Chris Ferguson Wins 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.  That’s Chris Ferguson’s motto. 

For the third time in the four year history of the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Chris Ferguson made the finals.  This year, for the first time, he actually sealed the deal and won the thing, defeating Andy Bloch two matches to one. 

Sunday began with eight players remaining out of the original field of sixty-four.  Bloch knocked out baseball great Orel Hershiser to come out of the Hearts bracket, while Huck Seed’s flopped set allowed him to eliminate David Benyamine in the Diamonds bracket. 

Perhaps the most widely-anticipated match of the day, Phil Ivey versus Gus Hansen in the Spades bracket, was over almost as soon as it began.  Ivey flopped a flush just a few hands in to make the final four.  At the same time, Ferguson had a tough time with Jonathan Little, falling behind by a margin of 7-to-1.  But Ferguson fought back and took down the Clubs bracket. 

In the semi’s, Ferguson ousted Ivey on a fantastic call.  On a board of 9-4-3-5 with heaving betting on all streets, Ivey pushed over the top of a 100,000 bet by Ferguson.  Ferguson thought long and hard about his decision, as calling and losing would leave him in bad shape, but he finally decided that his 8-8 was good.  He was right, although with 6-6, Ivey had plenty of outs, as he also had an open-ended straight draw.  Ivey didn’t hit any of his outs, though, and “Jesus” moved on to his third final. 

In the other semifinal, it stayed pretty even for a while between Bloch and Seed, but when Bloch garnered a 2-to-1 lead, he put the pressure on.  In the final hand, Bloch had A-Q and put Seed all-in.  Seed called with his 9-9, but Bloch rivered an Ace to send Seed packing.

The first best-of-three match between Bloch and Ferguson lasted almost an hour.  The two traded small pots for a while before Ferguson took a healthy lead of more than 3-to-1.  Bloch caught up with a flush versus Ferguson’s set, however, and then won the first match with a monster hand.  The flop was A-9-9 and Bloch moved all-in.  Ferguson was probably more than happy to call with A-K, but Bloch held 10-9 and won the hand with his trips. 

The second match took over an hour.  It was fairly close for the first forty minutes or so before Bloch built an almost 3-to-1 lead.  Ferguson came back, doubling up with Q-J versus 3-3, when he flopped a Queen.  Ten minutes later, he crippled Bloch when his J-J dodged a ton of outs for Bloch after the flop, and he then won the round a few minutes later. 

The final round turned out to be the shortest, just under a half hour.  It ended on a coin flip…literally.  On a board of 10-7-3-7, Ferguson, who had Bloch covered, moved all-in.  Bloch pondered his decision for several minutes before deciding to just flip a coin.  Heads, he calls, tails, he folds.  Heads it was, and he flipped over 10-4 for top pair (plus the sevens) and a flush draw.  Ferguson once again had J-J and once again was able to dodge Bloch’s outs to win the title and $500,000. 

Final Results 

1. Chris Ferguson -- $500,000
2. Andy Bloch -- $250,000
3. Huck Seed -- $125,000
4. Phil Ivey -- $125,000
5. David Benyamine -- $75,000
6. Gus Hansen -- $75,000
7. Orel Hershiser -- $75,000
8. Jonathan Little -- $75,000
9. J.C. Tran -- $25,000
10. Phil Laak -- $25,000
11. Scott Fischman -- $25,000
12. Mike Matusow -- $25,000
13. Greg Raymer -- $25,000
14. Freddy Deeb -- $25,000
15. Michael Mizrachi -- $25,000
16. Doyle Brunson -- $25,000