May 2007 Archives

By Dennis Oehring

In another original programming match from the inaugural season of Poker After Dark, six of poker's top female players competed on Ladies Week, with each plunking down $20,000 in hopes of claiming this special title. The competitors, Clonie Gowen, Evelyn Ng, Dee Luong, Vanessa Rousso, Jennifer Harman, and Cyndy Violette, all stayed in the match for nearly 4 complete episodes before Gowen went on a great run of cards and played them to perfection in claiming the $120,000 winner-take-all prize.

The match featured a great deal of conversation and friendly chatter between the players, combined with some tight play as the chip lead switched from one player to another early in the match. Gowen took the lead late in the fourth day, and once she did, none of the other players were able to take it from her.

On the fourth day, a short-stacked Vanessa Rousso went all in while holding an offsuit 8 6 in the small blind was called by Jennifer Harman in the big blind holding pocket jacks. Jennifer made a set on the river, and Rousso was the first to be eliminated. Once Rousso was out and with the blinds at $400/$800, the players seemed to become more focused on winning the match as the conversation at the table took on a more serious tone.

Evelyn Ng was next to leave as her pocket kings were cracked by Gowen holding a suited A 3. Then with the blinds at $600/$1200, Gowen claimed another victim, this time Dee Luong, who ran into Clonie's dominating A Q while holding A 10. At this point, Gowen had nearly two-thirds of the chips in play, and appeared unstoppable.

Violette then found herself all in with A Q against Gowen's pocket fours, but Clonie's small pair held up and Cyndy was eliminated in 3rd place. That left Gowen with a 3.5:1 chip lead over Jennifer Harman entering heads-up play, and when Clonie spiked a nine on the flop while holding Q 9 and Harman's suited A J didn't improve, Gowen had eliminated 4 of her 5 competitors in route to the victory. Congratulations, Clonie!

With the filming of the second season of Poker After Dark now complete, viewers can look forward to many new matches in the upcoming weeks. The first match of PAD2 will begin airing on June 11, and a complete list of all scheduled matches and dates will be posted on this website soon.

Shannon Elizabeth's Cinderella Story Continues to the Semifinal

NBC will present taped coverage of the seventh installment of its ultimate big-stakes poker showdown, the National Heads-Up Poker Championship presented by Outback Steakhouse, from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Sunday at Noon ET/ 3 p.m. PT with a three hour finale. To the amazement of many fans and players American Pie actress Shannon Elizabeth has defied the odds to beat poker legends and advance to the semifinal round. She will take on 2006 World Series of Poker Championship runner-up Paul Wasicka.

The other semifinal table will feature poker commentator and player "Downtown" Chad Brown and self-proclaimed poker "wild card" Gavin Smith. These two personalities should bring an unpredictable and entertaining match-up. The winner of the final will receive $500,000 and the runner-up $250,000

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is a unique, head-to-head, single-elimination tournament with 64 players competing for the $1.5 million purse.

NBC will present taped coverage of the sixth installment of its ultimate big-stakes poker showdown, the National Heads-Up Poker Championship presented by Outback Steakhouse, from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Sunday at Noon ET/ 4 p.m. PT. This season's most talked about underdog, American Pie actress Shannon Elizabeth, wiped out the high profile veteran Barry Greenstein last week, and will take on Costa Rica's poker heavyweight Humberto Brenes this Sunday.

The other feature tables will include the first female professional player to advance this far in NHPC history Kristy Gazes against "Downtown" Chad Brown; Season IV World Poker Tour Player of the Year Gavin Smith against 2006 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E event runner-up Andy Bloch; and a match-up between two of poker's emerging stars Paul Wasicka and Nam Le. The four players to advance to the semifinal are guaranteed at least $125,000.

Quarterfinal Matchups:
Shannon Elizabeth vs. Humberto Brenes
Kristy Gazes vs. Chad Brown
Gavin Smith vs. Andy Bloch
Paul Wasicka vs. Nam Le

Remaining 2007 National Heads Up Poker Schedule:

May 13: Noon- 2 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT)
May 20: Noon-3 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT)

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is a unique, head-to-head, single-elimination tournament with 64 players competing for the $1.5 million purse.

NBC will present taped coverage of the fifth installment of its ultimate big-stakes poker showdown, the National Heads-Up Poker Championship presented by Outback Steakhouse, from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Sunday at Noon ET/ 3 p.m. PT. The show will feature a match-up between poker rookie and actress Shannon Elizabeth and Barry Greenstein, who is ranked No. 24 on the all-time poker money list.

The other feature tables will include 2006 National Heads Up Poker Champion Ted Forrest; 2006 Poker Hall of Famer T.J. Cloutier; 1996 World Series of Poker Champion Huck Seed; Two-time World Poker Tour winner Nam Le; and veteran poker beauty Kristy Gazes. At this point in the tournament, every player is guaranteed to leave with at least $25,000.

Remaining 2007 National Heads Up Poker Schedule:
May 6: Noon- 2 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT)
May 13: Noon- 2 p.m.ET (4 p.m. PT)
May 20: Noon-3 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT)

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is a unique, head-to-head, single-elimination tournament with 64 players competing for the $1.5 million purse.