Ep 13. Heads Up Challenge - Night 1 of 5

In the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of Poker After Dark titled "Heads Up Challenge - Night 1 of 5," eight of the world's best heads-up No Limit Hold'em players come together to compete in a bracket-style tournament with a prize pool of $120,000. The players are divided into two groups of four, and each group will face off in a series of heads-up matches where the winner advances to the next round.

Group one consists of Barry Greenstein, Gavin Smith, David Williams, and Ted Forrest. Group two includes Phil Ivey, Huck Seed, Antonio Esfandiari, and Patrik Antonius. The players are seated at the poker table in a bracket formation, with the winner of each match moving on to face the winner of the next match.

The first match of the night features Barry Greenstein and Gavin Smith, two veteran poker players known for their aggressive styles and ability to read their opponents. Both players are highly respected in the poker world, with Greenstein being a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and Smith having won a World Series of Poker bracelet. This match is expected to be a fierce battle of wits and strategy as both players aim to advance to the next round.

In the second match, David Williams faces off against Ted Forrest. Williams is a former World Series of Poker main event runner-up and a skilled heads-up player, while Forrest is a seven-time WSOP bracelet winner and one of the most successful heads-up players in poker history. This matchup promises to be a clash of different playing styles, with Williams' aggressive and unorthodox style going up against Forrest's more traditional and conservative approach.

In the third match, Phil Ivey takes on Huck Seed in what many consider to be the most anticipated matchup of the night. Ivey is widely regarded as one of the best poker players of all time, with ten WSOP bracelets and over $26 million in tournament earnings. Seed, on the other hand, is a former WSOP main event champion and a skilled heads-up player known for his ability to analyze his opponents' weaknesses and exploit them. This match is sure to be a highlight of the night, with both players expected to put on a masterclass of heads-up poker.

In the final match of the night, Antonio Esfandiari faces off against Patrik Antonius. Esfandiari is a former WSOP main event champion and one of the most charismatic poker players in the world, known for his flashy style and entertaining table talk. Antonius, on the other hand, is a Finnish poker pro with over $11 million in tournament earnings and a reputation as one of the toughest heads-up players in the game. This matchup is expected to be a close one, with both players possessing a wealth of experience and skill in heads-up poker.

Overall, the first night of the Heads Up Challenge promises to be an exciting and intense night of poker, with some of the world's best players going head to head in a high-stakes tournament. Each match will be a test of skill and strategy, with the winner advancing to the next round and the chance to claim a share of the $120,000 prize pool. Fans of high-level poker won't want to miss this thrilling episode of Poker After Dark.