National Heads-Up Poker Championship Contributing to the Game’s Renewed Life

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is returning in 2025 after a 12-year hiatus, and it is an undeniable victory for fans of the game.

The NHUPC was one of the most iconic and widely watched poker events during the height of the poker boom, airing annually on NBC from 2005 through 2013. At a time when poker was enjoying massive popularity, thanks to the Moneymaker Effect and a surge in online play at sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt, NHUPC stood out as a rare blend of high-stakes competition and mainstream entertainment.

The timing of its revival in 2025 couldn’t be better. Poker is having a cultural moment again, with a younger generation discovering the game through YouTube, Twitch and influencers. TikTok clips have replaced final table replays. Fans want shorter content, clearer stakes and personalities they can root for — or against.

The heads-up format is tailor-made for fan brackets, betting lines and social buzz. It was also built for drama. Every hand feels consequential, every mistake magnified. It is a rare poker show where a player’s personality actually can breathe. You didn’t need to know ICM dynamics to enjoy watching Phil Hellmuth have his aces cracked by Tom Dwan in the first round.

In short: NHUPC isn’t just a fun throwback — it’s the exact kind of event poker needs to evolve in a content-first, personality-driven media landscape. Characters drive clicks, and poker desperately needs more opportunities to showcase the people who make the game great.

PokerStars and PokerGO figured that out and have partnered with streaming service Peacock to broadcast the event later this year. PokerGO then will stream the $25,000 buy-in tournament at a later date.

“Bringing back shows like the National Heads-Up Poker Championship is one of the most exciting ways to reignite interest in poker,” said Francine Watson, associate director of content and creative services at PokerStars. “With a mix of celebrities and top pros, it’s the kind of event that draws in poker enthusiasts while appealing to the masses.”

That mix of celebrities and pros was indisputable when the bracket was released this week. Some highlights of the first-round matchups include:

• High-stakes cash player Matthew “Hanks” Honig vs. comedian Rob Riggle
• Liv Boeree vs. actor Kevin Pollak
• Matt Berkey vs. NFL legend Richard Seymour
• Maria Konnikova vs. “Survivor” star Boston Rob
• 2025 Main Event champ Michael Mizrachi vs. Randy “3coin” Sadler
• Scott Seiver vs. Chef Phillip of “Top Chef” fame
• Chino Rheem vs. sports TV personality Nick Wright

With a strong lineup, the NHUPC will inject some much-needed energy into poker’s broadcast offerings this fall. Not every event needs to be a five-day grind; poker needs something that pops on screen, and this is it.