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Third annual Heads-Up Poker Tournament returns to Caesars Palace

Returning to compete this year are several of the worlds top poker pros, including: defending champion Ted Forrest; 2005 champion Phil Hellmuth; and Chris Ferguson, who will try to improve on his 2005 and 2006 runner-up status. Also completing will be Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Antonio Esfandiari, Sam Farha, Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem, Gus Hansen, Jennifer Harman, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Moneymaker, Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer, among many others.

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship features 64 of the world's best poker players competing in a series of heads-up (one-on-one games of Texas Hold'em) matches to determine who is the best face-to-face poker player in the world. The tournament has a unique, single-elimination, bracket-style format modeled after college basketball tournaments.

The single-elimination competition begins Friday morning, March 2 and continues through Sunday, March 4 when a two-out-of-three championship match will determine the winner. The tournament will be taped for broadcast on NBC and CNBC over seven consecutive Sundays in April and May. The viewing gallery is open to guests on a first-come first-served basis.

"The National Heads-Up is poker playing at its finest," offers Jon Miller, Executive VP of NBC Sports. "We've got 64 of the best poker players going head-to-head and there are no second chances – you lose, you go home. The caliber of players and the cut-throat game play makes for the most exciting spectator poker around."

"This tournament is all about pressure," offers Ted Forrest, the 2006 National Heads-Up Champion. "There are a lot of great players involved, but in the end, it's all about who can focus on their cards and opponent, not on the big chance of going home empty handed. But I did it once, so I can certainly do it again."

The National Heads-Up Tournament field of 64 includes three slots to be filled by the winners of two other tournaments: a Caesars Palace Poker Room tournament and the National Heads-Up Poker Online tournament. The Caesars Palace Poker Room tournament will give two players a chance to win the $20,000 seat in a traditional tournament setting on February 10 at 3pm inside the poker tournament room at Caesars Palace. There is a $230 entry fee with multiple $200 re-buys. Players can learn more at caesarspalace.com. Players can also try to win a single seat by competing in the 2007 National Heads-Up Poker Online Tournament held at nbcheadsup.com in January and February.

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