- National Heads-Up Poker Championship
-
National Heads-Up Poker Championship 
The 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship trophyFormat Poker Created by NBC Sports Narrated by Ali Nejad and Matt Vasgersian Country of origin 
United StatesProduction Location(s) Golden Nugget Las Vegas (2005),
Caesars Palace (2006 - present)Running time 60 minutes (including commercials) Broadcast Original channel NBC Original run 2005 – 2011 External links Website The National Heads-Up Poker Championship was an annual poker tournament held in the United States and produced by the NBC television network.[1] It is a $20,000 "buy-in" invitation-only tournament[2] organized as a series of one-on-one games of no limit Texas hold 'em matches. The participants include many of the world's most successful poker players, as well as celebrities.
The championship was the first poker event to be televised on and produced by a major U.S. television network.[1]
In October 2011, NBC announced that the National Heads-Up Poker Championship will not return in 2012, ending the championship's seven-year run.[3]
Contents
Structure
The single-elimination tournament is modeled after college basketball tournaments. Players who win a match advance to the next round; the player who wins six matches is crowned champion.
The first round is seeded randomly the night before the tournament begins. Players are divided into four brackets – Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. A participant advances by winning a heads-up match against his or her randomly drawn opponent. The structure of the brackets then determines every match thereafter. The semifinals consist of one player from each bracket, with the winner of the Spades bracket playing the winner of the Clubs bracket, and the winner of the Hearts bracket matched up against the winner of the Diamonds bracket. A best-of-three final match then determines which of the two finalists is crowned champion.
Brief history
The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is an invitation-only event. In contrast, the World Heads-Up Poker Championship is an open event with a maximum participation of 128 players.
The 2005 event took place at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas between March 4 and March 6. It aired weekly on NBC from May 1 to May 22 with commentary from Gabe Kaplan and Matt Vasgersian.
The 2006 edition took place from March 4 to 6 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. NBC began its coverage by broadcasting one part of the opening round on April 16. The semi-final and championship matches aired May 21. Kaplan and Vasgersian returned as commentators.
The 2007 edition was broadcast from April 8 to May 20. Ali Nejad took Gabe Kaplan's spot as commentator due to Kaplan competing in the tournament.
2005
