WSOPC winner Courtney Kim will be on the show sometime next year
Two-time World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring winner Courtney Kim is set to appear on the upcoming second season of NBC’s Deal or No Deal Island, slated to air in early 2025. Kim, known for her success in the poker world, will be competing against 13 other contestants, including reality TV heavyweights like Survivor champions Parvati Shallow and David Ganat, as well as Big Brother winner Will Kirby. The contestants will face a series of challenges under the guidance of host Joe Manganiello, ultimately vying for briefcases that will be used in an elimination-style round of Deal or No Deal at the end of each episode.
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— Courtney Kim (@ck_the_ace) February 25, 2024
Kim, a banker by profession and poker player on the side, was initially hesitant to join the show. She told Entertainment Weekly that the producers were excited to cast her when they learned about her poker background, and even more so when they found out she was a banker.
However, Kim had reservations about stepping into the reality TV spotlight, unsure about how it could affect her career and personal life. A chance encounter with former Survivor winner and poker hobbyist Boston Rob Mariano at the airport following the World Series of Poker ultimately changed her mind, convincing her to embrace the opportunity.
Kim has had a standout year, winning her first WSOPC ring in February 2023 at a women’s event in Cherokee, North Carolina. She followed that up with a second ring win later in the year at another WSOPC stop outside Chicago. Now, she’s looking to translate her poker skills and banking experience into success on Deal or No Deal Island, competing for a share of more than $200 million hidden in briefcases across the island.
Fans of Kim and reality competitions alike will be eager to see how she fares in this new adventure.
