The first round draw for the $10K PKR Heads Up Grand Slam has thrown up some exciting encounters, not least our very own james666 against Phil Laak. The big question on everyone's mind however, was which four pros would be drawn drawn against our four PKR online qualifiers. A daunting task for the pros as any sports fan will understand - giant-killing is easier in poker than in any other sport. And with a raucous home crowd cheering them on, each PKR qualifier will be given the very best chance to turn over their big name adversary...
Antonio Esfandiari
Nicknamed 'The Magician', Esfandiari won his WSOP bracelet in 2004, before finishing runner up in the third season of Poker Superstars. He recently finished 24th for $352K in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, and taking his lifetime tournament winnings to $3.4m. Close friends with Phil Laak, he's also known for his dynamic personality and bubbly table talk. That said, he may need some magic of his own to overcome his PKR qualifier opponent!
Round 2 opponent: Theo Tran or Ilari 'Zigmund' Sahamies
David WIlliams
Runner up to Greg 'Fossilman' Raymer in the 2004 WSOP Main Event, Williams came to the poker world via Magic the Gathering, where he proved his aptitude for strategy games. Winner of a 7-stud bracelet in the 2006 WSOP, his lifetime tournament earnings exceed $6.3m. A fifth place in the 2009 NBC HU CHampionships and ninth in the 2008 WSOP $10K World Championship Heads Up event read well for his chance in the Heads Up Grand Slam. Known for his glamorous fashion sense and notorious for his diamond toothpick, expect Williams to bring everything to the table against his PKR qualifier opponent.
Round 2 opponent: Beyne or Alex Keating
Ivan Demidov
Moscow's latest WSOP superstar, Demidov made the 2008 Main Event's November Nine before finishing third in the WSOP Europe Main Event. He went on to finish runner up to Peter Eastgate in the US version one month later, bringing his tournament winnings to $6.5m. A formidable opponent, Demidov will attract plenty of attention in a rare televised heads up appearance.
Round 2 opponent: Phil Laak or james666
Juha Helppi
The phlegmatic Finn appeared on our screens several years ago and has been a fixture on the European TV circuit since then. Recent successes include an EPT Deauville High Roller title for $254K, and third place in the 2008 Premier League, an event he won in 2007. In 2005, Helppi won the inaugural Caribbean Poker Classic Extreme Poker event, the first poker tournament ever to take place underwater. He has had some difficulty 'crossing the line', with runner up finishes in the 2004 Monte Carlo Millions, the 2005 WPT Paris and the 2006 WSOP $1K NLHE (losing to Phil Hellmuth) - good news for his PKR qualifier opponent!
Round 2 opponent: Peter Eastgate or Vicky Coren
Qualify for one of four $12,000 PKR Heads Up Grand Slam packages on PKR.com!