First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championships 1 Phil Hellmuth 64 Men Nguyen Hellmuth Phillips 32 Dewey Tomko 33 Paul Phillips Hellmuth Seed 16 Huck Seed 49 David Pham Seed Raymer 17 Greg Raymer 48 Kathy Liebert Hellmuth Berman 8 Carlos Mortensen 57 David Williams Mortensen Ng 25 Evelyn Ng 40 Bobby Baldwin Mortensen Berman 9 Freddy Deeb 56 Lyle Berman Berman Harman 24 Jennifer Harman 41 David Grey Hellmuth Esfandiari 4 Daniel Negreanu 61 Jerry Buss Negreanu Esfandiari 29 Antonio Esfandiari 36 Howard Lederer Esfandiari Forrest 13 Ted Forrest 52 John Cernuto Forrest Arieh 20 Josh Arieh 45 René Angélil Esfandiari Fischman 5 Johnny Chan 60 James Woods Chan Sklansky 28 Phil Ivey 37 David Sklansky Sklansky Fischman 12 Erik Seidel 53 Dennis Wager Wager Fischman 21 Annie Duke 44 Scott Fischman Hellmuth Ferguson 3 Scotty Nguyen 62 Mike Caro Caro Cloutier 30 T. J. Cloutier 35 Nick Frangos Cloutier Hennigan 19 John Hennigan 46 Layne Flack Hennigan Orenstein 14 Henry Orenstein 51 Chip Reese Cloutier Juanda 6 Doyle Brunson 59 Billy Baxter Baxter Greenstein 27 Barry Greenstein 38 Lee Salem Greenstein Juanda 22 Amir Vahedi 43 John Myung Vahedi Juanda 54 Chau Giang 11 John Juanda Cloutier Ferguson 7 Phil Gordon 58 Hasan Habib Habib Farha 26 Sam Farha 39 Prahlad Friedman Habib Sexton 42 Todd Brunson 23 Erick Lindgren Lindgren Sexton 55 Yoshio Nakano 10 Mike Sexton Sexton Ferguson 15 Chris Moneymaker 50 Eli Elezra Moneymaker Tran 47 Mimi Tran 18 Tom McEvoy Tran Ferguson 31 Gus Hansen 34 Curtis Bibb Hansen Ferguson 63 Cyndy Violette 2 Chris Ferguson 2006
First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championships 1 Ted Forrest 64 Erik Seidel Forrest Brown 32 Chad Brown 33 Phil Ivey Forrest Dureck 16 Ernie Dureck 49 Scotty Nguyen Dureck Phillips 17 Paul Phillips 48 Jennifer Tilly Forrest Farha 8 Sam Farha 57 René Angélil Farha Shulman 25 Barry Shulman 40 Antonio Esfandiari Farha Mizrachi 9 Michael Mizrachi 56 Mark Seif Mizrachi Lederer 24 Howard Lederer 41 Allen Cunningham Forrest Sheikhan 4 Shahram Sheikhan 61 Gus Hansen Sheikhan Brunson 29 Doyle Brunson 36 John Juanda Sheikhan Grey 13 David Grey 52 Lyle Berman Grey Mortensen 20 Carlos Mortensen 45 Johnny Chan Sheikhan Negreanu 5 Daniel Negreanu 60 Evelyn Ng Negreanu Raymer 28 Greg Raymer 37 Layne Flack Negreanu Cloutier 12 T. J. Cloutier 53 Jeff Shulman Cloutier Laak 21 Phil Laak 44 Gavin Smith Forrest Ferguson 3 Chris Ferguson 62 Freddy Deeb Ferguson Reese 30 Chip Reese 35 Phil Hellmuth Ferguson Arieh 19 Josh Arieh 46 David Williams Arieh Elezra 14 Eli Elezra 51 Mike Matusow Ferguson McManus 6 James McManus 59 Josh Lochner McManus Sexton 27 Mike Sexton 38 Annie Duke McManus Chesnoff 22 David Chesnoff 43 Bobby Baldwin Chesnoff Harrington 54 Dan Harrington 11 Todd Brunson Ferguson Seed 7 Huck Seed 58 David Oppenheim Seed Lindgren 26 Erick Lindgren 39 Steven Glassner Seed Fischman 42 Scott Fischman 23 James Woods Fischman Luong 55 Dee Luong 10 Men Nguyen Seed Greenstein 15 Barry Greenstein 50 Cyndy Violette Greenstein Le 47 Tuan Le 18 Chris Moneymaker Greenstein Vahedi 31 Amir Vahedi 34 Jerry Buss Vahedi Caro 63 Mike Caro 2 Tony G 2007
