The Showdown | Pokerstars
PokerStars wanted to engage a younger, millennial audience by blending high-stakes poker with influencer-driven entertainment. The result was The Showdown—a fast-paced, high-energy poker show hosted by True Geordie that mixed intense gameplay with banter, strategy, and big personalities. The format was deliberately designed to feel like a poker night with friends, but with the drama dialed up and the action amplified for online audiences
Alex.Live was at the heart of making this vision a reality, building a cutting-edge production system that pushed technical boundaries. We consulted on the design of a custom poker table with RFID card readers embedded beneath the felt, allowing us to track every card and instantly display hands, pot sizes, and win probabilities through our bespoke graphics. This kept viewers fully engaged, even if they were new to poker. But we didn’t stop there—one of our most talked-about innovations was the introduction of real-time heart rate monitors for the players. This gave the audience a visceral connection to the action, especially during high-stakes moments when heart rates spiked, bringing an entirely new dimension to poker broadcasting.
The production was a technical powerhouse, featuring 8 cameras, including overhead views of the table, complete ISO recording, and full live streaming. We also enabled real-time clipping to Twitter, allowing key moments to be pushed to social media just seconds after they happened, further amplifying the show’s reach and engagement.
The response was phenomenal. Viewers praised the show’s high production values and innovative features, with many commenting that The Showdown raised the bar for what’s possible with online poker content. By merging cutting-edge tech with influencer charisma, PokerStars didn’t just introduce a new audience to poker—they created one of the most exciting and talked-about poker shows online.
