Could be interesting to see what the advertisements during the broadcast are. If the network’s a bit slow in reacting it might be one of the last times we ever see a FullTilt or PokerStars advertisements on American airwaves. With the exception of a few WPT episodes in production or already in the can, it will almost certainly be one of the last times we see so many patches from the companies involved in Friday’s indictments on players.

The most troubling possibility is that it would not air at all. Sound ridiculous? Consider the following: Kevmath had a retweet late Saturday night in which @buckwild33 noted that a scheduled WSOP Main Event 2007 marathon was not airing and boxing was shown in its place.

While it would certainly be a stretch to try and correlate this change in broadcast schedule on ESPN in some way with the upcoming NHUPC broadcaston NBC, it certainly should not be dismissed outright. There will be several small milestones that come up periodically in the coming days, weeks, and months, and we who are most affected might want to pay attention to their outcomes.

The information that we may be able to get from these indicators could provide a significant portion of the information that comes our way as things progress. Both the sites and the DOJ are likely headed for a process that is going to go very slowly, and information will trickle out slowly.

Again, this is just the direction that my thought process brought me in, and I don’t claim to have any information that is unavailable to everyone else. I think the NHUPC is at least an interesting talking point and the first small event in a series of events that will eventually have effects on millions of people around the world. Now is the time to keep your eyes open.

On a side note, it’s interesting to see how the title sponsor of the NHUPC, GoDaddy, could be the least toxic element at this point in time. Who would have thought two weeks ago that Godaddy’s CEO’s elephant hunting fiasco would become old news so quickly.

Clubs/Spades Bracket:
Erik Seidel beat Peter Eastgate
Scotty Nguyen beat Jason Mercier

Hearts/Diamonds Bracket:
Dennis Phillips beat Doyle Brunson
Annie Duke beat Jerry Yang

Semifinals:
Erik Seidel beat Scotty Nguyen
Annike Duke beat Dennis Phillips

The finals commenced with Duke (1-5 lifetime before this year’s event) taking on Seidel (0-5 lifetime at the NBCHU) in the best of three final. Duke won the first match, Seidel would tie it up in the second and held the lead in the deciding match, and had Duke all-in while holding the best hand, but his AdKd was no good for Duke’s Qd9d when she made two pair to take the lead. Duke eventually sealed the deal when her pocket nines turned a straight against Seidel’s A-2. Seidel was left with two outs to a chop, but the river was a blank, with the second place winnings of $250,000. Duke picks up $500,000 for the win, her first major win since her 2004 victory in the WSOP Tournament of Champions.

OK.

Similarities between Brandon McSmith’s video pitch for All Star Poker Challenge and Face the Ace are one thing … and this video, shot outside what appears to be Poker PROductions studios in Las Vegas and posted on YouTube in July (and pointed out to us by a reader yesterday) is another:

Umm …

Click below to read the rejection letter sent almost two years earlier from Poker PROductions honcho Mori Eskandani that may or may not have put McSmith on tilt:

From: Mori Eskandani
Subject: RE: TV Poker Game Show Concept
To: “‘Brandon’”
Date: Thursday, November 8, 2007, 4:46 AM

Brandon:

Thank you for sharing this with me. It is interesting, but our company does not invest in shows, we only get contracted to produce them. BTW, there is a major flaw in the concept of the contestant losing everything by playing on. In another words, if he wins the first match, he should stop playing because on the second, third, fourth and fifth match he’ll be laying 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 and 5-1 respectively on an even money proposition.

Take care

Mori

From: Brandon
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 9:54 PM
To: mori eskandani
Subject: TV Poker Game Show Concept

All Star Poker Challenge

Ordinary people get to test their No Limit, Texas Hold Em poker skills in a series of heads up matches against the world’s top poker stars for a chance to win a coveted $10,000 seat at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Tournament.

