After greater than a decade, the $25,000 buy-in Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Championship is ready to return this fall. Offered by PokerStars and produced by PokerGo, episodes of the present will completely premiere on NBC’s streaming channel Peacock.
Just lately-minted World Collection of Poker Foremost Occasion champ Michael Mizrachi joins Jason Koon, Liv Boeree, Bryce Corridor, former NFL star Richard Seymour, Chris Moneymaker, Erik Seidel, Doug Polk, Phil Galfond, Shaun Deeb, Nick Wright, T.J. Lavin, and Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano as confirmed contributors.
“The Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Championship helped outline the golden period of televised poker,” mentioned Mori Eskandani, President of PokerGO. “We’re proud to companion with PokerStars to convey again a really iconic model and share it with a brand new era of followers.”
No phrase but on whether or not Michael “the Mouth” Matusow will defend his Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Champion title. He gained the final contest that befell in 2013.
The made-for-broadcast occasion began in 2005 and was first gained by Phil Hellmuth. Chris Ferguson was the runner-up to Hellmuth and subsequent’s years champion, Ted Forrest. Paul Wasicka, who completed second within the 2006 WSOP Foremost Occasion to Jamie Gold, gained in 2007.
A yr later, Ferguson would lastly break by means of and be the final of 64 gamers for his solely Nationwide Heads-Up Championship title. He beat Andy Bloch heads-up.
Huck Seed then beat Vanessa Rousso heads-up in 2009. Annie Duke was the 2010 champ — she beat Eric Seidel heads-up a yr earlier than he gained the factor in 2011. There was no collection in 2012.
The occasion is single-elimination till it reaches the ultimate two when it turns right into a best-of-three.
“Bringing again exhibits just like the Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Championship is likely one of the most enjoyable methods to reignite curiosity in poker,” mentioned Francine Watson, Affiliate Director, Content material & Artistic Providers for PokerStars. “With a mixture of celebrities and prime professionals, it’s the type of occasion that pulls in poker lovers whereas interesting to the lots.”
The pokerati anticipated the return of the Nationwide Heads-Up Poker Championship after PokerGo bought the rights to point out from NBC earlier this yr. Whereas it’ll first seem on Peacock, episodes will ultimately discover their option to PokerGo’s and PokerStars streaming websites.
Up to now, as soon as all 64 gamers are confirmed, a draft get together befell in Las Vegas the place gamers and insiders partied as they discovered who they’d face within the first spherical. Right here’s hoping PokerGo and PokerStars brings it again and broadcasts it, as a result of it all the time was a banger (I nonetheless dream about these Wagu sliders).
The precise dates for the occasion and when it’ll premiere haven’t been launched.
