2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship Sends First Invitations

The 4th annual NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship is just around the corner and the first 20 invitations have already been delivered.

According to NBCSports.com, Paul Wasicka has been invited to defend his 2007 crown. WSOP Main Event Champions Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Chris Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen, Jamie Gold and Jerry Yang were among those invited. Also receiving invites are 5-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey, 2006 National Heads-Up Champion Ted Forrest, and Shannon Elizabeth, who was bounced by Wasicka in last year's semi-finals. Phil Hellmuth won the innagural event in 2005, but was not among the first 20 invites this year.

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is a 64 player tournament, resembling the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Players will face off in best of three matches, with winners advancing after each round. This is an invitation only tournament. Those who accept will pay a $20,000 buy-in for the chance at the first place prize of $500,000.

Others to receive invitations; Annie Duke, Antonio Esfandiari, Jonathan Little, Brian Townsend, Erick Lindgren, Barry Greenstein, Howard Lederer, Jennifer Harmon, Gavin Smith and Mike Matusow.

Note that these players have been invited and have not yet been confirmed to appear. The remaining invitations will be sent out before the new year.

The 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship will take place Feb. 29th - Mar. 2nd at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The event will air on NBC, beginning in April.

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