The Game: The contestants play 5 heads up No Limit, Texas Hold Em matches against the world’s top poker stars. Every match is worth $2,000 in prize money. After winning a match the contestant will then have to decide whether to risk the money won to continue playing for the $10,000 WSOP seat, knowing if he or she loses a match they will lose all the prize money accumulated at that time. After winning the 5TH and final match, the contestant gets to keep all prize money won plus the $10,000 WSOP seat. Leaving total Game winnings of $20,000.

At the beginning of the game there are 5 doors, which the professional poker players will be behind, the contestant must pick a door to get his or her opponent never knowing who awaits them and keep doing so until he or she defeats them all.

Partial Poker Stars List:

Phil Ivy Mike Matusow
Doyle Brunson Scotty Nguyen
Jennifer Tilly Daniel Negreneanu

Created By: Brandon McSmith

Writers Guild of Amer-W# 1218203

P.S. This is a true game show for amatuer and wanna be poker players hoping to make it to the World Series Of Poker No Limit Texas, Hold Em Tournament. This will have mass audience appeal for young & old; men and women. As long as there is a WSOP tournament the show will have millions of viewers world wide. Ratings & revenues from United States & International markets could be tremendous. There is nothing like it in the TV poker world.

I have a deal for the show. I even had talks with Chris Runnells from Innovative Show Design & Larry Rogers from Show Partners to hire them for set design & possible production. Unfortunately my financial backing seems uncertain at this time. Now I’m back pitching the show again. Hope you like the concept.

Thanks

Brandon McSmith

So in light of last week’s $85 million lawsuit against Poker PROductions, NBC Universal, and Mori Eskandani, see for yourself and decide: Does Brandon McSmith’s All Star Poker Challenge* look like ill-gotten inspiration for Face the Ace to you?

* Not to be confused with the British All-Star Poker Challenge, which ran for one season in 2005.

The above is a Powerpoint presentation McSmith sent me a little more than a year ago seeking feedback. Click below for my response: in a nutshell, I tell him I think this might have worked in 2006, but not now … and it needs more monkeys … but keep trying!

When the courts look at his case on the surface, you’ll see he might have a claim. McSmith — who I can tell you is just a regular dad with what he sincerely believes to be a great show concept, not some whackjob huckster despite representing himself pro se — went through the process of registering his idea with the Writer’s Guild of America before embarking on a path into TV Land that put his show in front of all sorts of relevant eyes.

At the same time, Poker PROductions will likely be able to get the case dismissed in summary judgment with the claim that hey, we’re just a television production company; Full Tilt brought this show to us. Passing the buck? That’s how McSmith sees it — and he’s got a slew of documents showing what he claims to be “reckless disregard for the truth” from the parties he dealt with in unsuccessfully pitching his show to Poker PROductions and NBC. However, should the case get that far, Poker PROductions will likely be able to show (with the help of Full Tilt) that no, really, this was a concept that Full Tilt began working in 2005 … called Four Aces at the time.

So that begs the question whatever happened with Clonie’s case? why the big overbet?

On Jun 26, 2008, at 10:13 AM, Brandon wrote:

DanM,

I’ve attached a power point presentation my production company put together for pitching my show. I would be interested in your feed back. They are going to add voice over track which they are recording this week so its not completely finished yet. I’m trusting you not to let this get out, like I said I made this with you guys in mind. This is a show the whole poker player community can embrace.

Brandon McSmith
C: 702-xxx-xxxx
H: 702-xxx-xxxx
E: brxxxxx@yahoo.com

**All Star Poker Challenge Pitch v1.3.ppt**

---

From: Dan Michalski
Subject: Re: Poke show
To: “Brandon”
Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 1:45 AM

Hey Brandon, just following up to see how this has been going.

Is the project still alive? Curious …

---

From: Brandon
Subject: Re: Poke show
To: “Dan Michalski”
Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 7:39 AM

Dan,

We are still pitching it. GSN took a pass but the guy we pitched it to was leaving the network so we’re going to pitch it again. Was hopeful with ESPN the guy there loved the concept, thought it would be a Great lead in for their WSOP broadcast, he presented it to the network exec. Sadly they took a pass. We got it to people at FSN and NBC no word yet.

