$20,000 Heads-up Championship Day 1 | 2009 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship

03-06-2009 20:37 UTC-7

The Mouth's Glasses Have Arrived

[user38449]

The Dario Minieri v. Mike Matusow match is finally underway after Mike's spare pair of glasses were delivered to the set. Their match will be timed using a separate clock so that they receive an equal amount of playing time as the rest of the group.

Tags: Mike Matusow

03-06-2009 20:27 UTC-7

Flack Cooling His Heels

[user75032]

Earlier we reported that Layne Flack missed his heads-up match. Producer Mori Eskandani told us it was because Flack was in an accident on his way home last night.

It's unclear whether or not there was any accident, but we can now confirm that Flack was arrested last night on his way home from the bracket-drawing party. The stated charges are driving 21MPH or more over the speed limit, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, and driving under the influence.

03-06-2009 20:21 UTC-7

Is It That Time Already?

[user75032]

It's hard to believe, but the blinds have already begun to move up at each table to 200 and 400. There's not much room for skilled play given the fifteen-minute levels and 20,000-chip starting stack. These matches will quickly devolve into a series of pre-flop all-in raises by the short stack once we reach the third blind level (300 and 600).

We told you earlier that Mike Matusow's glasses broke about a half hour before play began. His match has been delayed pending the arrival of his spare pair. Daniel Negreanu just offered "the Mouth" some good-natured ribbing, telling him that if a blind person can compete on American Idol, Matusow should be able to play poker without his glasses.

03-06-2009 20:13 UTC-7

Spotted on the Rail

[user75032]

Earlier, Jennifer Tilly sweated Phil Laak's marathon match against Kenny Yeh. Now it's Laak's turn to sweat Tilly's match against Phil Ivey. Also in attanedance: Lacey Jones and David Plastik.

03-06-2009 20:10 UTC-7

Clubs Bracket Match-Ups

[user38449]

The Clubs Bracket is, arguably, one of the toughest brackets in the field. WSOP Main Event Champions Scotty Nguyen, Doyle Brunson and Chris Moneymaker are all here, along with fellow bracelet winners Ted Forrest, Dario Minieri, Mike Matusow, Phil Ivey, Jennifer Tilly, David Pham and Daniel Negreanu. 2007 NBC Heads-up Champion Paul Wasicka is here as well, along with poker-playing celebrity Don Cheadle.

Here's a look at today's Clubs match-ups:

Feature Table:
Daniel Negreanu v. Chris Moneymaker

Don Cheadle v. David Pham

Paul Wasicka v. Nicholas Joy (qualifier)

Jennifer Tilly v. Phil Ivey

Doyle Brunson v. Vanessa Rousso

Hevad Khan v. Scotty Nguyen

Ted Forrest v. Orel Hershiser

Mike Matusow v. Dario Minieri

03-06-2009 20:03 UTC-7

Here We Go Again

[user75032]

After an extended break, the Clubs Bracket has reported for action. Cards are now in the air. Based on the opening monologue delivered by hostess Leeann Tweeden, this bracket will be the first bracket shown on the television broadcast.

Mike Matusow will start his match with a slight handicap. His glasses broke about thirty minutes before play began. Matusow sent his girlfriend home to retrieve a spare pair but she is yet to return.

03-06-2009 19:16 UTC-7

Where's Layne?

[user75032]

At the start of the Diamonds Bracket matches, we were surprised to see that David Oppenheim was playing in place of Layne Flack. Flack was at the drawing party last night at PURE, for one thing; for another, we were under the impression that David Chiu was first on the alternate list.

During the break after the Diamonds Bracket concluded, we asked producer Mori Eskandani why Flack had been replaced, and why Oppenheim was the replacement rather than Chiu. Eskandani stated that Flack was in an automobile accident last night and was therefore unavailable to play today. Chiu, the first alternate, required four hours notice due to the fact that he's based in Los Angeles. NBC was unable to give him that notice and therefore substituted Oppenheim, who lives in Las Vegas, at the last minute.

There are unsubstantiated rumors floating around the room that there is more to the story of Flack's unavailability than has been disclosed officially. We will follow up as additional details become available.

Tags: Layne Flack

03-06-2009 18:52 UTC-7

Diamonds Done; Clubs on Deck

[user38449]

Phil Laak's elimination of qualifier Kenny Yeh closes out the Diamonds Bracket here on Day 1. Perennial NBC Heads-Up money winner Huck Seed advanced once again to the Round of 32 and he'll face the always tough Gus Hansen tomorrow afternoon for a shot at what would be his fifth straight cash.

Also noteworthy is the fact that David Oppenheim is playing at all. Layne Flack was originally slated to play against Vanessa Selbst, but Flack was a no-show this afternoon and Oppenheim was called on as an alternate. He's making the most of the opportunity thus far, having defeated Selbst to secure a spot in the money round.

Here's a look at tomorrow's second round Diamonds Bracket match-ups:

Kenny Tran v. Jennifer Harman

Phil Laak v. David Oppenheim

Gus Hansen v. Huck Seed

Glen Chorny v. Brad Garrett

The first round of Clubs Bracket match-ups are scheduled to begin at approximately 7:00 p.m. local time. Stay with us!

03-06-2009 18:43 UTC-7

Yeh Finally Sent into the Great Beyond

[user75032]

After the previous hand, one of the producers approached Kenny Yeh and told him he needed to start playing more quickly. He took that advice to heart in a big way; he snap-called after Phil Laak open-shoved for the fifth hand in a row. Laak actually had a hand, {K-?}

, and dominated Yeh's {Q-Diamonds}

. The flop brought intrigue and a good sweat, {K-Spades}

. Laaks' top two was in the lead, but Yeh had straight and flush draws. The turn was the {3-Clubs}

, no help to Yeh; the river {9-?}

gave him a two pair that was smaller than Laak's.

After the hand was over, Yeh continued jawing at Laak -- but to no avail. He's out of the tournament, concluding the first round Diamonds bracket matches.

Tags: Kenny Yeh Phil Laak

03-06-2009 18:32 UTC-7

Blinds Up!

[user75032]

Blinds are now at a whopping 1,500 and 3,000 for the match between Phil Laak and Kenny Yeh. They're throwing darts now; flipping coins; playing bingo. Laak has upped his aggression, basically moving in almost every hand as the structure dictates. Yeh doesn't seem to have grasped that nuance of the match and is maintaining his tight calling standards.

Laak has regained a slight chip lead.