FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 5th, 2011

ROUND OF 16 COMPETE ON NBC THIS SUNDAY AT THE NATIONAL HEADS-UP POKER CHAMPIONSHIP

Doyle Brunson and Chris Moneymaker, Two Former World Series of Poker Main Event Champions, Compete Head-to-Head

NEW YORK – May 5, 2011 – NBC will broadcast the Round of 16 of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship presented by GoDaddy.com from CaesarsPalace in Las Vegas, Nev. this Sunday at Noon ET. The winners will advance to next week’s Quarterfinals and will be guaranteed a minimum of $75,000 in prize money.

 

Three former World Series of Poker Main Event champions highlight the field: Doyle Brunson (1976-77), Chris Moneymaker (2003) and Jonathan Duhamel (2010). The 77-year-old poker legend Brunson faces Moneymaker in the most anticipated matchup of the round.

 

In addition to Duhamel, six other NHPC newcomers are still in contention for the $750,000 first-place prize: Olivier Busquet, Ayaz Mahmood, Eugene Katchalov, Andrew Robl, James Bord and Phil Galford.

 

Other Round of 16 feature matchups include: Olivier Busquet vs. Jason Mercier; Michael Mizrachi vs. David Benyamine; and 2010 NHPC runner-up Erik Seidel vs. Phil Gordon.

 

NBC’s Craig Hummer, Ali Nejad and Leeann Tweeden call the action. NBC continues its coverage of the 2011 Heads-Up Poker Championship with the Quarterfinal Round on Sunday, May 15 at Noon ET.

 

Round of 16 Matchups per Bracket:

 

Olivier Busquet vs. Jason Mercier (Clubs)

Ayaz Mahmood vs. Jonathan Duhamel (Clubs)

Doyle Brunson vs. Chris Moneymaker (Spades)

David Oppenheim vs. Eugene Katchalov (Spades)

Andrew Robl vs. James Bord (Hearts)

Michael Mizrachi vs. David Benyamine (Hearts)

Phil Galfond vs. Vanessa Selbst (Diamonds)

Erik Seidel vs. Phil Gordon (Diamonds)

 

NBC’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship Schedule (all times ET):

 

Sunday, May 8 – Round of 16                                          12-2 p.m.

Sunday, May 15 – Quarterfinals                                       12-2 p.m.

Sunday, May 22 – Semifinals & Championship           12-3 p.m.

 

 

WORLD OF ADVENTURE SPORTS, SUNDAY, 2 P.M., ET

 

NBC Sports presents taped coverage of adventure and action-packed sports including the U.S. Rallycross Championship, Red Bull Cold Rush, Red Bull Double or Nothing and Stand Up World Tour this Sunday at 2 p.m ET.

 

The U.S. Rallycross Championship features performances from the 2010 Round 4 final event made up of top drivers including action sport icon Travis Pastrana, NASCAR racer Dave Mirra and BBC’s Top Gear TV host Tanner Foust.

 

Moving from the pavement and gravel to backcountry snow, the Red Bull Cold Rush is a competition between world class skiers such as Sean Pettit, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Suz Graham and Grete Eliassen. They battle for the title of best all-around skier from three dangerous disciplines – slopestyle, big mountain, and cliffs from Silverton Mountain, Colo.

 

Parks Bonifay hosts the Red Bull Double or Nothing. The event features top-tier wake boarders including Adam Errington and Harley Clifford as they compete in this annual double-up event held in Clement, Fla.

 

Established in 2009, the Stand Up World Tour is an international platform for the challenging and exponentially growing sport of paddle surfing. Events include the Sunset Beach Pro, Anglet Pro, Sapinus Pro, Ibiraquera Wave Contest and Hawaii Island Finals.