People that see the presentation and show concept love the idea its a matter of getting the big wigs to green light the project. Dan I may be bias but it would be the best Poker Show on TV if we can get it on the air. It would be the American Idol of Poker(huge) and give the TV Poker industry a much needed boost since their cookie cutter approach is ruining the market. I’m attaching a raw version of the presentation with narration. Thx for your interest and any help would be appreciated. My goal is to get this on the air and give the poker community a chance at the WSOP they other wise might not have.

PLease feel free to call me, as I love talking about the Show.

Brandon McSmith
C: 702-xxx-xxxx
H: 702-xxx-xxxx
E: brxxxxx@yahoo.com

---

On Nov 29, 2008, at 8:38 AM, Brandon wrote:

Dan’

Just wondering if you got a chance to see my Poker Game Show concept presentation.

Brandon McSmith
C: 702-xxx-xxxx
H: 702-xxx-xxxx
E: brxxxxx@yahoo.com

---

From: Dan Michalski
Subject: Re:
To: brxxxxx@yahoo.com
Date: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 3:33 AM

just watched it. i love the concept, and can assure you it woulda been a hit in 2006. Not so sure now … poker books, gadgets, and tv shows are an almost impossible sale. but if/when the online law changes, there will likely be a phase 2 of the poker boom … (my prediction is Q4 of 2009) … at which point this show could work, which might allow you to slowly work in the pitch in preparation.

another possibility is to go after European TV.

creatively … i’d love to see you mix in some more fun behind the doors … playing against a monkey, someone off the street, a member of the audience, the mother of a player, whoever. maybe a breakdown of one or two known champion pros, one or two unknown pros (still good — and chance for them to make their name), one or two of the randoms mentioned above, and maybe a celebrity non-pro … whether that be montel williams or any of the people used in VH-1 specials.

also, you have a mistake in the current pitch … you say the challenger needs one of two aces, but a 7 or 8 would also win him/her the pot … and because both those cards are diamonds, there’s no flush threat if they were to pair.

---

On Nov 30, 2008, at 4:15 AM, Brandon wrote:

I realized that after they did the voice over but you still got the concept. I think if airs now it would be a hit. It’s a show that gives back to the poker playing community. That’s who I had in mind when I created it. Every poker show was pros against pros they gave nothing back. Broken Bottle Production is still nery hopeful about GSN and we’re going to try to pitch it to BBC World Wide. Everyone they pitch it to likes the concept and they love the fact it’s simple and easy to follow. That’s why it was so disappointing when ESPN turned it down. Our contact there loved it and thought it would be a great lead in to there WSOP airing, he actually pitched it to the decision makers who sadly took a pass. We feel it’s a good should and would be a high ratings getter for a network. We are going to keep plugging away.

Thx for your your advice.

Brandon McSmith
C: 702-xxx-xxxx
H: 702-xxx-xxxx
E: brxxxxx@yahoo.com

---

On Nov 30, 2008, at 4:22 AM, Dan Michalski wrote:

i agree and think you should (keep plugging away) … i’m just saying it will be falling on a lot of deaf ears right now. paying the price for so many bad shows before it, and a general sense that poked doesn’t draw the viewers any more.

do you have all the other pieces in place — the pros ready to play, the tv production company, etc?

Abraham Korotki, a WSOP Circuit Main Event winner in 2006, beat formidable odds to take down the $300 Borgata Ladies’ event on Saturday for just under $21,000. The “last woman standing”, Nicole Rowe, who recently discovered she had breast cancer, finished 2nd, good for just under $12,000.

On the Left Coast, TMZ.com reports that Poker PROductions, the makers of the NBC show Face The Ace, is being sued for $85,000,000 by Brandon McSmith, who said the company “stole” his idea called “The All-Star Poker Challenge”. McSmith’s idea consisted of a player having to defeat five pros in a series of heads-up matches to win prize money and a $10,000 WSOP Main Event seat, with the contestant having the option to risk their winnings after conquering their opponent. This lawsuit appears to top Gambling Times’ lawsuit against Scott Lazar for $1,000,000 for lack of product placement in the poker movie “Deal”, which grossed under $100,000 in lawsuits that will go nowhere.

