These two commentators sized up the competition

In this day and age, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event winners typically draw the criticism that they are a one-hit wonder and a fluke. Poker fans and journalists alike often ask, “what have you done for me lately?” in regards to folks like 2006 winner Jamie Gold and 2002 winner Chris Moneymaker.

This bout of NBC National Heads-Up Championship matches proved to be a time for those former Main Event winners to shine, as five of them took the stage for Round Two of the Spades and Clubs bracket and four advanced into the Sweet Sixteen and, more importantly, the money. Each of the winners in the matches listed below are guaranteed $25,000, but they likely have their eyes set on the top payout of $500,000:

Clubs Bracket
Chris Moneymaker def. Leo Wolpert
When Leo Wolpert isn’t winning World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, he is off at law school. Fortunatel for Woplert, his spring break coincided with this event and he was able to make his NBC Heads Up debut. Unfortunately for Wolpert, he was the first elimination of the second round at the hands of Moneymaker. Wolpert was down to 32,000 of his 40,000 chip starting stack and shoved all-in on a flop of 964 while holding KJ for overs and a flush draw. Moneymaker called the all-in with A9 for top pair and a backdoor club draw of his own and the nines held as the turn and river came 5 then 9 to eliminated Wolpert early in the day.

David Williams vs. Erik Seidel
This was the longest match of the session and it seems as though Williams was getting a little frustrated about how things were going for him. After getting it all-in holding A6 to Seidel’s AA, Williams literally ripped his two cards in half and they had to be pieced backed together for the cameras before the board was run out. Williams was drawing dead on the turn after the board came TT9, Seidel advanced and the dealer went looking for a fresh deck before the Hearts and Diamond bracket players took their seats.

Erick Lindgren vs. Peter Eastgate
Eastgate was the third WSOP Main Event champ to knock off his opponent, the affable Erick Lindgren. Eastgate pulled out to the lead in the match and finished Lindgren off when his AT held up against Lindgren’s A6 on an A93JK board. After the match Lindgren joked to his cheering section, which included Erica Schoenberg, “That’s why he’s the champ!”

Stephen Quinn vs. Jamie Gold
Jamie Gold was the second former Main Event champion to book his ticket to Round #2 after defeating online qualifier Stephen Quinn. The match was virtually dead even when the two got it all-in preflop after a series of raises. Gold held KK to Quinn’s AT. The T42 flop favored Gold, though Stephen Quinn did pick up the nut diamond draw with the 8 on the turn. The 8 on the river ensured Gold would advance to the money round by busting the only qualifier who advanced to the second round.

Spades Bracket
Phil Ivey vs. Scotty Nguyen
We hate to invoke that phrase, “a chip and a chair,” but that really is the best way to describe Scotty Nguyen’s victory over Phil Ivey. Nguyen was down to the felt and managed to double up five times against Ivey to stay alive, take the lead and win the match. Even more impressive than simply doubling up is the hands Nguyen kept turning up with. He had pocket nines, pocket queens and even doubled up in a set over set situation holding KK against Ivey’s JJ on a KJ5 flop. It was Ivey who held the kings on the final hand of play though. He and Nguyen got it all-in on a Q-9-2-4 board with Ivey holding cowboys to Nguyen’s J-9. Ivey had the best of it with one card to come, but a 9 on the river gave Nguyen trips and advanced him to the Sweet Sixteen.

Joe Hachem vs. Gabe Kaplan
The WSOP Main Event winner success screeched to a halt thanks to this match. Hachem had the chip lead over Kaplan early on, but Kaplan flopped the nut flush and got it in against Hachem’s two pair to double up. A little while later, the duo got it in again in a coin flip with Hachem holding deuces to Kaplan’s QJ. The board ran out J8549 and Kaplan moved on to Round Three.

Jason Mercier vs. Pieter de Korver
The BLUFF Player of the Year Jason Mercier and the reigning European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo champ Pieter de Korver are both NBC Heads-Up rookies, but the two poker pros seemed more than comfortable in their back and forth battle. Mercier built up a chip lead early, but risked doubling de Korver up when he got it all-in holding A9 to de Korver’s AT. The flop and turn looked good for de Korver as the cards ran out K742, but the 9 on the river paired Mercier up to give him the match.

 Phil Gordon vs. Phil Laak
Battle Phil proved to be a back and forth match, with a number of all-in situations that gave one player the chip lead over the other. On the final hand of play, the two Phils got it all-in with Gordon holding K5 to Laak’s Q9. The flop looked good for Gordon as it fell KJ4, but then Gordon just might have jinxed himself as he called, “no ten,” to the dealer. The 2 on the turn was a safe card for Gordon, but the river brought the T to make an inside straight for Laak and send a dejected Gordon to the rail.

Round Three Pairings:
Chris Moneymaker vs. Erik Seidel
Peter Eastgate vs. Jamie Gold
Scotty Nguyen vs Gabe Kaplan
Jason Mercier vs. Phil Laak

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