Tony Dunst Reflects on a Full Season in the Commentary Booth

By Matt Clark

Season XVI of the World Poker Tour ushered in a new era of commentary to the broadcasts. With Mike Sexton stepping down, WPT Champions Club member Tony Dunst filled the void. Dunst moved up from his position as WPT Raw Deal host to jump into the seat vacated by Sexton.

The journey for Dunst comes to fruition on April 29 when the first episodes of Season XVI air on FOX Sports Regional Networks in the US.

Commentary is not a new task for Dunst, having replaced Sexton on a few occasions in the recent season along with multi-hour live streams. The work required for the job has yet to catch Dunst off guard, who was well familiar with was expected before taking it on full-time.

“I knew I would have a good chemistry with Vince [Van Patten] because we had done a few episodes previously when Mike [Sexton] had final tabled or when we did the final season of Alpha8,” Dunst said. “So, I was happy to see that the chemistry from those times working together carried over to the Main Tour shows.”

Prior to his promotion to lead commentator, Dunst carried almost a full decade of experience with the World Poker Tour. That knowledge helped Dunst to assimilate into the new position when he first went into the booth this season at WPT Choctaw.

“I don’t know that anything has been all that surprising thus far,” Dunst told WPT.com. “I’ve been with the WPT for eight years now, I’ve been around our events for even longer than that. I’m familiar with the company, the people here, and the role. I guess it’s a positive thing that nothing has surprised me per se. I’ve been very pleased with how everything has gone but nothing that’s been shocking or surprising.”

When the episodes first air, it will be the first time Dunst sees the final product of what is almost a year’s worth of work.

The production meetings are where the magic happens for Dunst and he is able to insert the wit he became known for during his Raw Deal days.

“I love doing the after the fact recording,” Dunst said. “I used to enjoy doing live streams but after a while, the fact that you have to be on for six or seven or eight or nine hours non-stop is kind of draining whereas with the style of commentary that we do now in post-production it’s like, ‘OK, we’re going to play the next four hands and talk about those and now let’s stop.’ So, if there’s something funny or clever to say or just an observation you want to make, you have that attempt in the second run. It’s much more relaxed and enjoyable.”

Playing poker is still a time-consuming job for Dunst, who enters most WPT Main Tour events. In January, Dunst notched a cash in the WPT European Championship in Berlin.

Dunst’s travel schedule took him to Lincoln, California, for the WPTDeepStacks Thunder and then Hollywood for WPTDeepStacks Immokalee. The two events were Dunst’s first on the tour and by the end of his 19th place run in Florida, Dunst became the latest fan American Poker Award winner for best mid-major tour.

“I’ve played some WPT National events and this is my first time playing WPTDS,” Dunst said. “I like that tour very much. The levels are 20-minutes shorter, so it’s nice that events get over faster. You’re dealing with a softer field than you would in a Main Tour stop which is nice once in a while because battling with pros is not where your money comes from.”

A second trip into the WPT winner’s circle is on the mind of Dunst, who entered Day 1a of the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown at the start of Level 1.

Sexton’s appearance at two Season XV final tables allowed Dunst to get the reps he’s currently utilizing. The Showdown final table is a long time away but perhaps Dunst can make a run to cause another commentator conflict.

Click here for more coverage from the Season XVI WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship.

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