PokerGO is behind the project, and the competition will stream on Peacock TV
The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is making a long-awaited comeback this fall after a 12-year break. The revival of the popular bracket-style poker event comes through a partnership between PokerGO and PokerStars, and the competition will stream on Peacock TV.
Known for its one-on-one format and mix of poker pros and celebrities, the tournament returns with a $25,000 buy-in and a lineup of familiar and new faces. Past editions of the event helped shape the televised poker boom of the 2000s, with champions like Phil Hellmuth, Erik Seidel, Annie Duke, and Huck Seed all capturing titles. The show was also home to unforgettable poker moments, including the heated match between Hellmuth and then-upstart Tom Dwan.
This year’s field is set to include high-profile pros and personalities such as Michael Mizrachi, Jason Koon, Liv Boeree, Doug Polk and Phil Galfond. Also taking part are entertainers and sports figures like Rob Riggle, Richard Seymour, T.J. Lavin, Bryce Hall, and “Boston Rob” Mariano from Survivor fame. Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champ credited with sparking the poker boom, is also among the confirmed participants.
Mori Eskandani, President of PokerGO, highlighted the show’s impact on the growth of televised poker and expressed excitement about its return. “The National Heads-Up Poker Championship helped define the golden era of televised poker,” he said. “We’re proud to partner with PokerStars to bring back a truly iconic brand and share it with a new generation of fans.”
The tournament’s return marks another push by PokerGO to reintroduce poker programming that blends competition with entertainment, while also tapping into nostalgia for fans who followed the game’s televised rise in the early 2000s. More details, including the full player bracket and air dates, are expected to be released closer to the event.
