Mike Matusow Finally Gets Heads-Up Title Defense Shot 12 Years Later
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The iconic $25,000 National Heads-Up Poker Championship is back as 64 celebrities, entrepreneurs and poker players will compete for the championship title inside PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas.
Those competing in the event include heads-up end bosses Doug Polk and Phil Galfond, new school poker players Alan Keating and Tyler Montoya, old school legends Erick Lindgren and Andrew Robl, celebrities Richard Seymour and Rob Riggle, and previous champions Erik Seidel and Mike Matusow, who won the last edition of the event in 2013 for $750,000.
PokerNews caught up with the four-time bracelet winner ahead of the first round to talk about getting a chance to defend his title 12 years later.
Matusow Remembers Time He "Outplayed" Hellmuth
Matusow's odds of defending his title may have narrowed as he was matched against high-stakes crusher Stephen Chidwick in the first round. Matusow has had a lot to say about the high roller circuit as of late, but he had nothing but praise and respect for his opponent.
"When I talked about the high roller circuit, Stephen Chidwick was not included in there," Matusow told PokerNews. "He's a guy that does it all from nothing."
Matusow has faced tough early match-ups before and lived to tell the tale. In 2013, he faced reigning WSOP Main Event champion Michael Mizrachi in the first round.
"When I won in 2013, I kind of had a dream I was going to win and I did. I drew Grinder first round and Viktor Blom the second round, and Viktor was the best heads-up player in the world in 2013. And then I beat (Scott) Seiver in an epic semi-final and then beat Phil Hellmuth in the finals. And he still brings it up how I 'got so lucky.' I was in the zone. I kind of outplayed him."
"I really am in a great mental spot today. I'm prepared and hopefully the cards run my way. You're going to need a lot of luck to win, I have a strategy in mind. I hope it works."
Spades Bracket
The first-round matchups were set on Thursday inside the PokerGO Studio, and PokerNews was on-site as Jeff Platt announced the bracket formations.
The first rounds are taking place in PokerGO Studio on Friday, while subsequent rounds will take place on Aug. 2-3. Results won't be aired until later this year when episodes premiere on Peacock.
The first quadrant to play will be the Spades bracket, which includes 2011 champion Erik Seidel up against cash game crusher Andrew Robl. The two faced off in the semifinals more than a decade ago and Robl will now seek revenge as Seidel looks to defend his title.
Meanwhile, Robl's friend Phil Galfond will face off with movie producer Dylan Flashner, while another cash game specialist, Matt Berkey, will go against pro footballer Richard Seymour.
Other matchups in the Spades bracket include Jasper versus Marius Gierse, recent million-dollar bounty winner Tyler Montoya and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, Kasey Lyn Mills versus Esther Taylor, Matthew "Hanks" Honig versus actor Rob Riggle and psychology author Maria Konnikova against reality TV star Boston Rob Mariano.
- Tyler Montoya vs. Jason Calacanis
- Erik Seidel vs. Andrew Robl
- Richard Seymour vs. Matt Berkey
- Jasper vs. Marius Gierse
- Phil Galfond vs. Dylan Flashner
- Kasey Lyn Mills vs. Esther Taylor
- Matthew "Hanks" Honig vs. Rob Riggle
- Maria Konnikova vs. Boston Rob
Clubs Bracket
Headlining the Clubs Bracket will be old school legend Phil Laak against Table 1 Podcast host Justin Young, while TV writer Matt Salsberg will go up against YouTuber Johnnie Vibes.
In the same bracket, Hustler Casino Live's Ryan Feldman will face off against high-stakes pro Sean Winter, while PokerStars Ambassador Jason Koon is up against Erick "E-Dog" Lindgren.
The Clubs Bracket also includes Brazil God versus Nacho Barbero, Poker Hall of Famer Brian Rast versus Ren Lin and Sam Soverel versus Jonathan Jaffe.
- Brazil God vs. Nacho Barbero
- Justin Young vs. Phil Laak
- Brian Rast vs. Ren Lin
- Matt Salsberg vs. Johnnie Vibes
- Sam Soverel vs. Jonathan Jaffe
- Sean Winter vs. Ryan Feldman
- Chino Rheem vs. Nick Wright
- Erick Lindgren vs. Jason Koon
Hearts Bracket
The Hearts Bracket will see defending champion Matusow compete against Stephen Chidwick, as well as all-time money leader Bryn Kenney up against investor Vinny Lingham and Jesse Lonis is up against Kristen Foxen.
The Hearts Bracket also includes Keith Lehr against influencer Bryce Hall, Frank Crivello against The Challenge host TJ Lavin, Justin Gavri against heads-up crusher John Smith, 2023 WSOP Player of the Year Scott Seiver against Chef Phillip, and live stream king Garrett Adelstein against Frank Brannan.
- Bryn Kenney vs. Vinny Lingham
- Jesse Lonis vs. Kristen Foxen
- Keith Lehr vs. Bryce Hall
- Frank Crivello vs. TJ Lavin
- Scott Seiver vs. Chef Phillip
- Mike Matusow vs. Stephen Chidwick
- Justin Gavri vs. John Smith
- Frankie Brannan vs. Garrett Adelstein
Diamonds Bracket
The Diamonds Bracket will see reigning WSOP POY Shaun Deeb up against stream superstar Alan Keating, as well as content creator Doug Polk up against Xuan Liu and Liv Boeree against actor Kevin Pollak.
Igor Kurganov will face off with 2003 WSOP Main Event champion Chris Moneymaker, while Dan "Jungleman" Cates will battle with Charlie Hook.
The Diamonds Bracket also includes PokerGO founder Cary Katz versus 2021 WSOP POY Josh Arieh, Victoria Livschitz versus 2004 Main Event runner-up David Williams and 3Coin's Randy Sadler against reigning Main Event champion Michael Mizrachi.
- Kevin Pollak vs. Liv Boeree
- Alan Keating vs. Shaun Deeb
- Chris Moneymaker vs. Igor Kurganov
- Xuan Liu vs. Doug Polk
- Dan "Jungleman" Cates vs. Charlie Hook
- Victoria Livschitz vs. David Williams
- 3Coin vs. Michael Mizrachi
- Cary Katz vs. Josh Arieh
Previously on NBC, the PokerStars-sponsored National Heads-Up Poker Championship will appear exclusively on Peacock later this year and will air on PokerGO beginning in 2026. Previous seasons of the iconic poker show will start airing on PokerGO on Monday, Aug. 4.
