Annie Duke Wins the 2010 NBC Nationald Heads-Up Poker ChampionshipDuke Joins an Elite List of Champions and Becomes the First Woman NBC Heads-Up Champion |
|
Annie Duke (pictured left) has added her name to an elite list of champions today by winning the 2010 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. The final day of action (at the three-day event) began when the elite eight returned starting at 11 a.m. this morning. After two rounds of poker just Duke and Erik Seidel were the only two players left standing in the event.
Seidel’s path to the final included victories over defending champion Huck Seed (round 1), David Williams (round 2), Chris Moneymaker (sweet 16), Peter Eastgate (elite eight), and Scotty Nguyen (final four). His run to the final came as a bit of a shock. Not because Seidel lacks poker talent, but because his previous record in five years at the NBC Heads-Up event was 0-5.
Duke’s path to the final included victories over Andy Bloch (round 1), Darvin Moon (round 2), 2007 NBC Heads-Up champion Paul Wasicka (sweet 16 — the most exciting single match in the tournament), Jerry Yang (elite eight), and Dennis Phillips (final four). Duke’s NBC Heads-Up resumes was weak heading into this year as well. She had fared slightly better than Seidel in her five previous appearances, winning one match for a 1-5 record with no cashes.
The battle between the two friends began with Duke scoring a victory to take a one-game lead in the best-of-three championship final. Seidel won the next game to even the score and ensure that the battle for first place would go the distance. Duke was all in for her tournament life at one point in the final game but she doubled up to take a large chip lead with a pair of queens. Seidel moved all in shortly thereafter but Duke was waiting for him with pocket nines in the hole, which improved to make a straight and give her a 2-1 victory in the final.
Seidel was eliminated in second place and he took home $250,000. He improved his overall NBC Heads-Up record to 5-6 and grew his career earnings to more than $10 million. Duke added another landmark victory to her storied career and won $500,000 as the first woman NBC National Heads-Up Poker champion. She now holds $2,247,824 in career earnings and adds this marquee win to her other top achievements, which include a World Series of Poker bracelet win in 2004 and her victory in the inaugural WSOP Tournament of Champions, which also occurred in 2004. She also improved her overall NBC Heads-Up record to 7-5. Read on below to see how all of the major hands played out on the final day of play at Caesars Palace.
Final Results:
1: Annie Duke — $500,000
2: Erik Seidel — $250,000
3: Scotty Nguyen — $125,000
3: Dennis Phillips — $125,000
5: Jerry Yang — $75,000
5: Doyle Brunson — $75,000
5: Jason Mercier — $75,000
5: Peter Eastgate — $75,000
9: Paul Wasicka — $25,000
9: Eli Elezra — $25,000
9: Annette Obrestad — $25,000
9: Barry Greenstein — $25,000
9: Gabe Kaplan — $25,000
9: Phil Laak — $25,000
9: Chris Moneymaker — $25,000
9: Jamie Gold — $25,000
You can also check out the full results for the tournament at the tournament bracket.
NBC National Heads-Up Poker Champions:
2010: Annie Duke
2009: Huck Seed
2008: Chris Ferguson
2007: Paul Wasicka
2006: Ted Forrest
2005: Phil Hellmuth
Elite Eight Results
Clubs Bracket
Erik Seidel def. Peter Eastgate
Spades Bracket
Scotty Nguyen def. Jason Mercier
Hearts Bracket
Dennis Phillips def. Doyle Brunson
Diamonds Bracket
Annie Duke def. Jerry Yang
Elite Eight Elimination Hands
Erik Seidel Defeats Peter Eastgate ($75,000)
Peter Eastgate (pictured left) was all in holding Q
7
against the K 6 of Erik Seidel.
The flop came 10 7
5
and Eastgate took the lead, but the K on the turn changed everything. Down to five outs, the river was the 5 and Eastgate was eliminated.
Seidel advances to the final four to take on the winner between Jason Mercier and Scotty Nguyen.
Scotty Nguyen Defeats Jason Mercier ($75,000)
Jason Mercier was severely short stacked and all in holding 7 5 against the pocket jacks of Scotty Nguyen.
The flop came Q 92 and Mercier flopped a flush draw, but the turn and river came 3 and 8 to give Nguyen…the win.
Nguyen advanced to the final four to play Erik Seidel.
Dennis Phillips Defeats Doyle Brunson ($75,000)
Doyle Brunson (pictured right) was all in on a flop of K Q 9 holding 9 7 for a pair and flush draw.
Dennis Phillips quickly called, holding A K for top pair, top kicker. The turn and river came J Q and Brunson was eliminated.
Phillips advanced to the final four to face off against the winner between Annie Duke and Jerry Yang.
Annie Duke Defeats Jerry Yang ($75,000)
Annie Duke had Jerry Yang all in with the best hand three times and yet never closed it out.
Finally, on the last hand, Yang shoved with J 3 and Duke called with A 8. The board came A J 2 10 9 and Yang was eliminated.
Duke advanced to face Dennis Phillips in the final four.
Final Four Results
Diamonds Bracket Winner vs. Hearts Bracket Winner
Annie Duke def. Dennis Phillips
Clubs Bracket Winner vs. Spades Bracket Winner
Erik Seidel def. Scotty Nguyen
Elite Eight Elimination Hands
Annie Duke Defeats Dennis Phillips ($125,000) ($125,000)
After the blinds had reached the point where both players had just over 10 big blinds, Dennis Phillips (pictured left) made his final push with A 8 and Annie Duke made the call with pocket sevens.
The board fell 9 3 2 6 4 and Phillips was eliminated. Duke advanced to the final match to face the winner between Erik Seidel and Scotty Nguyen.
Erik Seidel Defeats Scotty Nguyen ($125,000)
Erik Seidel moved all in on a board reading 10-9-5-7-9 and Scotty Nguyen made the call with K-9 for trips.
Seidel showed 9-7 for a full house and each player’s stack was counted down before it was discovered that Seidel had him covered. Seidel advanced to the finals and will take on good friend Annie Duke.
Championship Match Results
Annie Duke def. Erik Seidel (2-1 match score)
Championship Match Elimination Hands
Annie Duke Takes a 1-0 Lead
Annie Duke quickly started off match one in the hole against Erik Seidel (pictured right), but she stormed back to a big lead thanks to countless value bets and relentless pressure on her opponent.
Seidel was back into a corner and was forced to commit the rest of his stack with 8 6 on a flop of K J 7.
Duke made the easy call with A K and it held when the turn and river fell J and A. Duke now leads 1-0 in the finals. If she wins the next match, she will be the champion.
Erik Seidel Ties the Finals at 1-1
Everything that went right for Annie Duke in the first match went wrong for her in the second. Erik Seidel (pictured right) quickly built up a large lead and never let up. It was just a matter of time before Duke was all in.
She decided on K 5 and Seidel was priced in with 8 7. The board gave him a straight when it fell 9 6 4 5 9 and Seidel won the match.
Annie Duke Wins NBC National Heads Up Poker Championship ($500,000) — Erik Seidel Eliminated in Second Place ($250,000)
Erik Seidel had Annie Duke (pictured left) all in as the underdog as his A K went up against her Q 9. The board brought a queen and suddenly, Duke doubled up to take a massive chip lead.
Down to his last few big blinds, Seidel made his final move with A 2 only to run into Duke’s 9 9. The board fell 8 7 6 5 8 and Duke made a straight to earn the victory.
Seidel earned $250,000 for his runner-up finish. Duke takes home $500,000 and the title of 2010 NBC National Heads Up-Poker Champion.
Copyright © 2001-2024
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
