$20,000 Heads-up Championship Day 1 | 2010 NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship

03-05-2010 14:53 UTC-12

We're Back

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The break is over and players in the Spades bracket are mic'd up and ready to play as cards get in the air.

03-05-2010 15:14 UTC-12

If the pink shirt Antonio Esfandiari wore during his match wasn't enough to fry your eyeballs, wait until you get a look at the bright yellow shirt Daniel Negreanu is sporting at his feature table with Jason Mercier.

And don't think we're the only ones who've noticed. During the opening banter, Leann Tweeden asked Mercier if he was going to need shades to combat the glare from Negreanu's shirt.

03-05-2010 15:14 UTC-12

Negreanu Negated

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The theme of the day at the feature table seems to be play your hands fast and bust your opponent early. In the Spades bracket, Jason Mercier knocked Daniel Negreanu out in near record time after Negreanu pushed on a board of {j-Hearts}

.

Negreanu showed {5-?}

for two pair, but Mercier’s {Q-?}

gave him the stronger hand. The {9-Diamonds}

on the river provided no help for Negreanu who’s 2010 National Heads Up Championship came to a quick end.

03-05-2010 15:18 UTC-12

A New Feature Pair

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With Jason Mercier dispatching Daniel Negreanu in such short order, the producers have now moved Johnny Chan and Gabe Kaplan to the feature table.

03-05-2010 15:32 UTC-12

Durrrr is Donnnne

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Tom "Durrrr" Dwan is $20,000 poorer than he was about 30 minutes ago. Of course, he'll probably earn that back within five minutes of turning on his computer, but that's not important right now.

What is important is that Phil Gordon eliminated Durrrr from this year's Heads-Up Championship after calling the online phenom's preflop push.

Durrrr showed {A-Diamonds}

and was racing Gordon's {7-?}

. Gordon called out for "one time" before the flop to which Phil Laak, sitting at the next table, piped up "No, one more time." Gordon's hand held through the flop which fell {K-Hearts}

and remained good as the turn and river brought the {3-Clubs}

and

.

03-05-2010 15:39 UTC-12

Sweat for Ivey; Exit for Smith

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Things never seem to come easy for Phil Ivey in this tournament. He got Gavin Smith to commit all of his chips pre-flop with {A-Spades}

. Ivey, non-plussed as ever, tabled {A-Diamonds}

and waited for the flop.

There was lots of murmuring and laughter as the flop came {J-Spades}

to give Ivey top pair and Smith the nut flush draw. The {Q-Clubs}

turn gave Smith a few more outs to secure the double-up. But the {3-Diamonds}

river propelled Ivey to Day 2.

After Ivey and Smith shook hands, Ivey passed by Barry Greenstein and Greenstein's son Nathan. "I made it," said Ivey with a smile. He addressed Nathan directly and said, "I think you need to be here. You counteract the bad luck."

On his way off the set, Ivey stopped to sign autographs for a couple of U.S. Marines.

Tags: Gavin Smith Phil Ivey

03-05-2010 15:43 UTC-12

Bad Luck Kotter

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On the feature table, Johnny Chan and Gabe Kaplan were all in after a flop of {10-Hearts}

. Kaplan was in the lead with two pair, {J-Hearts}

, against Kaplan's {A-Diamonds}

. Everyone in the gallery let out a disappointed "Ohhhh!" when the turn came {A-Spades}

to give Chan three aces. He doubled up and now has the chip lead against Kaplan.

03-05-2010 15:43 UTC-12

Shawn Rices Doubles Up

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Shawn Rice moved all in preflop and got called by Joe Hachem who held {8-Clubs}

and was well ahead of Rice's {K-Diamonds}

.

Hachem lost the lead on the flop, which fell {K-Clubs}

and couldn't recover when the turn and river came {10-Hearts}

.

Hachem shipped his chips across the felt while Rice called for a drink.

03-05-2010 15:48 UTC-12

Rice Eliminated

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Shawn Rice didn't get to enjoy the chips he won from Joe Hachem for very long. Just two hands later, Rice moved all in preflop and got insta-called by Hachem. Rice showed {A-Hearts}

to Hachem's {10-Diamonds}

.

This time, Hachem increased his lead on a flop of {2-Spades}

and sealed the win with the {8-Diamonds}

on the turn. The river was meaningless and Rice was eliminated while Hachem will return tomorrow.

03-05-2010 15:48 UTC-12

De Korver Easily Handles Sexton

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It was a very workmanlike first round match for Pieter de Korver. He ground Mike Sexton down to 8,000 chips before limping his button. Sexton shoved all in way {A-Spades}

and was met with a snap-call by de Korver, who showed {A-Clubs}

. Two kings on the flop caused Sexton to stand from his chair and prepare for his departure. He was drawing dead after the turn.

De Korver gave a short fist pump, shook Sexton's hands, and then shook hands with a friend sweating him on the rail. He'll be back tomorrow for Round 2.

Tags: Mike Sexton Pieter de Korver