‘Survivor: Winners at War’: Tony Vlachos Back for More Blindsides?
Survivor champion Tony Vlachos is returning to the game for Winners at War. The Cagayan Sole Survivor is known for his aggressive style of play. He managed to blindside and backstab almost everyone in his own alliance. After getting back to his regular life one-million dollars richer, Tony got sick, competed again, almost got fired and welcomed a second child. Now, he’s back to compete against 19 other legends in a once-in-a-lifetime season.
Tony Vlachos’ ‘Survivor’ Resume
Jersey City police officer Tony Vlachos quickly became Survivor: Cagayan‘s villain. When he arrived on the island, he left his badge back at home. Not only was Tony willing to do anything to win, but he also turned on pretty much all of his alliance members. Although, they were talking about blindsiding Tony first. He helped instrument both LJ McKansas and Jefra Bland’s eliminations and then betrayed Trish Hegarty.
His aggressive and strategic play landed him in the Survivor Hall of Fame along with some of the best players to ever play the game.
While he didn’t win the Final Immunity Challenge, Tony convinced Woo Hwang to honor their alliance in the end. Which is ironic, considering Tony’s constant betrayals. In an 8-1 vote, the police officer was crowned the Sole Survivor. When he returned for Game Changers, his fellow castaways considered him too big of a threat and quickly got rid of him.
Tony Vlachos Contracts Parasite From Island
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Tony Vlachos after winning Survivor. Once he returned from the island, he became very sick. He had apparently contracted a parasite while roughing it and became bedridden for three months. When he finally recovered, he had lost 25 pounds on top of the 15 from competing on Cagayan.
Survivor Winner and Wife Welcome Second Child
Before jetting off to battle it out for a million dollars, Tony Vlachos had to say goodbye to his wife Marissa and infant daughter Anastasia Marie. His daughter was only five months old when he left to film Survivor: Cagayan. But they were apparently getting busy not too long before, too.
When Tony got back from winning, Marissa told him she was two months pregnant. The couple welcomed their second child, a boy named Constantine Anthony, in June 2014.
Get ready! Find out what happens when the best of the best go head-to-head on Survivor Season 40 premiering February 2020. pic.twitter.com/VPS3YBm0Bv
— SURVIVOR (@survivorcbs) December 19, 2019
Congressional Candidate Tries to Get Tony Vlachos Fired
Back in May 2014, after Tony Vlachos’ first season had aired on television, he made an enemy. Congressional Candidate Aaron W Fraiser wanted him fired from his job as a police officer.
Aaron Fraiser said Tony was a “trickster” and a “liar”. He demanded the Jersey City mayor remove him from the force immediately, but his accusations did not result in anyone getting fired. Tony didn’t face any consequences for his behavior on Survivor.
This will be Tony’s third time playing with fellow police officer Sarah Lacina. He won season 28 (Cagayan) and she won season 34 (Game Changers).
Will he be able to use the same strategies in the upcoming season?
Winners at War premieres on February 12 at 8 pm on CBS.
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