Featuring Ansky and some other young online pros, in the show’s words:

Premieres Sunday, August 16 at 9pm on G4. This summer, geeks are wild as G4 takes viewers inside the world of competitive high stakes online poker in a new series that follows four young high IQ friends who join forces and set up shop in Las Vegas. Their challenge for themselves? To collectively earn $2 million dollars in only two months using their own money.

With this show, Face the Ace (on NBC), and even Sam’s Game (on Playboy.TV) … and all of them looking at least semi-good, frankly … anyone get the sense that the future of poker on TV continues to evolve? Mix in live coverage like you have with the Washington State Poker Championship below … and really, you gotta wonder what ESPN, the WSOP, and High Stakes Poker are going to have to deliver to keep up with (or ignore) the theoretically non-crappy televised poker we can expect in coming seasons.

Though admittedly, 2M2MM may well be a semi-successful one-hit reality wonder, while Face the Ace could go the way of Win, Lose or Draw … and Sam’s Game may end up in the archives somewhere next to Naughty Nurses Go To Europe #9.

We’ll see … or not. That’s kinda the question.

Click below for even more on what to expect from this new show:

OOPS: Apparently these player bios were inaccurate. Click here to see who these guys really are. The stuff about the show is still good though.

G4 LETS THE CHIPS FLY THIS SUMMER WITH “2 MONTHS, $2 MILLION” PREMIERING SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 AT 9:00PM ET /PT

New Series Follows Four Young Online Poker Pros as They Set Up Shop in Las Vegas and Attempt to Earn $2 Million in Just Two Months

Los Angeles, CA, July 27, 2009 – This summer, all bets are off as G4 takes viewers inside the world of high stakes online poker in a new series that follows four 20-something whiz kids turned high rollers who make big money flipping cards on the web nearly 24/7.  Brian, Emil, Jay and Dani – seasoned online poker pros and close friends – are roommates for the summer in Las Vegas with the goal of collectively earning $2 million in only two months playing online poker using their own money.   But with high stakes often comes devastating losses and, despite their expertise, they experience many ups and downs as they work towards their nearly impossibly goal.  They’ve turned down the world of 9-5 jobs and 401Ks for the thrill of online card rooms and “nosebleed” stakes… but will it pay off? Can they reach their goal? Will Vegas nightlife prove too distracting?  The new 10-episode half-hour series “2 Months, $2 Million” (“2M2MM”) debuts Sunday, August 16 at 9:00PM ET/PT on G4.

By combining their talent, Brian, Emil, Jay and Dani are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to playing cards and, this summer, they couldn’t ask for better surroundings to get focused on the game.  In the premiere episode, the guys move into a gorgeous 10,000 square foot mansion on three acres just outside the strip, which includes a converted home theater space that serves as their master control.  This “war room” features four 50” plasma monitors connected to each cast member’s custom computers via an array of hi-def video converters where one or all can play simultaneously.  They also create a “Tilt Room” to serve as a designated area for blowing off steam, which is needed quite frequently when high stakes hands don’t go as planned…bats and hockey sticks combined with watermelons and lettuce heads prove to be great tools for reducing stress.  And when it comes to figuring out who gets which bedroom, there is only one way these guys know how to solve problems.  They gamble for it.

While Brian, Emil, Jay and Dani seem to eat, sleep and drink poker, they also take time out to explore the Vegas scene.  Throughout the season, they hit many of the city’s trendiest clubs often running up $5000 bar tabs, and spend time checking out the hottest bodies poolside at some of the most exclusive hotels in Vegas.  They even take a trip to a luxury watch store and drop serious coinage on high-end timepieces.  The guys also make time to hang out with old pals who are in town for the World Series of Poker, including dinner with Tom “Durrr” Dwan, a live cash game against Erica Schoenberg and some high stakes online action with David Benyamine.

