NBC Changes Heads-Up Championship Lineup

Six players who were originally announced as part of the field of 64 at NBC’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship are now no longer going to participate.

Professional poker players Bobby Baldwin, Doyle Brunson, Tony G, Kenna James, and Mike Sexton, as well as actress Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), have all dropped out of the tournament.

Replacing them are Paul Darden, Kristy Gazes, Carlos Mortensen, Vanessa Rousso, Cyndy Violette, and Steve Zolotow.

The Championship will be played March 1-4 at Caesars in Las Vegas. It will be broadcast on NBC every Sunday for seven weeks at noon EST starting April 8. The first three episodes will run one hour, the next three will run two hours, and the finale will be a three hour show.

Originally published 3:03 PM Thursday, February 22, 2007