PokerGO Acquires Heads-Up Poker Championship Brand From NBC

The NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship was one of the most iconic poker shows of the 2000s poker boom.

The series ended in 2013, but this may be changing. PokerGO announced on Friday that it had acquired the series from NBC. 

The deal includes a broadcast partnership for the event as well. New episodes will premiere on Peacock following filming. The streaming platform said they will announce more details on the deal soon. 

“The acquisition marks the return of one of poker’s most iconic and celebrated tournament properties,” PokerGO noted in announcing the deal.

Hello, old friend!

PokerGO is pleased to announce it has acquired the iconic National Heads-Up Poker Championship brand from NBC Sports. 🥳

Details: https://t.co/F2dywhj5vb pic.twitter.com/uEWD9RcEXF

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) June 6, 2025

PokerGO Gets Historic Poker Brand

The original Heads-Up Championship debuted in 2005 and was the first televised poker show produced by a major U.S. television network.

Poker fans enjoyed the single-elimination, bracket-style format that featured some of the biggest names in the game. Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Mike Matusow, Erik Seidel, and Doyle Brunson were just a few of the game’s stars involved in the first event.

The invitation-only event included a $25,000 buy-in with the first season filmed at the Golden Nugget. Gabe Kaplan and Matt Vasgersian served as commentators, and Phil Hellmuth topped Chris Ferguson in the final match of the initial season to win the $500,000 top prize.

The following year, the action shifted to Caesars Palace, where it remained for the rest of the series. Ali Nejad took over for Kaplan in the commentary booth as well. As the series moved forward, it also featured some of the biggest names in online poker as well. 

For example, Tom Dwan created a memorable moment when he busted Hellmuth in the first round of the 2008 event.

Peacock & PokerGO To Stream New Episodes

Along with bringing new seasons and episodes to Peacock and PokerGO viewers, the company also acquired the full library of past Heads-Up Poker Championship content. Those episodes will soon be available across PokerGO distribution channels.

“This is a monumental moment for poker fans,” said PokerGO President Mori Eskandani. “The National Heads-Up Poker Championship was one of the most innovative and prestigious events in the history of televised poker. We are proud to not only preserve its legacy by making classic episodes available to global fans, but also to usher in a new era for the brand under the PokerGO banner.”

Past Championship Winners

While it’s not yet known which players will be invited to play in upcoming episodes, here’s a quick look at all National Heads-Up Poker Championship final matches (Note: an event wasn’t held in 2012).