically getting past the first round. Full Tilt ended up partially sponsoring me, so that helped. I decided about a week before it started, and I had some friends come over to help me with my heads-up game. I had only won one tournament, so I had very little experience playing heads-up at that point. Joe Cassidy, Clonie Gowen, Jeff Madsen, all came over and helped me. I soaked up everything I could before the tournament began.
Bluff: So did your time playing Jeff at your house help you beat him in round two of the tournament?
Shannon: One of my very close friends is one of Jeff’s close friends, so I got a few tips from him the night before Jeff and I played.
Bluff: At what point did you reassess the situation and decide you had a shot to win the whole tournament?
Shannon: I’m not sure I ever thought past the match I was playing. In the beginning, I didn’t think I would even get out of round one. Its funny, because when we had the draw party, I got the best draw possible in the first round. It was an outside qualifier. So it was honestly the only person I could have drawn where I became a favorite in the match. I didn’t want to be expected to win. It put too much pressure on me.
Bluff:We all know you got very unlucky in your match with Paul, did that take some time to get over?
Shannon: I’m still upset about it. Every time I think about what might have been, what could have been, I get really sad. I had such momentum, and when we got to that point, I thought ‘This is it! I am actually gonna win this.’ I felt that I could win the whole thing at that moment. When he went runner runner, I was devastated. I said to myself, ‘don’t let this affect you, don’t let it bother you, just keep playing your game.’ Mentally I thought that, but I started getting such bad cards, and started bluffing at pots to stay alive. Paul began calling me down with middle pair. He was reading me very well towards the end. Paul also got four or five really strong hands at the very end of the match, and he kept moving me all-in. The blinds were so high by the end, that I had to call on the final hand, and unfortunately Paul won the match.
Bluff: Ok, let’s go back in time and change the miracle river card for Paul. How does the final play out with you against Chad Brown?
Shannon: Honestly, I will say just insert me where Paul was. I hope it would have played out just as it had, with me winning instead of Paul.
Bluff: You mention playing a lot of WSOP events; would you rather win a bracelet, or an Oscar?
Shannon: (laughs) They are both pretty amazing. Right now I am so focused on poker, I would rather win a bracelet. When I am a bit older, and in a different place in my life, I would probably say the Oscar. I think the bracelet is definitely closer to my reach at this point than the Oscar, so I have to go for the bracelet.
Bluff: What’s the biggest bluff you have pulled off in your life?
Shannon: Honestly, I feel like everything in my life is a bluff. I feel like there are things here and there that I have done, but I have been in the right place at the right time for so many things. I have been very fortunate with so many things, so it really does feel like everything is a bluff for me.
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