Posted by Editor | Filed under 2010 NBC Heads-Up Championship, Annie Duke
Congratulations to my good friend Annie Duke who just won the NBC National Heads-Up Championship over long-time friend Erik Seidel in two out of three matches. Because of the long friendship of the pair and similar poker views, it wasn’t so much a triumph of one style over another, or one approach over another, as it was a triumph over adversity and the frustrations of poker. And even though Annie Duke wins the Championship and the trophy and $500,000 that come with it, both she and Seidel were victors in the meta-game.
I didn’t see the hole cards, but both played what appeared to be superb poker in the finals. It was a war of attrition that was bound to turn on heartbreakingly close hands. As professionals and friends, both treated the outcome with the same equanimity that they would have the opposite result.
One thing I noticed about Erik Seidel immediately after his semifinal victory over Scotty Nguyen was there was no expression of joy – only relief. And I know from talking with both players that they share a sense of relief that it is over: that they played well, that they managed to face each other in the finals, and they know they will be invited back next year. Annie Duke was 1-5 going into the 2010 competition. But even that sorry history gave her bragging rights over Erik, who was 0-5. Once Seidel dusted off defending champion Huckleberry Seed (in a match of best all-time record, 19-4 vs. worst all-time record, 0-5) and Annie prevailed over 2008 runner-up (and good friend and fellow philanthropist) Andy Bloch, they were off to the races.
One of the reasons I enjoy the HUC so much is that I have close relationships with so many of the competitors, and heads-up play is such a personal form of combat, that I feel the outcomes on a very personal level. I think the world of both finalists, as well as plenty of the competition they bulldozed along the way.
Annie Duke achieved a big, conspicuous career marker this weekend, no doubt about it. But the real winner was poker. The NBC audience may not see a surplus of drunken tirades or B-movie villainy or set-piece comedy. But it will see real professionals, really tested to their limits. And they will see some excellent heads-up poker.
I think poker is the winner in the account being provided by this Blog. I saw some excellent poker, some remarkable turns of fate, and some truly unique personalities. My narrative is underway, the next several posts are written (“Day of the Dog”), the several after that are sketched out (“Take These Broken Wingmen and Learn to Fly”), and a I have notebooks full of materials to take you through the rest of the story. Please keep reading.
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Loading ...6 Responses to “#979 – 2010 NBC Heads-Up Championship #5 – Annie Duke Has Just Won the Championship”
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john Says:
March 8th, 2010 at 8:37 pmI don’t know why you don’t get more comments because I think you are doing a great job, keep it coming!
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suzy Says:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:01 pmYay Annie! I am so happy for her. She is my poker hero! Nice story too!!
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Ted Says:
March 14th, 2010 at 9:50 amtake that Donald Trump
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poker for money Says:
March 18th, 2010 at 4:30 pmit is very nice ..congrat.. fulltiltpoker is the best..
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ISOP Says:
March 26th, 2010 at 7:21 amVery useful article. I have recently found another site on poker
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jonnyrayza Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:33 pmmy wife loves annie duke, so she’ll be happy when she finds out, but she’s pissed that i looked up who won the turney :]
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