2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship

$20,000 Heads-Up Championship
Day: 1
123
Event Info
2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j♠j♣
Prize
$500,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$20,000
Prize Pool
$1,500,000
Entries
64
Players Left 1 / 64
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Little Wins a Big Race

All in holding {K-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}, Jonathan Little found himself in a coin-flip situation against long time pro Erik Seidel who went to battle with a pocket pair of nines.

The flop came {7-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{2-Hearts} which appeared to be a safe one for Seidel, but things grew worse and worse as the turn brought the {4-Hearts} giving Little a flush draw, and the {J-Hearts} on the river completed it.

With the win, Little climbed back up to ~10,000 in chips.

Tags: Jonathan Little

Nikzad Eliminated by Raymer

Caesar's Palace qualifier Hooman Nikzad has just been eliminated from the tournament by 2004 WSOP Main Event winner Greg "FossilMan" Raymer. An unknown to most in the poker world, Nikzad actually owns an impressive poker resume, having career tournament earnings in excess of $500,000.

The pair got it all in on a jack-high flop; Nikzad with a pair of jacks and Raymer, a pocket pair of sevens. A fateful seven on the turn gave Raymer a set, leaving Nikzad drawing to four outs for a straight with one card to come. The river blanked out and the win sends Raymer into the round of 32.

Tags: Greg Raymer

Kenny Tran Rivers a Flush, Doubles Through Clements

Scott Clements looked in great shape to be the third player from the Clubs bracket to advance to the round of 32, getting it all in with pocket tens against the {A-Clubs}{6-Clubs} held by Kenny Tran.

The board was a promising {7-Spades}{2-Clubs}{6-Hearts}, but the {K-Clubs} on the turn was a scary card for Clements as it gave his opponent the nut flush draw. Clements' nightmare was realized when the {Q-Clubs} fell on the river, sending the pot Tran's way.

Scott is still in good shape, however, as Tran was relatively short-stacked before the start of the hand.

Tags: Scott Clements

Tran, Antonius and Seidel Eliminated

With the blinds now at 600/1,200, the players have picked up the pace a bit and we've seen three eliminations in the last five minutes.

Over on table two, Kenny Tran was eliminated by Scott Clements when his A-7 failed to run down Clements' A-K in a pre-flop all in confrontation.

Across the room on table five, Patrik Antonius lost a coinflip holding pocket twos against Kaplan's {A-Hearts}{5-Diamonds} when the board filled out {A-Diamonds}{K-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}.

And finally, our most recently eliminated player was Erik Seidel, who was sent to the rail by Jonathan Little whose pocket fours held up against Seidel's A-9 in another pre-flop all in contest.

Smith Saved by a Miracle Straight

"I need a little bit of a miracle," Gavin Smith said while awaiting his showdown against opponent Tom Schneider.

When it was time to table the cards, Gavin showed a meager {7-Diamonds}{8-Spades} and found himself a big dog to Schneider's pocket queens. Needing all kinds of help, Gavin's chances improved immensely after the flop came {K-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}{6-Clubs} giving him an open-ended straight draw. Gavin locked up the hand on the turn when the {4-Diamonds} peeled off, giving him a pot-clinching straight.

Schneider was left with less than 10,000 in chips after the loss.

Tags: Tom Schneider

Schneider, Hachem Eliminated

Moments after suffering a major bad beat at the hands of Gavin Smith, Tom Schneider found himself racing for his tournament life, holding pocket nines against Smith's {Q-Clubs}{10-Clubs}. The board filled out J-K-10-8-5 giving Smith a bigger pair and the victory, earning him a spot in the round of 32.

Two tables over, with the board showing 10-2-3, Mike Matusow opened with a 2,000 bet which was met by an all-in re-raise from Joe Hachem. Matusow made the call and tabled {J-Spades}{10-Diamonds}, in great shape against Hachem's {10-Clubs}{4-Spades}. The turn and river came A, J giving Matusow two pair and the match, propelling him into the round of 32.

Tags: Joe Hachem

Juanda Eliminated; Clubs Bracket Complete

Chris Ferguson has just eliminated John Juanda from the tournament to earn a spot in the round of 32, leaving just eight spots left to be claimed by those in the Spades bracket, which is set to begin in approximately twenty minutes.

Here's how the Clubs bracket looks for tomorrow's round of 32:

Jonathan Little
v.
Gabe Kaplan

Greg Raymer
v.
Scott Clements

Mike Matusow
v.
Tom Dwan

Gavin Smith
v.
Chris Ferguson

Tags: Chris Ferguson

Spades Bracket Underway

NBC Hostess Leeann Tweeden
NBC Hostess Leeann Tweeden
The final group of players in today's opening round of play are in their seats, miked up and ready to play. Tournament hostess Leeann Tweeden has just given the green light to get the cards in the air and we're off.

Tags: Leeann Tweeden

Who is Alisha Kunze?

PokerStars online qualifier Alisha Kunze
PokerStars online qualifier Alisha Kunze
The lone PokerStars qualifier in today's field, Alisha Kunze of Greensburg, Indiana won her entry into the tournament via a series of online freerolls, ultimately besting a field of 256 players in the final round to earn a spot on the show.

Kunze has been playing online poker for about four and a half years, but this is her first live event. Some might say she's started her live poker career running bad, as she's drawn a seat across the table from Phil Ivey in the opening round.

Tags: Alisha Kunze

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