To help push each other and keep things interesting, the guys decide to implement a penalty stunt for the player who loses the most money each week.  The stunts become more and more outrageous as the weeks roll by, including one “loser” having to wear a ballet tutu to dinner at an exclusive hotel buffet and another being forced to play the harp on Las Vegas Blvd to try to earn tips from tourists.  While the guys are definitely having fun, they are extremely focused with their eyes on the prize.   At the end of the day, it’s all about bringing their “A” game every hand and doing whatever it takes to reach their $2 million goal.

“2 Months, $2 Million” is produced by Park Slope Productions in collaboration with G4. Paul Reitano and Terrence Sacchi serve as Executive Producers for Park Slope Productions.  Laura Civiello is Vice President of Development at G4.

Visit the “2 Months, $2 Million” official website for hilarious behind-the-scenes footage, episode highlights, expert poker tips, bios and more at:http://g4tv.com/2m2mm/

About Comcast Entertainment Group

Based in Los Angeles, Comcast Entertainment Group operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, and E! Online; The Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable, inspiring and transformational lifestyle programming; G4, offering the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity and “geek culture” for the male 18-34 demo; and FEARnet, the world’s premier horror and thriller destination on demand, online and on mobile devices.  E! is currently available to 96 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the U.S. and the E! Everywhere initiative underscores the company’s dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere from online to broadband video to wireless to radio to VOD.  The Style Network currently counts 63 million cable and satellite subscribers and G4, the #1 podcasted cable network in America, is available in more than 64 million cable and satellite homes nationwide.   FEARnet is a joint venture between Comcast, Sony Pictures Television and Lionsgate.  FEARnet.com ranks as the number one horror web site and FEARnet On Demand is one of the top five VOD networks.

Bios:

More in-depth bio videos can be found here:  http://g4tv.com/2m2mm/

Brian Roberts (24):

Brian hails from Houston, Texas.  A math prodigy, Brian was tormented in high school by the cool kids.  He never fit in and walked home each day beleaguered and abused.  At 16, he dropped out and never went back.  While everyone else was in college, Brian was at a table in Atlantic City, playing cards.  Brian’s still searching for something fulfilling and hopes to have found it with his new girlfriend.  While she approves of poker, the rest of his lifestyle is another issue entirely.  Brian is smart, but the lure of the “Entourage” lifestyle may be too much to resist.  He’s never been cool, and Vegas affords him the dream life he sees when he closes his eyes.  Brian’s finally got something good in his life with his girl…but will he blow it.

Emil Patel (22):

Emil hasn’t hooked up with a girl in a year.  Being a skinny, 5’6” Indian kid is hard enough, not being able to handle your alcohol makes it even tougher.  Emil will talk smack with a Russian mobster online…and if you need to win a Math Olympiad, he’s your guy, but he has no idea how to talk to women and always ends up going home alone.  But all that is going to change this summer.  With his college degree in hand, Emil realizes it’s time to grow up.  His goal this summer is to find a real girlfriend.

Jay Rosencrantz (23):

Jay grew up as a poor kid in a wealthy part of Long Island.  Now, because of poker he has more money then all the people he envied growing up.  He is even able to help his family out with money.  He’s just started an interactive poker-coaching company, which he’s put a considerable amount of his own money into.  Running a legitimate and successful business would go a long way to making his parents’ proud.  But with all the money and girls partying at the house, can Jay keep his goals on track?

Dani Stern (22):

Dani is the youngest member of Team Israel.  Despite his parents’ concern, he recently dropped out of college once he saw the ridiculous amount of money he could make playing online poker.  Unlike Jay, Brian, or Emil, the entourage lifestyle is a new thing for Dani, and, for better or worse, he takes his cue from the other guys.  He’s definitely the most extroverted of the four, and can be the life of the party…unless you find screaming and making obnoxious prop bets unappealing.  But Dani, at heart, is a nice guy who unfortunately seems to be a bit of a bull in a china shop.  His approach to poker is the same as his approach to women: play as many hands as possible.  Sometimes it works, but most of the time Dani’s home after the club with Emil playing xbox or trying to take out a high stakes opponent.

