World Poker Tour Welcomes Courtney Friel

The World Poker Tour will have a new face in the upcoming season with the addition of beautiful broadcast journalist Courtney Friel.

The 25-year-old Friel was recently named as outgoing host Shana Hiatt’s replacement on the WPT. In addition to being a gorgeous blonde, Hiatt is an accomplished television journalist. Her resume includes experience with E! Entertainment Television, Nickelodeon, EBTV Gaming and other networks. After graduating San Diego State University where she successfully studied a BA in Political Science with minors in Broadcast Journalism Friel started her television career as an anchor/reporter on Channel One in Jackson, TN.

"I've done pretty much everything when it comes to reporting. I've lugged my own cameras, edited my own tape, even operated the teleprompter with my foot...just everything! All these skills, and more, I am hoping to bring to the fans of the WPT during the broadcasts," explains Friel.

Friel will be joining television’s most successful poker program and will be joined by popular WPT announcers Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten.

In addition appearing on the show, Friel will be featured on WPT merchandise, poker video games and even a poker pinball machine.

Friel will be the first to admit that she was not a poker expert when became interested in this job.

“I have no problem learning about things! I definitely studied up on the players in the game and the WPT sent me to the WPT Boot Camp to learn more about it. I must have done pretty well there, because I won my first tournament,” explained Friel. “My problem in poker is that I lack the courage to jump into the game. I also blush when I get great cards, so that's a tell I have to work on! (Laughs) Overall, I have to work on my poker face!” Friel admitted that during her first audition with the WPT she was not sure what all-in meant.