First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championships 1 Shannon Elizabeth 64 René Angélil Elizabeth Madsen 32 Steve Zolotow 33 Jeff Madsen Elizabeth Greenstein 16 Erick Lindgren 49 Vanessa Rousso Rousso Greenstein 17 Barry Greenstein 48 Carlos Mortensen Elizabeth Brenes 8 Erik Seidel 57 Humberto Brenes Brenes Laak 25 Marco Traniello 40 Phil Laak Brenes Seed 9 Patrik Antonius 56 Huck Seed Seed Reese 24 Paul Darden 41 Chip Reese Elizabeth Wasicka 4 Tuan Le 61 Antonio Esfandiari Le Cloutier 29 Cyndy Violette 36 T.J. Cloutier Cloutier Wasicka 13 Joe Hachem 52 Chris Moneymaker Hachem Wasicka 20 Paul Wasicka 45 Eli Elezra Wasicka Le 5 Gus Hansen 60 Shawn Sheikhan Sheikhan Forrest 28 Ted Forrest 37 Sam Farha Forrest Le 12 Annie Duke 53 Jeff Shulman Duke Le 21 Greg Raymer 44 Nam Le Wasicka Brown 3 John Michael 62 Allen Cunningham Cunningham Bloch 30 Jennifer Harman 35 Andy Bloch Bloch Matusow 19 Mike Matusow 46 Daniel Negreanu Matusow Mizrachi 14 Michael Mizrachi 51 John Juanda Bloch Smith 6 David Benyamine 59 Gavin Smith Smith Chan 27 Johnny Chan 38 J. C. Tran Smith Gordon 22 Jennifer Tilly 43 Jamie Gold Gold Gordon 54 Phil Gordon 11 Scotty Nguyen Smith Brown 7 Kristy Gazes 58 Clonie Gowen Gazes Mercier 26 Eric Larrivee 39 Isabelle Mercier Gazes Fischman 42 Don Cheadle 23 Phil Ivey Cheadle Fischman 55 Chris Ferguson 10 Scott Fischman Gazes Brown 15 Brad Booth 50 Howard Lederer Booth Williams 47 John D'Agostino 18 David Williams Booth Brown 31 Gabe Kaplan 34 Todd Brunson Kaplan Brown 63 Chad Brown 2 Yoshio Nakano 2008
In additional to the poker professionals, several poker-playing celebrities from other fields were invited: Gabe Kaplan, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Tilly, Shannon Elizabeth, Jason Alexander and Orel Hershiser.[4] Also invited was Alisha Kunze of Greensburg, Indiana, who won her seat via a "special online qualifier."[4]
First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championships 1 Jonathan Little 64 Erik Seidel Little Kaplan 32 Patrik Antonius 33 Gabe Kaplan Little Raymer 16 Greg Raymer 49 Hooman Nikzad Raymer Clements 17 Kenny Tran 48 Scott Clements Little Ferguson 8 Mike Matusow 57 Joe Hachem Matusow Dwan 25 Tom Dwan 40 Phil Hellmuth Matusow Ferguson 9 Tom Schneider 56 Gavin Smith Smith Ferguson 24 Chris Ferguson 41 John Juanda Ferguson Ivey 4 Don Cheadle 61 Gus Hansen Hansen Nguyen 29 Scotty Nguyen 36 Bill Edler Hansen Laak 13 Jerry Yang 52 Chris Moneymaker Yang Laak 20 David Singer 45 Phil Laak Hansen Ivey 5 Phil Ivey 60 Alisha Kunze Ivey Chan 28 David Williams 37 Johnny Chan Ivey Tran 12 Dan Schreiber 53 T. J. Cloutier Cloutier Tran 21 Annie Duke 44 J. C. Tran Ferguson Bloch 3 Vanessa Rousso 62 Antonio Esfandiari Rousso Bloch 30 Shannon Elizabeth 35 Andy Bloch Bloch Fischman 19 Todd Brunson 46 Scott Fischman Fischman Gold 14 Jamie Gold 51 Tom Kelly Bloch Hershiser 6 Ted Forrest 59 Orel Hershiser Hershiser Cunningham 27 Allen Cunningham 38 Chad Brown Hershiser Deeb 22 Jean-Robert Bellande 43 Sam Grizzle Grizzle Deeb 54 Freddy Deeb 11 Paul Wasicka Bloch Seed 7 Jason Alexander 58 Huck Seed Seed Townsend 26 David Pham 39 Brian Townsend Seed Mizrachi 42 Clonie Gowen 23 Jennifer Tilly Gowen Mizrachi 55 Daniel Negreanu 10 Michael Mizrachi Seed Benyamine 15 Barry Greenstein 50 Howard Lederer Greenstein Benyamine 47 David Benyamine 18 Jennifer Harman Benyamine Brunson 31 Sam Farha 34 Doyle Brunson Brunson Lindgren 63 Erick Lindgren 2 Eli Elezra 2009
