by David McAlpine

From professional poker players to Harlem Globetrotters, married couples to gay brothers, the latest installment of CBS’ hit reality show The Amazing Race is sure to have plenty in store for viewers.

Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle were the last women standing in the World Series of Poker Championships in 2007 and 2008, respectively, so there’s really no end to the games they can play during the competition. Not only can they play mind games, but, according to them, they’ve been preparing for the race by watching episodes, taking notes and even learning how to drive stick shift. Will they play their hands just right? If they’re anything like Annie Duke on The Celebrity Apprentice, they have the potential to go far.

The familiar names don’t stop there, though. Harlem Globetrotters Nate “Big Time” Lofton and Herbert “Flight Time” Lang join the season 15 cast, as well as Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, and her husband, Brian. Pageant girls have a sporadic past on the race, sometimes eliminated early, but sometimes finishing as high as runners-up (remember Dustin and Kandice?)—how will Ericka fare? According to Brian, they compliment each other well, so maybe they’ll be able to make a run for the money.

Though the racers this season are on the older side compared to previous seasons (the average age is around 28), there are still a couple extremes, like dating couple Meghan and Chayne, both 23. The San Diego twosome says they’ll play nice, but they aren’t afraid to use the U-Turn or backstab other teams to get farther in the game. On the flipside, the oldest couple on the race, Marcy, 60, and Ronald, 59, are also dating. Though they not be planning to play the game as ruthless, Marcy speaks several languages and they both claim to be very prepared for the race. If all goes like they hope, they could be the oldest team to walk away with the million dollar prize.

And what about the route? Though nothing has been confirmed by CBS, rumors have floated around the internet that season 15 starts in Los Angeles and heads across the Pacific first to Tokyo, Japan. After passing through Dubai, the teams eventually hit Scandinavia before returning home to the finish line, which is reportedly in Las Vegas.

Who will survive and who will fail as the 12 teams take to the race course? Find out on the two-hour premiere of The Amazing Race 15 on CBS Sunday, September 27 at 8/7c.

(Image courtesy of CBS)

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