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

03-01-2008 13:20 UTC-7

Brian Townsend Needed a Better Seed

[user65508]

Brian Townsend's tournament came to an end after a check raise from Huck Seed put him all in on a board showing: {10-Diamonds}

. When it was time to table the cards, Seed showed Q-10 offsuit and found himself well ahead of Townsend's {5-Spades}

. The

on the turn was no help to Townsend and the {7-Diamonds}

on the river rounded out two pair for both, leaving Townsend with the short end of it.

With the win, Seed has guaranteed himself at least $25,000 in prize money and a spot in the sweet sixteen. Also of note, Huck's streak of consecutive cashes in this tournament (4) remains in tact.

Tags: Huck Seed

03-01-2008 13:03 UTC-7

Benyamine K.O.'s the Bear

[user38449]

Friends and regulars in the big game, Barry Greenstein and David Benyamine got it all in pre-flop; Greenstein with {A-Clubs}

and Benyamine with pocket tens.

The flop came {Q-Hearts}

bringing no help to Greenstein, who reached for his book ("Ace on the River") and pen, ready to sign and hand it over, essentially conceding defeat to his opponent - a Barry Greenstein tradition.

The turn and river filled out {8-Spades}

,

and Benyamine's tens held up to take down the match, eliminating Greenstein from the competition.

Tags: Barry Greenstein

03-01-2008 12:45 UTC-7

Which Pressure Cooker Cooks Faster?

[user65508]

Former Major League Baseball All-Star Orel Hershiser knows how to handle the the big time pressure. In the second game of the 1988 World Series he held the Oakland A's to three hits in a shutout win; a game that included fellow baseball player turned poker player Jose Canseco.

With a formidable poker star facing him in today's round of 32, we will see if he can shut out Allen Cunningham from the money and add another signature to his ball.

Tags: Allen Cunningham Orel Hershiser

03-01-2008 12:39 UTC-7

Today's Format

[user38449]

Players in the round of 32 will begin the day with 40,000 in chips. The blinds open at 300-600 and will increase every fifteen minutes. The structure plays very, very fast, so expect to see some big action right out of the gate.

The players in the Hearts and Diamonds brackets will take to the felt first, followed by the Clubs and Spades brackets later on this evening.

03-01-2008 12:35 UTC-7

Table Talk

[user38449]

Leeann Tweeden: "And over on table four we have Sam Grizzle and Freddy Deeb."

Freddy Deeb: "Who's Sam Grizzle?"

Tags: Sam Grizzle

03-01-2008 12:27 UTC-7

"Let's get the cards in the air!"

[user38449]

The players have taken their seats and have been introduced to the cameras and crowd by tournament host Leeann Tweeden. We're officially underway.

Keep in mind, every player that wins here today is guaranteed at least $25,000.

03-01-2008 11:44 UTC-7

2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship - Day 2

[user38449]

The 32 players who survived the opening round of the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship yesterday return to the Caesar's Palace poker room this afternoon to try and win their way into the money round. Bottom line today: win and get paid.

The first group of matches is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. PST. Here's a look at today's second round pairings:

{A-Clubs}

Clubs Bracket {A-Clubs}