![[user75032]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Jason Mercier, with an 85,000-to-15,000 lead on Andy Bloch, raised enough pre-flop to put Bloch all in. Bloch called with a small ace, 
. Mercier showed a slightly bigger ace, 
. The hand seemed destined for a chop but Mercier paired his kicker on the flop 
. By the turn 
Bloch was drawing dead and, like Antonio Esfandiari before him, was eliminated from the tournament.
Get 'em while they're hot. Click the photo gallery tab to see more.
That's it for the feature table. Antonio Esfandiari has been playing from behind since the very beginning of his match against Jonathan Duhamel. On a flop of 
, Esfandiari made his move. He shoved all in with a flush draw, 
. Duhamel called with a better flush draw, 
.
"Deuce! Deuce!" shouted Esfandiari. No such luck; the turn fell to give Duhamel the nuts and to eliminate Esfandiari from the tournament. Doyle Brunson and Dennis Phillips are now being moved to the feature table.
As to be expected, there hasn't been a ton of action yet here in Level 1 of the second round. However, at the feature table, Jonathan Duhamel appears to have opened a sizable chip lead over Antonio Esfandiari (who eschewed the yellow and orange argyle socks today and instead went for argyle tennis shoes).
Antonius is in his seat for his match against Eugene Katchalov. Leeann Tweeden has completed her introductions. Cards are in the air.
For the Round of 32 each player starts with 50,000 in chips. Blinds start at 300-600.
We are all set and ready to go, except for one minor detail. Where is Patrik Antonius?
The lights have been turned back on here on the set of the NBC National Heds-Up Poker Championship at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Yesterday 32 first-round matches in this bracket-style, heads-up battle royale resulted in 32 winners and 32 losers. Among the victors: Doyle Brunson, Patrik Antonius and Tom Dwan. Among the vanquished: Daniel Negreanu and two guys named Phil (Ivey and Hellmuth).
Today the tournament will continue with the Round of 32 and the Sweet 16. First up are the Clubs and Spades Round of 32 matches, starting between 1pm and 1:30pm local time. The Hearts and Diamonds Round of 32 matches will follow at 4pm. Victors in each of those second-round matches will move on to the Sweet 16 at approximately 7pm and 9:30pm, respectively.
Here are the pairings:
Clubs and Spades Brackets
Olivier Busquet v. Liv Boeree
Jason Mercier v. Andy Bloch
Barry Greenstein v. Ayaz Mahmood
Jonathan Duhamel v. Antonio Esfandiari ***FEATURE TABLE***
Doyle Brunson v. Dennis Phillips
Daniel Cates v. Chris Moneymaker
Carlos Mortensen v. David Oppenheim
Patrik Antonius v. Eugene Katchalov
Hearts and Diamonds Brackets
Andrew Robl v. Emmitt Smith
Gavin Smith v. James Bord
Phil Laak v. Michael Mizrachi ***FEATURE TABLE***
Tom Dwan v. David Benyamine
Bertrand Grospellier v. Phil Galfond
Vanessa Selbst v. Peter Eastgate
Jennifer Harman v. Erik Seidel
Greg Raymer v. Phil Gordon
We'll see you in about an hour.
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Day 2 Started