First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championships 1 Don Cheadle 64 David Pham Cheadle Wasicka 32 Paul Wasicka 33 Nicholas Joy Wasicka Rousso 16 Jennifer Tilly 49 Phil Ivey Ivey Rousso 17 Doyle Brunson 48 Vanessa Rousso Rousso Negreanu 8 Hevad Khan 57 Scotty Nguyen Nguyen Forrest 25 Ted Forrest 40 Orel Hershiser Nguyen Negreanu 9 Daniel Negreanu 56 Chris Moneymaker Negreanu Minieri 24 Mike Matusow 41 Dario Minieri Rousso Grospellier 4 Gabe Kaplan 61 Chris Ferguson Kaplan Juanda 29 John Juanda 36 Joe Hachem Juanda Grospellier 13 Ilari Sahamies 52 Gavin Smith Sahamies Grospellier 20 Fred Collins 45 Bertrand Grospellier Grospellier Hellmuth 5 Jeffrey Ishbia 60 Leon Yanovski Ishbia Hellmuth 28 Mike Sexton 37 Phil Hellmuth Hellmuth Dwan 12 Gavin Griffin 53 Tom Dwan Dwan Greenstein 21 Barry Greenstein 44 Blandino Gines Rousso Seed 3 Johnny Chan 62 Eli Elezra Elezra Lindgren 30 Erick Lindgren 35 Howard Lederer Lindgren Williams 19 J. C. Tran 46 David Williams Williams Fischman 14 Jamie Gold 51 Scott Fischman Williams Farha 6 Erik Seidel 59 John Phan Phan Yang 27 Jerry Yang 38 Clonie Gowen Phan Farha 22 Allen Cunningham 43 Sam Farha Farha Eastgate 54 Andy Bloch 11 Peter Eastgate Farha Seed 7 Kenny Tran 58 Antonio Esfandiari Tran Harman 26 Greg Raymer 39 Jennifer Harman Tran Oppenheim 42 Kenny Yeh 23 Phil Laak Laak Oppenheim 55 Vanessa Selbst 10 David Oppenheim* Oppenheim Seed 15 David Benyamine 50 Gus Hansen Hansen Seed 47 Huck Seed 18 Jonathan Little Seed Chorny 31 Chad Brown 34 Glen Chorny Chorny Garrett 63 Annie Duke 2 Brad Garrett 2010
First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championships 1 Patrik Antonius 64 Chris Moneymaker Moneymaker Wolpert 32 Leo Wolpert 33 Eric Baldwin Moneymaker Seidel 16 David Williams 49 Joe Cada Williams Seidel 17 Erik Seidel 48 Huck Seed Seidel Eastgate 8 Dan Ramirez 57 Erick Lindgren Lindgren Eastgate 25 Peter Eastgate 40 Bertrand Grospellier Eastgate Gold 9 Stephen Quinn 56 Ted Forrest Quinn Gold 24 Dario Minieri 41 Jamie Gold Seidel Nguyen 4 Gavin Smith 61 Phil Ivey Ivey Nguyen 29 Richard Edwards 36 Scotty Nguyen Nguyen Kaplan 13 Shawn Rice 52 Joe Hachem Hachem Kaplan 20 Gabe Kaplan 45 Johnny Chan Nguyen Mercier 5 Daniel Negreanu 60 Jason Mercier Mercier de Korver 28 Pieter de Korver 37 Mike Sexton Mercier Laak 12 Phil Gordon 53 Tom Dwan Gordon Laak 21 Phil Laak 44 John Juanda Seidel Duke 3 Jesper Hougaard 62 Allen Cunningham Cunningham Elezra 30 Eli Elezra 35 Greg Mueller Elezra Phillips 19 Annette Dworski 46 Chris Ferguson Ferguson Phillips 14 Kara Scott 51 Dennis Phillips Phillips Brunson 6 Brock Parker 59 Doyle Brunson Brunson Cheadle 27 J.P. Kelly 38 Don Cheadle Brunson Obrestad 22 Howard Lederer 43 Phil Hellmuth Hellmuth Obrestad 54 Annette Obrestad 11 Orel Hershiser Phillips Duke 7 Barry Greenstein 58 Vanessa Rousso Greenstein Farha 26 Sam Farha 39 Antonio Esfandiari Greenstein Yang 42 Jennifer Harman 23 Jennifer Tilly Harman Yang 55 Jerry Yang 10 Mike Matusow Yang Duke 15 Darvin Moon 50 Bill Huntress Moon Duke 47 Andy Bloch 18 Annie Duke Duke Wasicka 31 Andrew Wilson 34 Paul Wasicka Wasicka Hansen 63 Gus Hansen 2 Greg Raymer 2011
