One Round Down, Five to Go

We've reached the end of a long Day 1 here at the 2011 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship in Ceasars Palace, Las Vegas. 64 players squared off in 32 heads-up matches throughout the day. The youth movement was definitely on display but the old guard sent their representatives through to the second round also.

It was no surprise that 15-minute levels and steep blind increases made many of the first-round matches gamble-fests after a few blind levels. Despite that made-for-televion structure all the players on hand seemed to have a great time, win or lose.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came in the Hearts Bracket. Former NFL superstar and Dancing With the Stars champion Emmitt Smith took WSOP Main Event runner-up David Williams to the limit, juking and dancing his way to a come-from-behind victory with a lucky river card. The Spades Bracket produced the most "cooler" hands, with Faraz Jaka and Phil Ivey both being victimized. And quads were sprinkled liberally throughout each bracket during the day.

Tomorrow the 32 victors will return for Round Two. We're not entirely sure what time cards will be in the air. But when they are, these will be the match-ups:

{a-Diamonds} Diamonds Bracket