| LAS VEGAS (AP) - If there's one thing that bothers Phil Hellmuth Jr., it's not being considered top dog.
Hellmuth,
known as the "Poker Brat" for his on-camera tantrums after unfortunate
turns of the cards, looks to defend his title in the 2006 National
Heads Up Poker Championship beginning Saturday.
The three-day
tournament, with $1.5 million in prize money, draws top professional
poker players and celebrities in one-on-one elimination showdowns.
What
gets Hellmuth is that even as reigning champion, he's not sure to face
one of the lesser players. He could face a top rival and get knocked
out early, or have an easy path to the finals and the $500,000 first
place payout.
"The problem with the Heads Up tournament is it's not seeded," Hellmuth told The Associated Press.
"Last
year, I'm sure everyone had me in the top three somewhere. And I played
against Men 'the Master' Nguyen, who probably is somewhere in the top
15, my first draw.
"Daniel Negreanu, who is in the top six, drew
Jerry Buss, who is the owner of the Lakers," he said. "There's some
randomness involved in the draw. And I faced a real tough crew of
players. It probably makes it less egalitarian. I mean more."
Organizers
say the format for the 64-player tournament is not going to change this
year, after its raging success last year when NBC televised it for the
first time. Six million people watched the finals on a Sunday afternoon
in May last year.
The venue has moved to the Strip at the
Caesars Palace poker room from the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas,
where it was taped last year. Broadcast coverage will extend to 10
hours, up from eight, and be spread over six Sundays starting April 16.
"The
idea of trying to seed them was very, very difficult," said Jonathan
Miller, senior vice president of programming for NBC Sports, noting it
was the players last year who objected to seeds.
"Phil was one
of the guys who screamed the loudest last year about seeding," Miller
said. Of this year's gripe, Miller added, "that's his right as
defending champion."
Poker stars, including Mike Matusow and
Annie Duke, and celebrity such as Jennifer Tilly and James Woods have
paid $20,000 to play, while three amateurs won sponsored seats at free
satellite events. NBC added $220,000 to the prize pool. Those who make
it to the round of 16 win at least $25,000.
Hellmuth, a native of Madison, Wis., said his expectations this year "aren't particularly high."
He
was knocked out on the first day at a World Poker Tour event in San
Jose, Calif., earlier in the week in classic Hellmuth style after
losing a showdown with pro Chip Reese. Hellmuth took a $100 bill from
his pocket and before handing it to Reese, signed it: "You're a lucky
SOB."
Last year at the Heads Up tournament, Hellmuth collapsed
on the floor and stormed up to his hotel room after losing on a draw to
Chris "Jesus" Ferguson in the second match of a best-of-three final.
Hellmuth came back to win.
Poker Pro magazine editor-in-chief Johnny "Quads" Wenzel said he expects similar fireworks this year.
"Seeing Phil Hellmuth do a meltdown on camera, that's worth the price of admission," Wenzel said. "It's great theater." |
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