First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championships 1 Dwyte Pilgrim 64 Olivier Busquet Busquet Boeree 32 Liv Boeree 33 Jason Alexander Busquet Mercier 16 Jason Mercier 49 Ted Forrest Mercier Bloch 17 Andy Bloch 48 John Juanda Busquet Duhamel 8 Barry Greenstein 57 Scotty Nguyen Greenstein Mahmood 25 Annette Obrestad 40 Ayaz Mahmood Mahmood Duhamel 9 Jonathan Duhamel 56 Melburn Whitmire Duhamel Esfandiari 24 Nicolas Chouity 41 Antonio Esfandiari Duhamel Moneymaker 4 Doyle Brunson 61 Jennifer Tilly Brunson Phillips 29 Erick Lindgren 36 Dennis Phillips Brunson Moneymaker 13 Daniel Cates 52 Phil Ivey Cates Moneymaker 20 John Racener 45 Chris Moneymaker Moneymaker Oppenheim 5 Carlos Mortensen 60 Sam Trickett Mortensen Oppenheim 28 Eric Baldwin 37 David Oppenheim Oppenheim Katchalov 12 Patrik Antonius 53 Sorel Mizzi Antonius Katchalov 21 Eugene Katchalov 44 Faraz Jaka Moneymaker Seidel 3 Kara Scott 62 Andrew Robl Robl Smith 30 David Williams 35 Emmitt Smith Robl Bord 19 Gavin Smith 46 Gus Hansen Smith Bord 14 James Bord 51 Frank Kassela Robl Benyamine 6 Phil Laak 59 Daniel Negreanu Laak Mizrachi 27 Michael Mizrachi 38 Vanessa Rousso Mizrachi Benyamine 22 Don Cheadle 43 Tom Dwan Dwan Benyamine 54 Phil Hellmuth 11 David Benyamine Robl Seidel 7 Bertrand Grospellier 58 Justin Young Grospellier Galfond 26 Joe Hachem 39 Phil Galfond Galfond Selbst 42 Vanessa Selbst 23 Eli Elezra Selbst Eastgate 55 Peter Eastgate 10 Chris Ferguson Selbst Seidel 15 Huck Seed 50 Jennifer Harman Harman Seidel 47 Erik Seidel 18 Allen Cunningham Seidel Gordon 31 Mike Matusow 34 Greg Raymer Raymer Gordon 63 Tom Marchese 2 Phil Gordon See also
References
- ^ a b NBC Spot in the Cards for Poker Tourney February 2005 article from the Las Vegas Sun
- ^ NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship Inks Four-year Deal with Caesars, a May 2008 article from pokernews.com
- ^ "NBC Cancels National Heads-Up Poker Championship". PokerNews. http://www.pokernews.com/news/2011/10/nbc-cancels-national-heads-up-poker-championship-11214.htm. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ a b Field is set for the 2008 NHPC from the NBC Sports website
Major poker tournaments World Series
of Poker
(bracelet)by year1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 (results) • 2006 (results) • 2007 (results) • 2008 (results) • 2009 (results) • 2010 (results) • 2011 (results)2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 (results)2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011OtherPoker tours UK and IrelandSeason 1 • 2Super Bowl of Poker 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991Late Night Poker Poker Superstars Other events Poker Million • U.S. Poker Championship • World Heads-Up • National Heads-Up • Aussie Millions • Irish Open • Asian Poker Tour • Partouche Poker Tour • WCOOP • Epic Poker League[1] Starting in 2011, a World Series of Poker bracelet was awarded to the WSOP Circuit National Champion.Categories:- Poker tournaments
- NBC network shows
- Poker television programs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
