Holding Strong
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2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
$20,000 Heads-Up Championship
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Buy-in
$20,000
Prize Pool
$1,500,000
Entries
64
Match Two is Underway
Stay with us to find out if "Jesus" can block a Bloch sweep in the finale and force a rubber match to decide the title.
Bloch Takes Match One
, Chris Ferguson, holding 
, made a stand with his few remaining chips and Andy Bloch quickly called with 
.Finding himself behind with the turn and river to come "Jesus" found no 4th or 5th street miracles as the board filled out with blanks:
and 
. With the win, Bloch takes a 1-0 lead in this best of three series.
The players have been released for a quick 10-minute break. The second match will begin shortly.
Andy Bloch Draws First Blood
and Chris Ferguson made the call. When the hit the board on the turn, Jesus, slightly ahead in chips, shoved his stack into the middle putting Bloch to a decision for all of his chips. Andy made the call holding
, good for a made flush, and the 
on the river could not save "Jesus" who had revealed pocket eights for a set.Bloch took a monster chip lead in the match with the win.
Ferguson and Bloch Still Feeling Each Other Out
"Let's get the cards in the air!"
Mathematical Match-Up
Both players are known for implementing mathematics into their poker games, so this match could depend heavily on invisible numbers and speedy calculations. Also of note, Bloch is a former member of the infamous MIT blackjack team, which is the subject of the upcoming movie “21.”
Chris Ferguson has reached the finals of this event in an amazing three out of four events. A win here today and Ferguson solidifies his position as the most dominant player in NBC Heads-Up history; a loss relegates his status to that of the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s. Bloch is hoping to record his largest payday since a televised victory in the 2006 Pro-Am Equalizer tournament at the South Point Hotel and Casino where he took home $500,000 in prize money.
The stage is set for what should be a thrilling finale. Stay with us for the conclusion of the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championships.
Play is scheduled to recommence in ~10 minutes.
Andy Bloch Advances to the Finals
, while Huck Seed tabled . The race was on and by the turn, the board read
with Huck in the lead, one card, a non-ace or queen, away from doubling up. The infamous river card was the , sending Huck to the rail for the remainder of the tournament. Huck will take home $125,000 in prize money for his semi-final performance. With the win, Andy Bloch advances to his first NBC Heads-Up Championship and will have his hands full with three-time finalist Chris "Jesus" Ferguson.
Bloch and Seed Still Neck and Neck
The blinds are now at 5,000-10,000, which should prompt a bit more action.
Ferguson Eliminates Ivey; Advances to a Record Third NBC Heads-Up Final
, sending Chris Ferguson into the tank. After a solid minute passed, Ferguson made the call, tabling a pocket pair of eights; Ivey revealed pocket sixes.Though behind, Ivey had ten outs with one card to come to hit a straight or a set to stay alive, but the
on the river cemented a victory for Ferguson, who, with the win, advances to a record third National Heads-Up Championship final. We've also been told by the NBC production crew that Ferguson has more career wins in this tournament (15) than any other player.
Phil Ivey will take home $125,000 for his efforts - not bad for three days work.
Ferguson will face the winner of the Andy Bloch v. Huck Seed match, which is currently all knotted up.