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

03-02-2008 18:21 UTC-7

Bloch and Seed Still Neck and Neck

[user38449]

Over the past twenty minutes, Huck Seed and Andy Bloch have traded pre-flop raises, stealing each other's blinds and exchanging chips. There have been a couple of decent-sized pots, but for the most part, they've kept things on the small side.

The blinds are now at 5,000-10,000, which should prompt a bit more action.

03-02-2008 18:32 UTC-7

Andy Bloch Advances to the Finals

[user65508]

Leading in the match and on the button, Andy Bloch moved all in, but in fact it was Huck Seed's chips that were all in after the former world champ called Bloch's pre-flop raise. Bloch showed {A-Diamonds}

, while Huck Seed tabled {9-Diamonds}

.

The race was on and by the turn, the board read {5-Diamonds}

with Huck in the lead, one card, a non-ace or queen, away from doubling up. The infamous river card was the {A-Clubs}

, 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.

Tags: Andy Bloch Huck Seed

03-02-2008 19:00 UTC-7

Mathematical Match-Up

[user38449]

Ivy leaguer Andy Bloch will put his analytical skills to the test against finals opponent and fellow math wiz Chris Ferguson. Bloch holds two electrical engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), coupled with a law degree from Harvard, while Ferguson holds a Ph. D. in computer science from UCLA.

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.

03-02-2008 19:28 UTC-7

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

[user38449]

Mano e mano, math guy v. math guy, cowboy hat v. cowboy hat, Team FullTilt pro v. Team FullTilt pro, the stage has been set and the cards are finally in the air.

Tags: Andy Bloch Chris Ferguson

03-02-2008 19:53 UTC-7

Ferguson and Bloch Still Feeling Each Other Out

[user65508]

We are still in the first match in the best of three series. Blinds are 10,000-20,000. Chris Ferguson holds a slight chip lead over Andy Bloch at this point.

Tags: Andy Bloch Chris Ferguson

03-02-2008 20:13 UTC-7

Andy Bloch Draws First Blood

[user65508]

Andy Bloch bet 100,000 after a flop of {A-Clubs}

and Chris Ferguson made the call. When the {9-Diamonds}

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 {Q-Diamonds}

, good for a made flush, and the {Q-Hearts}

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.

Tags: Andy Bloch Chris Ferguson

03-02-2008 20:22 UTC-7

Bloch Takes Match One

[user65508]

After a flop of {A-Hearts}

, Chris Ferguson, holding {A-Diamonds}

, made a stand with his few remaining chips and Andy Bloch quickly called with {10-Diamonds}

.

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: {J-Spades}

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.

Tags: Andy Bloch

03-02-2008 20:41 UTC-7

Match Two is Underway

[user65508]

As action for match two sets up, Chris Ferugson stated, "I think I have a lot of pressure on me now" when asked by tournament hostess Leann Tweeden about his being behind in the match.

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.

03-02-2008 21:05 UTC-7

Holding Strong

[user65508]

The second match of the series has yet to see any real fireworks. Despite the lack of big time action, "Jesus" has built a slight chip lead over Bloch early on in the match.

03-02-2008 21:33 UTC-7

It's a Grind...

[user38449]

Neither Andy Bloch, nor Chris Ferguson seem to be giving up any ground in this tug-of-war of a second match. There have been potential moments of excitement, but each has ended anti-climatically.

The blinds have just jumped to 15,000-30,000, so perhaps a change of pace is in the near future.