In this episode, I think Phil is headed to the next stop on the WPT Craps Tour (inside joke, or is that just something I didn’t know existed?) on Donald Trump’s helicopter … it’s a little hard to follow, but that’s probably the point … kinda like Lost.

Joan Rivers got trapped on an escalator. The power went out,
12:45 PM May 8th from web

Joan Rivers has a concussion. She was getting a drink and the toilet seat fell on her head.12:27 PM May 9th from web

Meanwhile, you can follow Annie (@RealAnnieDuke), and probably even better, her boyfriend (@JoeUgly), before-during-after tonight’s finale. Likewise for @JoanRivers___.

Others on-set or nearby:
@CelebApprentice (@MelRivers and @brandenroderick got the official tweeting gigs)
@Zappos
@tomgreenlive
@Andy_Bloch
@natalie_gulbis
@howardhlederer

So anyhow, I was hoping to find Season 5, Episodes 8 and 9 of HSP … because I’ve been missing the show during its regular air time on GSN, opting instead to watch Celebrity Apprentice. However, not only are these episodes not up yet, but here’s the video that greeted me when I went to GSN’s YouTube page (previously dedicated to HSP) hoping to catch up on what I’ve been missing while following Annie Duke on NBC:

LOL.

UPDATE: Found High Stakes Poker, Season 5 Episode 8 here.

Qualifiers are now running at Full Tilt Poker, with 30 winners getting a trip to the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas to audition to be on the show. Those who pass the auditions will then have the opportunity to beat 3 Team Full Tilt Pros heads-up and win $1,000,000. If they beat one pro, they win a certain amount of money with the option to move forward. If they beat a second pro, they win a higher amount of money. If they beat the third pro, they win the grand prize, but if they lose at any time, they go home with nothing.

The bottom of the article notes that the other Poker PROductions program on NBC, Poker After Dark, is up 4% in the ratings, averaging over 800,000 viewers in its very late night time slot.

Shorr wrote: “I will go on record (as I did after the 2006 calendar year) as saying I’m shocked that I don’t make the list. After very closely examining the list, Michael Binger, Nam Le, Sebastian Ruthenberg, Michael Martin, Vivek Rajkumar, Amit Makhija, Adam Geyer and Hevad Khan are probably somewhere wondering WTF! as well. No one in the poker tournament industry besides Nam Le, JC Tran, and David Pham has matched my consistency over the last 3 years on the tournament circuit and in that time I have NEVER been selected to play the NBCHUPC. As most of my readers know I’m pretty low-key and don’t exactly go looking for recognition, but I just feel like I deserve this.”

That put Shane “Shaniac” Schleger on reality-tilt and prompted a blog post entitled, “Seriously? AKA: The Award For Most Delusional Poker Player Goes To…” Though Shaniac tried to soften the blow of his words by saying that he liked Shorr personally, the post went on to list the reasons that Shorr was not invited to the NHUPC.

In part, he wrote: “Shannon, get a grip. You should be ashamed for putting yourself in the same sentence as Le, Tran, and Pham, who essentially dwarf the entire poker tour community with consistency and moneymaking.

I think you have to make up your mind if you want to go back to college or try to become a studly poker superstar. And your results are nowhere near the other players you named in the above passage.”

Evidently, Shorr didn’t take that criticism as well as hoped, but Shaniac finally posted a response that sums it all up nicely with a video created for the occasion. It takes good-natured jabs at both and can be seen by going to Shaniac’s post here. (If anyone would like to send the embed code for that video, feel free to help a sista out.)

Pollack and Miller are supposedly longtime pals … and with the WSOP’s contract with ESPN expiring next year, the two sure did seem extra-chummy. And though I’m not sure who would be courting whom, at least one well-informed, scotch-drinking little birdie tells me there’s more going on between the two of them than just a casual one-night hook-up at a Vegas club.

