NHPC 2009 champ Huck Seed celebrates his victory while being interviewed by Leeann Tweeden. At right is runner-up Vanessa Rousso.

2010 NHPC FIELD ANNOUNCED

Ferguson, Hellmuth, Ivey, Negreanu & host of others stand in Huck’s way at 6th annual heads-up championship

(News Release)

(With March 1 update on Doyle Brunson’s likelihood of playing in the event; click “read the rest” button below)

LAS VEGAS – The field for the 6th annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship is flush with a who’s who of the poker world, including a dozen World Series of Poker Main Event champions, top all-time money winners, online studs, and Academy Award nominees.

Poker’s most prestigious heads-up tournament brings 64 of the best poker players in the world to the Caesars Palace Poker Tournament Room to compete in its distinctive, bracket-style head-to-head format for $1.5 million in combined prize money.

The four champions of the heads-up event prior to Seed are Chris Ferguson, Paul Wasicka, Ted Forrest, and Phil Hellmuth. All will be competing again.

The event will be taped for broadcast on NBC over six consecutive Sundays in April and May. The first round opponents for the brackets will be chosen at random during the GoDaddy.com Draw Party held at PURE Nightclub at Caesars Palace on Thursday, March 4. The competition begins Friday, March 5 and continues through Sunday, March 7.

Click here for this year’s lineup of players and the NBC television schedule:
(more…)

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Dave Street, a friend of many and a familiar face at the poker felt for decades in the Quad-Cities, is in a fight for his life.

Some folks who know him best are holding a benefit for Dave at Martini’s in Rock Island on Feb. 26. Here’s a flier with the details:



Dave’s love of poker is summed up in these words from his poker buddy and good friend Jim Santee:

Dave became much more serious about poker in the ’80s, and since then me and him and George Scanlon have traveled all over the country playing poker. His poker playing skills have improved a thousand percent in the last 10 years. The past few years have taught him patience, and that is a huge part of the game. He has evolved into a very good player and a very, very good man.

Dave’s love of life is captured in these sentiments by his good friend Susan Comstock, who credits Dave for being there for her and her daughters when they had nowhere else to go:

My oldest daughter is getting married next year and wants Dave to walk her down the aisle. This is a testament to how open and generous this man is. He has been there for so many. While his chemo treatments will buy him some time, the quality of his life is not going to be good. Still, he is the kind of guy that crunches the numbers and decides to beat the odds. Read the cards and play your hand. That’s my guy!

If you know Dave, or if you know any of his friends such as Susan, Jim and George, or even if you just love the game of poker and want to help, please consider stopping by Martini’s on Feb. 26.

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My most recent LuckyDog Poker column dissing the new tweeting rule for the 2010 World Series of Poker hit a sore spot for at least one reader.

Joe in Tennessee wrote:

Hi Russ, I’ve been trying to get good enough to play in the WSOP, but with this Rule in effect, I’m now saving for a WPT Event. This change proves that Harrah’s/WSOP is more concerned with building their “brand” than they are in promoting good poker and I’ll have no part of it!!!

Only an IDIOT would like this idea. Besides, Twitter is the most useless tool ever invented for people with too much time on their hands!!! Thanks!

I wrote Joe back:

I wouldn’t give up on playing in the WSOP, Joe. While I admire someone who has principles and sticks to them, I think in this case you’d be depriving yourself of too much reward/joy in an effort to stand up against Harrah’s stupid rule.

Don’t give up the thrill of playing for a WSOP bracelet. It’s something every poker player must do at least once in a lifetime.

Can’t wait to see if WSOP floor supervisors will be able to avoid tweeting chaos at the tables this year…

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