Celebrities, poker pros arrive for $1.5 million Heads-Up battle

Stephanie Moore

Huck Seed celebrates his win Sunday, March 9, 2009, in the 64-player 2009 National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caesars Palace. Seed beat Vanessa Rousso in the finals.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Friday, March 5, 2010 | 1:26 p.m.

2010 Heads-Up Poker Arrivals at Pure

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Play began at 1 p.m. today for 64 of the world’s top poker players in the NBC Heads-Up Poker championship, and they’ll battle for $1.5 million in prizes at Caesars Palace. The celebrities and poker pros gathered at Pure in Caesars Palace last night for the draw party, which resulted in brackets. They’ll meet again in the Caesars Palace Poker Room for the next three days until the winner is crowned Sunday.

Among the celebrities playing are actress Jennifer Tilly, who talked with me last night on the red carpet about her six-year romance with poker pro Phil Laak. She said that although she and Phil have talked about getting married, they both prefer the romantic dating scenario they have and don’t want to wreck it by getting married. Both told me that they are looking forward to the tournament and believe that they are playing the best poker of their lives right now.

It was the first time I had used this new video application that allows users to post in real time directly from iPhone to Twitter. Apologies in advance for the shaky quality, as it’s a first-time effort, but I'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

Also attending were Don Cheadle, Annie Duke, Jennifer Harman, Orel Hershiser, Gabe Kaplan, Greg Mueller and Leeann Tweeden, who serves as host and reporter for the NBC shows that will be taped and then broadcast in April. Among the familiar poker princes were Doyle Brunson, 2009 World Series of Poker winner Joe Cada, Johnny Chan, Peter Eastgate, Antonio Esfandiari, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Moneymaker, Mike Matusow, Daniel Negreanu, Scotty Nguyen, Huck Seed, Jerry Yang and last year’s WSOP runner-up Darvin Moon.

Darvin, the Maryland logger who’s never won a major tournament, told me he will be back at The Rio for this year’s WSOP. He said he’s still logging despite last year’s runner-up money and said he still plays in $30 local buy-in tournaments.

“It changed my life,” he said. “but I haven’t let it change me. I’ve kept everything the same, except for the recognition.” Again, apologies for the images, as it was my first time using the iPhone video app.

Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on the red carpet for our photo gallery along with loyal Vegas DeLuxe fan Richard Corey, who provided us with his YouTube videos.

Today’s schedule highlights include: Clubs Bracket at 1:30 p.m., featured table: David Williams vs. Joe Cada; Diamonds Bracket at 4 p.m., featured table: Sam Farha vs. Antonio Esfandiari; Spades Bracket at 7 p.m., featured table: Daniel Negreanu vs. Jason Mercier; and Hearts Bracket at 9:30 p.m., featured table: Howard Lederer vs. Phil Hellmuth.

Vegas DeLuxe will update play during the weekend via Twitter and then have the full photo report and wrap-up with the winners’ names and earnings right here at VDLX on Monday.

UPDATED @2:46 P.M.

Patrik Antonius became the first player out as he fell to Chris Moneymaker in the first round of the Clubs Bracket. Shortly after, Jamie Gold defeated Dario Minieri, and David Williams defeated Joe Cada in the first round of the Clubs Bracket.

Erik Seidel defeated 2009 Heads-Up champion Huck Seed in the first round of the Clubs Bracket, the first time Huck hasn’t cashed in the tournament, and 2008 WSOP champion Peter Eastgate advanced as he defeated Bertrand Grospellier.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.