Here they are on the red carpet with what some might say look like bedroom eyes for each other as the two discuss what makes for good poker on TV:

And here (starting at 2:04):

I attended the Draw Party at Pure on Friday night and then met with my brother, who had flown into Vegas for Heads Up. I was under the impression that I was to play in the last bracket the next evening at around 8 pm. I was pulled over for speeding and refused a breathalyzer test as I have been instructed to do.  I have no idea why I was written a ticket for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. There were no emergency vehicles around, besides the police car. A test, given by the Las Vegas PD, later revealed that I had a blood alcohol content of zero. I also took a blood test, as I have nothing to hide. I was held for the mandatory 6 hours and released. I always go out of my way to not drink and drive. I regret that I was not able to play in NBC Heads Up and hope to be invited next year to play in this prestigious event.

There’s little reason to doubt Layne Flack’s version of events at this point. Refusing a breathalyzer test isn’t that unusual, because the blood tests are more accurate. 

If his blood-alcohol level was really zero, then the DUI charges would likely be dropped. That leaves two other relatively minor charges (speeding and the failure to yield to an emergency vehicle), which means that Layne Flack could come out of this untimely little episode with nothing more than traffic tickets — and a missed opportunity at the NBC Heads-Up Championship.

Clarification 1: Layne Flack was not in a car accident. Some of the earliest reports of this situation came from a statement that Mori Eskandani gave to some reporters at the NBC Heads-Up Championship, saying that Flack had to withdraw because he had been in a car accident. He wasn’t. (11:00 am PT)

Clarification 2: Lara Miller has followed up to say that Flack claims he had just one drink at Pure that night. Also, Flack took the blood test to prove that he was not just alcohol-free, but drug-free as well. (11:30 am PT)

Update 1: Andrew “good2cu” Robl blogged that he “ended up getting quite drunk” with Layne Flack that night, taking shots of tequila. This side of it seems to be turning into a he said/he said situation, where the tie will ultimately go to the results of the blood test. (12:00 noon PT)

Update 2:  Andrew Robl has edited the Layne Flack story out of his blog without an explanation. (6:30 pm PT)

During the break after the Diamonds Bracket concluded, we asked producer Mori Eskandani why Flack had been replaced, and why Oppenheim was the replacement rather than Chiu. Eskandani stated that Flack was in an automobile accident last night and was therefore unavailable to play today. Chiu, the first alternate, required four hours notice due to the fact that he’s based in Los Angeles. NBC was unable to give him that notice and therefore substituted Oppenheim, who lives in Las Vegas, at the last minute.

Field in prestigious annual event just keeps getting tougher and tougher
By Dennis Oehring
LAS VEGAS – February 24, 2009 – Get your tournament brackets ready! NBC’s 2009 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, the granddaddy of all heads-up poker tournaments, will take place once again at Caesars Palace Las Vegas on March 5-8. Now in its fifth year, this year’s event will feature an array of many of the greatest poker players in the world along with some celebrities known for their poker-playing prowess and a few amateur qualifiers. Each will battle for their share of not only the $1.5 million prize pool, but for the recognition and fame that comes with capturing the coveted title.

The NHPC has been an extremely successful venture for NBC over the years and this year’s tournament promises to be no exception as the field is quite possibly the toughest yet assembled. Last year’s champion, Chris Ferguson, will be there to defend his title and attempt to improve upon the success he has experienced in this event that has seen him win 84% of the matches he has played in over the last four years, compiling an unprecedented record of 16-3.

In all, a total of sixteen players will make their debut in this year’s championship, including two Caesars Palace qualifiers and four others who qualified online. There will also be five celebrities in the field, four who have played in this event before, and newcomer actor/comedian Brad Garrett.

At the conclusion of the 2008 NHPC, event organizers and NBC executives came up with a list of criteria that would establish automatic qualifiers into this event for the first time ever in 2009. In all, nineteen players received bids to play in this year’s event based on the list found below.

