Las Vegas Weekly

March 9, 2009 · 10:18 AM

Photo Gallery: Hollywood and poker stars battle for $1.5 million payday

By Robin Leach

National Heads-Up Poker Championship winner Huck Seed.

Photo: Stephanie Moore/NBC Sports

There was a great turnout of Hollywood and poker stars for NBC’s 5th Annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship filmed over the weekend at Caesars Palace.

It all began Thursday night with the draw party held at Pure with comedian Brad Garrett; actress Jennifer Tilly; racecar driver Danica Patrick; TV personality-model Leeann Tweeden, who serves as on-camera reporter for the show; former MLB player Orel Hershiser; model Candice Michelle; and poker all-stars Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Greg Raymer, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Jamie Gold, Scotty Nguyen, Annie Duke, Vanessa Rousso, David Williams, Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, Allen Cunningham, Andy Bloch, Ted Forest, Jennifer Harman, Joe Hachem, Johnny Chan and Chris Moneymaker.

The $1.5 million poker championship featured 64 players competing in a series of heads-up (one-on-one games of No Limit Texas Hold 'em) matches to determine the best heads-up poker player in the world. You can watch the exciting play on NBC for six consecutive weekends starting April 12.

The poker play was shot over three days, and highlights from the Friday, Saturday and Sunday scenes included Daniel Negreanu making a grand appearance dressed as his opponent, Scotty Nguyen, in white suit and wig with glasses and gold chains to match. Nobody enjoyed the impersonation more than Scotty himself! The ploy worked because Daniel beat Scotty!

Newly named GoDaddy.com girl Vanessa Rousso, who was one of only six female players among the 64 competitors, continued her strong run, taking out Hall of Famer Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey and 2007 Heads-Up champ Paul Wasicka before playing Daniel in the quarterfinals. She beat him, too!

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Scotty Nguyen and Brad Garrett.

Celebrity Apprentice contestant Annie Duke lost her first-round match to Brad Garrett. Actor Don Cheadle won his first-round match against poker pro David Pham. Phil Ivey eliminated Jennifer Tilly in first-round play. Brad lost his second-round match-up against poker pro Glen Chorny and was eliminated from the competition.

Late last night, Vanessa became the first woman to make it to the final table since the tournament began five years ago. She eventually lost 2 out of 3, and Huck Seed won the title and the $500,000 first-place prize. Huck won the 1996 World Series of Poker.

“This has always been one of my favorite tournaments of the year,” said Huck, who has participated and finished in the money in every Heads-Up event. “I’ve played well in the past, but things especially went my way this weekend, and I was able to make a run all the way to the top.”

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

The GoDaddy.com girls.

Huck reached the final table by defeating Jonathan Little, Gus Hansen, Glen Chorny, David Oppenheim and Sam Farha, while Vanessa ended up in the last pairing by taking down the previously mentioned poker heavyweights, plus Bertrand Grospellier, along the way.

Don’t be sad for Vanessa: She grabbed the $250,000 second-place purse.

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