Hellmuth, Dwan, and Negreanu Return to National Heads-Up Poker Championship

Lower than a 12 months after the reboot of the traditional $25,000 Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Championship, one other group of 64 poker professionals, celebrities and content material creators gathered within the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas for an additional shot at a title within the $25,000 buy-in occasion.

American high-stakes professional Sam Soverel gained final 12 months’s occasion — the primary version in 12 years — and he’s again this 12 months competing in opposition to four-time World Sequence of Poker (WSOP) Circuit ring winner Kasey Lynn Mills. However that is not the solely matchup to control.

Poker Superstars Are Again

Poker Corridor of Famers Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu have been notably absent from final 12 months’s Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Championship, as was poker legend Tom Dwan, who as soon as triggered an all-time Hellmuth blow-up after cracking his aces within the 2010 version.

However all three poker superstars are competing this 12 months, with Hellmuth, who gained the occasion in 2005 and completed runner-up in 2013, getting matched up in opposition to seven-time bracelet winner Josh Arieh and Negreanu dealing with 2023 WPT World Championship winner Dan Sepiol. Dwan, in the meantime, will face off in opposition to Randy “3Coin” Sadler.

There are not any scarcity of attention-grabbing lineups to look out for. For instance, lately semi-retired Poker Corridor of Famer Erik Seidel will face off in opposition to high-stakes end-boss Alex Foxen, who’s contemporary off of successful a record-tying thirteenth PokerGO title contained in the PokerGO Studio.

Talking of gamers on fireplace proper now, Pittsburgh ambassador Nicholas Rigby, who lately gained a handful of RunGood Poker Sequence (RGPS) rings, received matched up in opposition to poker veteran Dan Shak.

Different notable lineups embody Poker Corridor of Famer Nick Schulman in opposition to Sam “SeniorTilt” Kiki, poker legend Vanessa Selbst in opposition to on-line wizard Marius Gierse, six-time bracelet winner Jason Mercier in opposition to four-time bracelet winner David “ODB” Baker, and Brazil God in opposition to content material creator Doug Polk, who has a lot to be completely satisfied about after a serious authorized victory this week for his Lodge Card Membership.

The Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Champion was beforehand on NBC earlier than shifting to Peacock for final 12 months’s version. Like in 2025, the episodes will premiere on Peacock and can later air on PokerGO. The episodes are anticipated to be launched this summer time.

The heads-up matches kicked off right now contained in the PokerGO Studio. PokerNews will keep away from any spoilers earlier than the matches air on TV.

Every match-up within the Spades, Hearts, Golf equipment and Diamonds brackets can be found beneath.

Spades Bracket

Liv Boeree vs Jeremy AusmusTom Dwan vs 3CoinCary Katz vs Steven JonesJimmy D vs Kirk BrownTurbo Nguyen vs Shaun DeebAndrew Pacheco vs Jesse LonisErick Lindgren vs Eric PerssonBrazil God vs Doug Polk

Hearts Bracket

Scott Seiver vs Justin YoungJeff Platt vs Sam LaskowitzIrgor Kurganov vs Phillip Frankland LeeKristen Foxen vs Ryan BartlettVinny Lingham vs Matt HanksJeremy Becker vs Dan “Jungleman” CatesGabriel Andrade vs Darin FeinsteinSeth Davies vs Sean Winter

Golf equipment Bracket

Victoria Livschitz vs Chris HunichenPhil Laak vs Chino RheemJosh Arieh vs Phil HellmuthBen Lamb vs Jared BleznickAndrew Robl vs Keith LehrRandall Emmett vs Robbi Jade LewSam Soverel vs Kasey Lyn MillsDaniel Negreanu vs Dan Sepiol

Diamond Bracket

Nick Schulman vs Sam KikiMatthew Wantman vs Kelly LucasAlan Keating vs Jeff GrossDavid “ODB” Baker vs Jason MercierMarius Gierse vs Vanessa SelbstAlex Foxen vs Erik SeidelNicholas Rigby vs Dan ShakBrandon Steven vs Justin Gavri

Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Exterior Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for 3 International Poker Awards for his writing.