Hellmuth unhappy with lack of Heads up tourney seeds

Phil Hellmuth Jr. is seething about seeding.

Known as the "Poker Brat" for his on-camera tantrums after unfortunate turns of the cards, Hellmuth looks to defend his title in the 2006 National Heads Up Poker Championship beginning Saturday.

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The three-day tournament, with $1.5 million in prize money, draws top professionals and celebrities in one-on-one elimination showdowns.

What rankles Hellmuth is that even as reigning champion, he's not guaranteed to face one of the lesser players. He could face a top rival and get knocked out early, or have an easy path to the finals and the $500,000 first place payout.

"The problem with the Heads Up tournament is it's not seeded," Hellmuth said.

"Last year, I'm sure everyone had me in the top three somewhere. And I played against Men 'the Master' Nguyen, who probably is somewhere in the top 15, my first draw.

"Daniel Negreanu, who is in the top six, drew Jerry Buss, who is the owner of the Lakers," he said. "There's some randomness involved in the draw. And I faced a real tough crew of players. It probably makes it less egalitarian. I mean more."

Organizers say the format for the 64-player tournament is not going to change this year, after its raging success last year when NBC televised it for the first time. Six million people watched the finals on a Sunday afternoon in May last year.

The venue has moved to the Strip at the Caesars Palace poker room from the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas, where it was taped last year. Broadcast coverage will extend to 10 hours, up from eight, and be spread over six Sundays starting April 16.

"The idea of trying to seed them was very, very difficult," said Jonathan Miller, senior vice president of programming for NBC Sports, noting it was the players last year who objected to seeds.

"Phil was one of the guys who screamed the loudest last year about seeding," Miller said. Of this year's gripe, Miller added, "that's his right as defending champion."

Poker stars, including Mike Matusow and Annie Duke, and celebrities such as Jennifer Tilly and James Woods have paid $20,000 to play, while three amateurs won sponsored seats at free satellite events. NBC added $220,000 to the prize pool. Those who make it to the round of 16 win at least $25,000.

Hellmuth said his expectations this year "aren't particularly high."

He was knocked out on the first day at a World Poker Tour event in San Jose, Calif., earlier in the week in classic Hellmuth style after losing a showdown with pro Chip Reese. Hellmuth took a $100 bill from his pocket and before handing it to Reese, signed it: "You're a lucky SOB."

Last year at the Heads Up tournament, Hellmuth fell on the floor and stormed up to his hotel room after losing on a draw to Chris "Jesus" Ferguson in the second match of a best-of-three final. Hellmuth came back to win.

Poker Pro magazine editor-in-chief Johnny "Quads" Wenzel said he expects similar fireworks this year.

"Seeing Phil Hellmuth do a meltdown on camera, that's worth the price of admission," Wenzel said. "It's great theater."

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