Owing to its unique format, players in the recent National Heads-Up Poker Championship had a tough time ranking the bracket-style competition in poker's hierarchy of major events.
"Heads-up play is in its own category altogether," said Paul Wasicka, the 26-year-old Las Vegan who outlasted 63 other entrants to win the $500,000 top prize March 4 at Caesars Palace. "I consider it a different game, almost like the way Omaha is different from hold 'em.
"A tournament like this shows who has the most diversity in their games, who can excel under conditions that might be a little different."
Veteran professional poker player Howard Lederer brings a totally different mind-set into the heads-up tournament compared with other - but more traditionally structured - big tournaments.
"Heads-up, you have to be laser-focused from the very first hand," Lederer said. "In something like the main event of the World Series of Poker, where you can be facing a 14-hour day, it could be more important to save your best focus for later in the day."
Las Vegas poker pro Gavin Smith, always game for any kind of a challenge, took an off-the-cuff shot at ranking the heads-up tournament in the unofficial standings of the most prestigious events on poker's calendar.
"It's probably around No. 2 or 3 behind the World Series main event and the $25,000 (World Poker Tour championship) tournament at the Bellagio," said Smith, who made the semifinals of this year's heads-up tourney to earn $125,000. "The $50,000 HORSE event at the World Series is pretty cool too, though. Wherever it is, it's way up there."
My pound-for-pound ranking of the top five events on the American poker scene roughly reflects Smith's. Rankings are based on prestige and intangibles such as how much of a punch each packs in the poker world.
1. World Series of Poker main event. Even old-timers who still reminisce about the tasty buffet Benny Binion used to spread for poker players acknowledge that the World Series main event remains the undisputed centerpiece of poker's calendar. Although it has moved to a massive convention hall at the Rio from its longtime home at Binion's old Horseshoe downtown, the so-called "Big One" has maintained a $10,000 buy in since its inception in 1970.
2. World Poker Tour championship. The title event of the lucrative, made-for-TV World Poker Tour carries a $25,000 buy in and takes place each spring at the Bellagio. Last year's championship tournament attracted a field of 605 players for a prize pool exceeding $15 million. This year's is scheduled for April 21-27.
3. World Series of Poker $50,000 HORSE event. Chip Reese won last year's inaugural $50,000 HORSE tournament, which tests players skills in Texas hold 'em (H), Omaha (O), razz (R), 7-card stud (S) and 7-card stud high-low split eight or better (E). There was some dispute about whether it was proper for the final table to be no-limit hold 'em (for TV purposes), but virtually no one disagreed that Reese deserved the title of poker's top all-around player. This year's tournament, to take place over five days, begins June 24.
4. National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Officials with NBC Sports, which televises the heads-up championship, consider it a winner. Who can blame them? Most of the 64 players - predominantly top pros, with a few celebrities and satellite winners mixed in - must first earn an invitation from tournament organizers, then ante up to the tune of a $20,000 buy in.
5. High Stakes Poker. Created by cable channel GSN, the invitation-only game features brand-name pros competing in a cash no-limit hold 'em game with minimum table stakes of $100,000 apiece. The first three games, which attracted a fervent following on GSN, were filmed at the Golden Nugget, the Palms and the South Point. It's almost a sure thing the cards will soon be in the air for a fourth season of shows.
