The National Heads-Up Poker Championship was one of the most popular poker formats on TV between 2005 and 2013. After a much too long break of 12 years, the popular format returned in August 2025. At the recording in the PokerGo Studio in Las Vegas, proven methods were adopted, only the broadcasting TV channel changed from NBC to Peacock, and PokerStars now acted as the sponsor of the poker duels.
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The National Heads-Up Championship Format
As in the good old poker days, a total of 64 PokerStars competed against each other in 2025. Participation is only possible by invitation from the organizer, which does not mean that it is free. Participants had to pay a hefty $25,000 out of their own pocket to be part of the fight for TV time and the Heads-Up Poker Champion title. In addition, the 64 participants were drawn into 4 brackets of 16 players each, who advanced in knockout rounds until a winner was determined. The respective bracket winners then played the semi-finals, and the winners of those played the final in a best-of-three.
Also in 2025 with an impressive line-up
While in the past players like Johnny Chan, David Sklansky, Mike Caro, Annie Duke, Mike Sexton, or Gus Hansen were the main attractions of the National Poker Heads-Up Championship, the 2025 edition had to hide from nothing. The field of participants included, among others, Andrew Robl, Erik Seidel, Phil Galfond, Phil Laak, Erick Lindgren, Stephen Chidwick, Garrett Adelstein, Liv Boeree, Chris Moneymaker, Shaun Deeb, Michael Mizrachi, and also the defending champion from 2013, Mike Matusow.
And Dan “Jungleman” Cates was also there, this time as Peter Pan!
From the German-speaking high roller faction, Igor Kurganov and Marius Gierse were seen in the prestigious format in front of the cameras.
Scandal about insider trading on polymarket
As in previous WSOP times, which led to the November Nine due to the delayed and fragmented broadcast (break between recording and broadcast), the format was played and recorded in August before being broadcast on TV on Peacock between December 4th and 18th.
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Since bets could still be placed on the outcome of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship on the betting platform Polymarket even after the end of the tournament and up to the TV broadcast, this led to enormous distortions on the betting platform, where a player was quickly traded with over 90% winning probability, despite non-disclosure clauses for players and staff involved in the production.
Insider trading on Polymarket – is the betting platform spoiling the National Heads-Up Poker Champion?
The National Heads-Up Poker Championship on PokerGO
After the initial broadcast on Peacock, all matches have also been available for re-streaming on PokerGO since February 2nd. The 64 superstars meet on the PokerGO streaming portal in 10 episodes.
Here you can watch the National Heads-Up Poker Championship episode by episode or binge-watch it from now on:
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