There isn’t a lot NBC does right. Their news programs are something only a guy like Lenin could watch without feeling the need to let riots and a guillotine become part of the political process. These are also the brainiacs who replaced “My Name is Earl” with that horrible, “The Office” wannabe show, “Parks and Rec”. They did keep “Chuck” on the schedule though. So that is a point in their favor. And they are also the ones who air “Poker After Dark”. So NBC does do Texas Hold’em right. Now they are ramping up to broadcast the “Heads Up Poker Challenge”.
The Heads-Up Poker Championship is has become one of the most popular Texas Hold’em events on the broadcast calendar. Poker pros and those who have qualified by playing online poker square off against each other in the closest thing that the gaming industry has to an MMA fight. Poker pros battle it out in one on one encounters until they eliminate their opponent. While it is obvious that players are eliminated by poker hands, and not a triangle choke hold, it is still extremely interesting viewing.
Below are the parings and brackets for Heads-Up Poker Championship. Obviously Poker pros are obviously part of the mix as well as online poker players. We look forward to seeing how these folks play when they don’t have to worry about 8 other people in a poker hand, and can focus all their ire on one opponent. It could be ugly.
Clubs
Patrik Antonius vs. Chris Moneymaker
Leo Wolpert vs. Eric Baldwin
David Williams vs. Joe Cada
Erik Seidel vs. Huck Seed
Dan Ramirez (online qualifier) vs. Erick Lindgren
Peter Eastgate vs. Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier
Stephen Quinn (online qualifier) vs. Ted Forrest
Dario Minieri vs. Jamie Gold
Spades
Gavin Smith vs. Phil Ivey
Richard Edwards (Caesars qualifier) vs. Scotty Nguyen
Shawn Rice (Caesars qualifier) vs. Joe Hachem
Gabe Kaplan vs. Johnny Chan
Daniel Negreanu vs. Jason Mercier
Pieter de Korver vs. Mike Sexton
Phil Gordon vs. Tom Dwan
Phil Laak vs. John Juanda
Hearts
Jesper Hougaard vs. Allen Cunningham
Eli Elezra vs. Greg Mueller
Annette Dworski (online qualifier) vs. Chris Ferguson
Kara Scott vs. Dennis Phillips
Brock Parker vs. Doyle Brunson
JP Kelly vs. Don Cheadle
Howard Lederer vs. Phil Hellmuth
Annette Obrestad vs. Orel Hershiser
Diamonds
Barry Greenstein vs. Vanessa Rousso
Sam Farha vs. Antonio Esfandiari
Jennifer Harman vs. Jennifer Tilly
Jerry Yang vs. Mike Matusow
Darvin Moon vs. Bill Huntress (online qualifier)
Andy Bloch vs. Annie Duke
Andrew Wilson vs. Paul Wasicka
Gus Hansen vs. Greg Raymer