Previous four NHPC champions: Chris Ferguson (2008), Paul Wasicka (2007), Ted Forrest (2006), Phil Hellmuth (2005)

Previous two NHPC runners-up: Andy Bloch (2008), Chad Brown (2007)

Defending NHPC semifinalists: Huck Seed, Phil Ivey

Four consecutive years of cashing in the NHPC: Scott Fischman, Huck Seed (2)

Previous three World Series of Poker Main Event champions: Peter Eastgate (2008), Jerry Yang (2007), Jamie Gold (2006)

Defending WSOP Championship runner-up: Ivan Demidov

Multiple WSOP bracelet winners in 2008: John Phan

Defending WSOP Player of the Year: Erick Lindgren

Defending WSOP Heads-Up champion: Kenny Tran

Defending World Series of Poker Europe champion: John Juanda

Reigning World Poker Tour Player of the Year: Jonathan Little

Reigning European Poker Tour Grand Final Monte Carlo champion: Glen Chorny

Reigning Card Player magazine Player of the Year: John Phan (2)

Reigning Bluff magazine Player of the Year: John Phan (3)

Barring any last minute changes, the following is a list of all 64 players. The names of the four amateur qualifiers not listed will be released as soon as they have all been determined, and will be posted on www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/poker, along with bios and past performance records of all players participating. The players listed in bold are playing in their first NHPC:

1. David Benyamine
2. Andy Bloch
3. Chad Brown
4. Doyle Brunson
5. Johnny Chan
6. Don Cheadle
7. Glen Chorny
8. Allen Cunningham
9. Ivan Demidov
10. Annie Duke
11. Tom Dwan
12. Peter Eastgate
13. Eli Elezra
14. Antonio Esfandiari
15. Sam Farha
16. Chris Ferguson
17. Scott Fischman
18. Layne Flack
19. Ted Forrest
20. Brad Garrett
21. Jamie Gold
22. Clonie Gowen
23. Barry Greenstein
24. Gavin Griffin
25. Bertrand Grospellier
26. Joe Hachem
27. Gus Hansen
28. Jennifer Harman
29. Phil Hellmuth
30. Orel Hershiser
31. Jeffrey Ishbia (Caesars qualifier)
32. Phil Ivey
33. John Juanda
34. Gabe Kaplan
35. Phil Laak
36. Howard Lederer
37. Erick Lindgren
38. Jonathan Little
39. Mike Matusow
40. Dario Minieri
41. Chris Moneymaker
42. Daniel Negreanu
43. Scotty Nguyen
44. David Pham
45. John Phan
46. Greg Raymer
47. Vanessa Rousso
48. Ilari Sahamies
49. Huck Seed
50. Vanessa Selbst
51. Erick Seidel
52. Mike Sexton
53. Gavin Smith
54. Jennifer Tilly
55. J.C. Tran
56. Kenny Tran
57. Paul Wasicka
58. David Williams
59. Jerry Yang
60. Leon Yanovski (online qualifier)
61. Caesars qualifier
62. Online qualifier
63. Online qualifier
64. Online qualifier

This tournament also has a strong international flavor, with 15 different countries of origin represented among the 64 players. And just to underscore the difficulty that each of the players will face in winning six straight matches en route to collecting the $500,000 first place prize, the field has collectively won 14 World Series of Poker Championships, 119 World Series of Poker bracelets, 27 WPT open titles, and amassed more than $290 million in live tournament winnings!

The 2009 National Heads-Up Poker Championship kicks off with a drawing party on the evening of March 5 at the Pure Nightclub located inside Caesars Palace. Opening round play begins March 6, and will continue for three days until the 2009 champion is crowned. NBC will air twelve hours of coverage on six consecutive Sundays beginning on April 12. Craig Hummer joins Ali Nejad this year to provide commentary, while Leeann Tweeden will again serve as the host and sideline reporter. Check your local listings for the exact times in your area.

Dennis Oehring serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for the firm POKER PROductions.

Source: NBC Sports

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