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So what brings 64 championship caliber poker players together? It’s the second annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship - and a shot at $1.5 million in prize money - of course.
When you get an invitation to hang out with 64 of the best poker players in the world, you don’t ask questions. You just show up. And that’s exactly what I did on Friday night at Caesars Palace.
By the time I arrived at 7:30 p.m., the red carpet was already rolled out and actor / poker player James Woods was standing on it, fielding questions from the media. I snapped a quick picture and made my way inside the magnificent new Caesars Palace poker room.
The elevated high-limit area was roped off to host the welcome reception, and a bar had been rolled in. I grabbed a beer and cruised around the reception, chatting it up with many elite poker players such as: Doyle Brunson, Gus Hansen, Phil Hellmuth, and Greg Raymer. I even got a quick picture with Jennifer Tilly (she looks undeniably beautiful in person).
Slowly the reception area cleared out and the pros made their way into the Caesars Palace tournament poker room. This is where the event is actually being filmed. By 8:30 p.m. I had taken my seat right next to Johnny Chan, the 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and one of my all-time favorite poker players.
Tonight was the bracket selection portion of the event. This is where each pro player was matched up with their opponent, March Madness style. Each pro’s name was drawn one by one from a raffle ticket drum. And as each match-up was established, the selected pro walked up on stage to shake hands with his or her opponent.
This wouldn’t be much of a poker event without some side action however. Several of the pros were placing bets with one another about who would be matched up with whom, which player would be drawn last, etc.
But without a doubt, the most exciting part of the night occurred when Doyle Brunson borrowed the microphone. Doyle softly announced that he had, “a proposition.” Doyle offered to place a $100,000 wager on his bracket of 16 players, vs. any other bracket. In less than ten seconds Howard Lederer and Erik Seidel agreed to the bet, and Annie Duke was shouting that she wanted a piece of the action too. That is the richest side-bet I’ve ever witnessed.
Competition begins Saturday March 4th, and goes through Monday March 6th. The event will be broadcast nationally by NBC as a six-part, 10-hour series in April and May. Be sure to tune-in. It will definitely be entertaining.
Some of the exciting Round One match-ups are:
Dan Harrington vs. Todd Brunson
Phil Hellmuth vs. Chip Reese
James Woods vs. Scott Fischman
Greg Raymer vs. Layne Flack
John Juanda vs. Doyle Brunson
Howard Lederer vs. Allen Cunningham
Check out the complete Round One tournament bracket to see all the match-ups.
If you have any additional information about the National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, or news about any other poker room in Las Vegas, please send an e-mail to info@allvegaspoker.com. All sources are confidential.
Pros entering Caesars Palace tournament poker room.
James Woods interviewed on red carpet.
Welcome reception at second annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
Before the pros and press entered the main event poker tournament room.
Phil Hellmuth taking his seat. Phil Hellmuth won the first National Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2005.
Todd Brunson and Dan Harringon shake hands. They will face each other in the first round.
Doyle Brunson and John Juanda shake hands. They will also face each other in Round One.
Gus Hansen picking his heads-up opponent from raffle drum.
Complete Round One Tournament Bracket.
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