Antonio Esfandiari

Watch 'Face the Ace' on NBC

Paul Drinkwater

Broadcast schedule: Saturdays on NBC

· November 14, 2009 – 3:00pm ET
· December 12, 2009 – 3:00pm ET
· January 2, 2010 – 2:30pm ET

Slideshow

The new face of poker
A look at NBC's 'Face the Ace' hostess, Megan Abrigo.

Slideshow

Celebs ante up for charity
Hollywood stars play against the best in poker during a special event at the World Series of Poker.

NBCSports.com

Get to know poker's best

By Stephanie Moore

Complete player bios

Want to know more about the players competing in both Poker After Dark and NBC's National Heads-Up Poker Championship? Check out the bios of all the players including Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan.

INTERACTIVE

NBC's 4th National Heads-Up Poker Championship

Get to know Leeann
A look at Leeann Tweeden, host of NBC's Poker After Dark and Heads-Up Poker Championship.

Slideshow

Party with stars
Check out poker's best at the GoDaddy.com Draw Party.

updated 8:22 a.m. ET Nov. 1, 2009

· Nicknamed “The Magician” for having been a professional magician before becoming a poker player

· Winner of one WSOP bracelet and one WPT event

· Career live tournament winnings in excess of $3.49 million

· Went deep in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, finishing 24th, collecting his biggest WSOP payday ever of nearly $353,000

· Recently acquired a life coach who he claims has helped him with his focus

NHPC record: 4-5
NHPC total winnings: $125,000

2005: Defeated Howard Lederer, Daniel Negreanu, Ted Forrest, and Scott Fischman before losing to eventual winner Phil Hellmuth in the semifinals ($125,000)
2006: Eliminated in Round 1 by Barry Shulman
2007: Eliminated in Round 1 by Tuan Le
2008: Eliminated in Round 1 by Vanessa Rousso
2009: Eliminated in Round 1 by Kenny Tran

PAD record: 0-5

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Match 5: 2nd
Match 16: 3rd
Match 19: 4th
Match 27: 2nd
Weeks 44-45: Cash game participant
Match 46: 5th