$20,000 Heads-Up Championship Day 2 | 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship

03-01-2008 15:24 UTC-7

Calm Before the Storm

[user38449]

If the early round matches are indicative of how this tournament is going to play out, the next 10-15 minutes of play should remain slow and steady, followed by a period of rapid-fire bustouts and frequent announcements of "All in and call!"

03-01-2008 15:04 UTC-7

Second Round Bracelet Battles

[user65508]

Greg Raymer shows off his main event bracelet to opponent Scott Clements

This part of the bracket has some very interesting match-ups. It all starts with the epic match-up of Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan. Between the two of them they own more bracelets than most could ever dream of winning.

Another bracelet battle that should be promising is that of Scott Clements v. Greg Raymer. While Raymer holds a main event bracelet lead over Clements, Scott actually doubles Raymer's bracelet accomplishments with two of his own.

Tags: Greg Raymer Johnny Chan Phil Ivey Scott Clements

03-01-2008 14:58 UTC-7

Shuffle Up and Deal

[user38449]

Players in the Clubs and Spades brackets have taken their seats and the cards are in the air.

03-01-2008 14:25 UTC-7

Deeb Ousts Grizzle; Advances to Sweet Sixteen

[user38449]

Sam Grizzle was a heavy favorite to double up through opponent Freddy Deeb after getting it all in with pocket kings against Deeb's {A-Clubs}

in a pre-flop all in confrontation, but when an ace appeared in the door, Grizzle's plans were foiled. The entire board filled out {A-Spades}

and Deeb took down the pot and the match with a single pair of aces.

The win guaranteed Mr. Deeb a spot in the sweet sixteen, where he will face off against a very hot Orel Hershiser.

Grizzle's elimination completes round two for players in the Hearts and Diamonds brackets, setting up the following round three pairings:

Andy Bloch
v.
Scott Fischman

Hershiser
v.
Deeb

Huck Seed
v.
Michael Mizrachi

David Benyamine
v.
Doyle Brunson

The Clubs and Spades brackets will begin momentarily.

03-01-2008 14:16 UTC-7

"Hersh" Eliminates Cunningham; Adds Another Signature to His Game Ball

[user38449]

Orel Hershiser has just moved on to the round of sixteen after besting formidable foe Allen Cunningham in what was a see-saw match the whole way. The final hand saw Hershiser call Cunningham's pre-flop all-in shove holding the {A-Hearts}

; Cunningham tabled a mere {K-Clubs}

.

The board ran out {10-Diamonds}

and Hershiser took down the pot with a pair of tens, sending Cunningham home empty handed.

Tags: Orel Hershiser

03-01-2008 14:12 UTC-7

Grinding Out a Paycheck; Mizrachi Busts Gowen

[user65508]

Clonie Gowen put her tournament life and a potential payday on the line with {A-Diamonds}

against the {Q-Hearts}

of Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi. The flop sparkled for Gowen as it came {10-Diamonds}

. However, fortunes turned the tables in the Grinder's favor when the {J-Spades}

touched the felt on the turn. With the {7-Clubs}

filling out the board on the river, Gowen's tournament ended and moved the Grinder into the money and the round of 16.

Tags: Clonie Gowen Michael Mizrachi

03-01-2008 13:59 UTC-7

Doyle Sends E-Dog to the Rail

[user38449]

Doyle Brunson and Erick Lindgren got it all in pre-flop in a race situation; Doyle with pocket nines against Lindgren's {Q-Spades}

.

The match was locked up by the turn after the board filled out {6-Clubs}

, giving Doyle an unbeatable nine-high straight.

The win sets up a third round match-up between Doyle and fellow high stakes cash game player David Benyamine.

Tags: Doyle Brunson

03-01-2008 13:48 UTC-7

Fischman Eliminates Gold

[user38449]

With the elimination of Jamie Gold, Scott Fischman has tied Huck Seed with four consecutive money finishes in the National Heads-Up Poker Championships. T.J. Cloutier have an opportunity to join their ranks later this afternoon in his match against J.C. Tran.

Fischman and Gold got it all in pre-flop; Scott holding {A-Clubs}

and Gold,

. The board filled out {8-Hearts}

and Scott's ace-high held up to take down the pot, earning him a spot in the round of 16.

Tags: Scott Fischman

03-01-2008 13:32 UTC-7

Cunningham Straightens Out Hershiser's Curve Ball

[user38449]

Allen Cunningham has just gone on a heater, winning two very big pots in a span of five minutes to overtake the chip lead from opponent Orel Hershiser.

In the first hand, Cunningham was all in for his tournament life holding {K-Spades}

against Hershiser's {A-Spades}

and flopped a king-high straight to take down the pot. Moments later, the pair were all in again and both produced straights - Cunningham's the higher of the two - earning him a hefty chip lead in the match.

03-01-2008 13:24 UTC-7

Vanessa Rousso Eliminated

[user38449]

Andy Bloch led out with a bet on the turn and Vanessa Rousso moved all in on the strength of A-10 with the board showing {A-Hearts}

. Bloch made the clal and tabled K-5 for two pair, leaving Rousso drawing to an ace, three or ten to stay alive. A blank on the river closed the door on Vanessa and Bloch's two pair were good enough to send him on to the round of 16.

Tags: Vanessa Rousso