Heads-Up Poker - Tournament Winner

The third time was the charm, as Chris “Jesus” Ferguson defeated Andy Bloch in the finals to win the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship. To do so, he had to wade through a field of 63 other skilled players in a single-elimination tournament. Ferguson will take home $500,000 for the win. In the semi-finals, Ferguson defeated Phil Ivey to move forward, while Bloch eliminated Huck Seed.

According to the Bodog sportsbook, Ferguson was getting 35 to 1 odds. Great odds, which is just one fo the reasons why you should head over to Bodog and sign up for an account.

THIRD TIMES THE CHARM

This is Ferguson’s third time in the finals of the event. That’s particularly impressive considering that the event has only been around for four years. He’s now the event’s top money winner, having passed the $1 million mark.

THE STARS WERE OUT

The star-studded event featured such entertainers as Jason Alexander, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Tilly, Brad Garrett and Shannon Elizabeth. Last year, Don Cheadle made a name for himself by upsetting Phil Ivey, and Elizabeth made it all the way to the semi-finals. This year, the only celebrity to advance past the first round was former major league pitcher Orel Hershiser.

OREL EXAM

Hershiser shocked the crowd by making it all the way to the quarterfinals. He took down 5-time WSOP bracelet winner Ted Forrest, 5-time WSOP winner Allen Cunningham and 2-time WSOP winner Freddy Deeb. He was finally stopped by Andy Bloch.

COMING SOON TO TELEVISION

The tournament will air on NBC on six consecutive Sundays from April through May, starting on April 13th. Be sure and catch it if you can!

For more articles on the Heads-Up Tournament, be sure to read the following:

National Heads-Up Poker - Round One Results

National Heads-Up Poker - Bodog Odds

Heads-Up Poker - Tournament Winner