$20,000 Heads-up Championship | 2010 NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship

03-07-2010 12:22 UTC-12

Additional Seating

[user108095]

Production personnel have been quietly trying to add more chairs to the viewing area so that additional spectators can watch the matches. Their actions didn't go unnoticed, however, as MOC Jordan Siegel joked "More chairs are being added. Joan Rivers and her entourage are on their way."

Even Annie Duke cracked a smile at that one.

03-07-2010 12:37 UTC-12

A Parade of Players

[user108095]

While both matches are moving quietly along, Leann Tweeden is doing on-camera interviews with some of the players who have already been eliminated from the event.

Orel Hershiser got some quality camera time and has now been replaced by Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, who is happily sharing his thoughts with the television audience.

03-07-2010 12:47 UTC-12

Um...

[user75032]

Dennis Phillips fans are turning a little rowdy, perhaps trying to bring some energy to what have otherwise been lackluster proceedings. When Phillips wins a big pot, a few have busted out the Arsenio Hall "whooping" chant (or whatever it's called) and one of them has procured an air horn. It's not quite the truck horn that 2008 November Nine viewers might remember, and it's a trifle more grating.

Both matches are still fairly tight.

03-07-2010 12:56 UTC-12

Ballpark Guesses

[user108095]

From our limited vantage point in Media Row, it appears that Scotty Nguyen has opened up an approximate 2-1 chip lead over Erik Seidel. Annie Duke's chip stack also seems to have grown, but we can't see Dennis Phillips' chips from our position, so it's impossible to tell what kind of lead she may have.

03-07-2010 13:09 UTC-12

Still Going...

[user75032]

Blinds at both tables have recently moved up to 8,000 - 16,000. Scotty Nguyen has opened up a sizable lead on Erik Seidel. On the back table it looks like Dennis Phillips has closed the gap on Annie Duke.

03-07-2010 13:16 UTC-12

Phillips Doubles Up

[user108095]

Dennis Phillips before play started yesterday

Dennis Phillips moved all in preflop and put himself at risk when Annie Duke made the call. Phillips showed {K-Diamonds}

and was only slightly behind Duke's {a-Hearts}

.

He quickly caught up on the flop of {q-Hearts}

and held on when the turn brought the {9-Diamonds}

. The

on the river secured the win, and Phillips doubled up to 286,000, just shy of his starting stack.

03-07-2010 13:32 UTC-12

Dennis Phillips Eliminated ($125,000)

[user75032]

After Dennis Phillips doubled through Annie Duke, their match was close to even. With blinds up to 10,000 and 20,000 it could go either way.

Fitting, then that the final hand was a race. Phillips was at risk with {A-Diamonds}

; Duke had a slight edge with {7-Hearts}

Duke looked pained to watch the board roll out {9-Diamonds}

, but it was a clear board for her. Phillips flashed his trademark style and offered Duke a hug.

In his post-match interview, Phillips said, "I had a blast." For her part, Duke said that Phillips had her confused throughout the match. She felt she made many mistakes during the match and was fortunate to emerge victorious.

Phillips will leave with $125,000. Duke is off to the finals, where she will play the winner of the Scotty Nguyen-Erik Seidel match.

Tags: Annie Duke Dennis Phillips

03-07-2010 14:05 UTC-12

Scotty Nguyen Eliminated ($125,000)

[user108095]

What started as a quiet hand turned into a big pot and a trip to the final table for Erik Seidel.

Both Nguyen and Seidel checked the flop of {9-Hearts}

, and checked again when the {7-Diamonds}

hit the turn. The river {9-Spades}

brought a bet of 100,000 from Scotty and an all-in raise from Seidel.

Scotty thought the hand through for a few seconds before saying, "OK, I call baby," only to find that his {K-Hearts}

was dead against Seidel's full house with the {9-Clubs}

.

Nguyen leaves with $125,000 while Seidel will play Annie Duke for the $500,000 first-place prize.

03-07-2010 14:06 UTC-12

It's Duke and Seidel in the Finals

[user75032]

With the conclusion of the lengthy Nguyen-Seidel semi-final match, we're ready for the best-of-three finals. Annie Duke will square off against Erik Seidel for $500,000 and the title of champion.

Prior to his run this year, Seidel was 0-5 lifetime in this tournament. Duke also had not been an excellent performer, with a lifetime record of 1-5 and no previous cashes. Now each one is on the cusp of winning a half million dollars.

The set is being re-configured for the finals. We'll probably be ready to go in about thirty minutes.

03-07-2010 14:42 UTC-12

Let the Finals Begin

[user108095]

...And then there were two. Erik Seidel and Annie Duke

Annie Duke and Erik Seidel have taken their seats at the final table where they'll play a best-of-three match to determine who walks away with the title of 2010 NBC National Heads-Up Champion and $500,000 in first-place money.

Cards are in the air and we're underway.