#692 – NBC Heads-Up Championship #13 – Preview and Predictions for Round 2

There are some awesome matches coming up. Gus Hansen v. Huck Seed? Eli Elezra v. Erick Lindgren? Tom Dwan v. Barry Greenstein? Scotty Nguyen v. Ted Forrest?

Who’d want to put their neck on the line and predict winners for these and the other twelve second-round match ups? Me.

The red brackets (hearts and diamonds) go first, starting at 1:30 (about 30 minutes from now) followed by the black brackets (clubs and spades) at about 4 PM.

HEARTS BRACKET

Eli Elezra v. Erick Lindgren – For ten minutes these guys are gonna give each other shit, then for an hour they’re gonna tear each other’s hearts out.
For my money: Lindgren.

David Williams v. Scott Fischman – This is just a hunch but I think the winner of this match could make it all the way through the bracket. When David Williams is on, he is fierce. But Scott Fischman has cashed four years in a row. He not only wants to make it five straight but to get to the finals for the first time.
For my money: Fischman

John Phan v. Jerry Yang – John Phan is probably the hottest tournament player in the world but Yang is especially dangerous when he is overlooked.
For my money: Phan

Sam Farha v. Peter Eastgate – This could be fascinating. Eastgate keeps methodically rolling on, but Sam is one of the best at derailing his opponents. Farha has a ready-for-prime-time persona and, if it wasn’t for Ted Forrest, might have gone deep in this numerous times.
For my money: Eastgate

DIAMONDS BRACKET

Kenny Tran v. Jennifer Harman – Kenny Tran is sick-good but this might be Jennifer’s year.
For my money: Harman

Phil Laak v. David Oppenheim – Phil was, for once, the quiet low-key player in his first round match so he’s ready for a run. But I think Oppie could be this year’s Andy Bloch, a worthy player who enters the field at the last moment and goes deep.
For my money: Oppenheim

Gus Hansen v. Huckleberry Seed – A tremendous match-up. Nothing I can add to that, except this is probably the biggest obstacle Huck has ever faced to making the money, and he’s made the money every year of this competition.
For my money: Seed

Glen Chorny v. Brad Garrett – Chorny will have his hands full. Garrett has amped up his game and his antics require real focus to stay steady.
For my money: Garrett

[Hearts winner plays Diamonds winner]

CLUBS BRACKET

Don Cheadle v. Paul Wasicka – I have so much respect for Wasicka, from watching his heads-up final against Chad Brown from the booth. But Cheadle can play with anyone in the field.
For my money: Cheadle

Phil Ivey v. Vanessa Rousso – I keep expecting Ivey to win it all. Maybe this time?
For my money: Ivey

Scotty Nguyen v. Ted Forrest – I asked Ted last night if he still has Hamid Dastmalchi’s World Championship bracelet? “Yeah. Maybe I should try to get Scotty’s tomorrow.” It’s not to early to speculate on the possibility of Ted becoming the first multiple-champion, even though Scotty is on top of his game, his next match will be against Daniel Negreanu or Mario Minieri, he’d face Ivey or Wasicka next (or Cheadle or Rousso if he’s “lucky”), and there will still be a super-tough Spades survivor to get by, and that’s just to make it to the final.
For my money: Forrest

Daniel Negreanu v. Dario Minieri – If Daniel is still “the Kid,” then Dario has to be “the Grandkid.” I can’t believe (a) the guy is so good, and (b) they don’t card him before every hand.
For my money: Negreanu

SPADES BRACKET

Gabe Kaplan v. John Juanda – Gabe’s a tough old buzzard. He got by the defending champion and Team Full Tilt is cursed, so John will have an uphill battle.
For my money: Juanda

Ilari Sahamies v. Bertrand Grospellier – Tough, tough match. (OK, I know hardly anything about these guys, but that’s my fault, not theirs. Both superb players.)
For my money: Sahamies

Jeffrey Ishbia v. Phil Hellmuth – Ishbia is one of those mysterious “Caesars qualifiers” but he made it through the first round so he’ll give Hellmuth some trouble. But Hellmuth is itching to get back in the spotlight in this event, as well as to take on Tom Dwan or Barry Greenstein.
For my money: Hellmuth

Tom Dwan v. Barry Greenstein – This should be one of the most enjoyable matches of the Championship. I’m just worried about whether it can live up to its promise. Should be a joy to watch. The loser of this matchloses his $20,000 entry fee. The winner will become one of the favorites to take the whole thing.
For my money: … something unintelligible … OK … Dwan.

[Clubs winner plays Spades winner]

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