OK, so it looks like there was a technical reason for the announcer's absence in the last few minutes of this match. They were taping a small segment with the show's commentators and apparently the announcer was in the way. We here at PL.com would sincerely like to apologize for accusing the announcer of laziness. And now, the final match.

The media section for this event is tucked away behind the last row of audience seating, making it nearly impossible to see any of the hands. Up until this point we've been relying on the tournament announcer and, up until this point, he's done a relatively good job.

Apparently he's decided the final match just isn't important enough to announce so there's basically an audience full of people and us media sitting here watching without the faintest clue as to what's transpiring on the felt. He's currently sitting in a chair five feet from the final table, not announcing.

We'll keep you posted on this exciting story as it develops because if he doesn't start feeding us the info soon it will be very difficult to report on the action.

The match has begun as a tight, tense affair between two heads-up experts. Afer a few jabs back and forth, a series of small pots and seemingly endless posturing for position, it remains fairly even through the first dozen hands.

It's Andy Bloch against Chris Ferguson in a best-of-three match for all the marbles. It's $500,000 and all the glory for first and $250k and a box of tissues for second.

The cards just hit the air so stick with PL.com throughout for all the hot heads-up action until they crown a 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Champion.

With the painful elimination of Huck Seed in the last match of the semifinals we have our final two players! Both are guaranteed at least a quarter of a million dollars but one will be leaving with twice that and the title of 2008 NBC National Heads-Up champion.

Chris Ferguson has finished as the runner-up in this event two out of the three times it's been held so we know he's aching for a win here at Caesars. Both players will start the finals with $640,000 and will play best two of three for the whole enchilada.

There will be a break but we haven't been informed when we'll be getting started again. We estimate at least an hour before things get going but keep one eye on PL.com just in case.

By applying constant pressure on Huck Seed, Andy Bloch worked his way into a 2-1 chip lead without having to show down very many hands.

Then he pushed in and Seed quickly called. It was A Q for Bloch against Seed's two red nines to put Bloch in the final or Seed back in the match. The flop looked good for a Seed double when the 5 2 6 came down. The 6 turn was good for Seed as well, but the A on the river did him in, sending Bloch into the final with Chris Ferguson.

 

Huck Seed just made a big hand and chose to attempt to slow-play. Bloch, apparently not catching much of the board, simply checked it down. Bloch opened the pot before the flop and Seed smooth-called from the big blind. The flop came down A 9 2 and Seed led out with a $25,000 bet. Bloch made the call and the A hit the turn. Seed opted to check this time around and Bloch did the same. The river was the 5 and Seed checked again. Bloch checked behind and Seed tabled A-K for trip aces.

The two remaining semifinal players have just reached a new blind level, $5k/$10k. Players start this round with $320,000 so there's still some play left in this match.

The match between Huck Seed and Andy Bloch to decide who will join Jesus in the finals is a decidedly more restrained affair than its semifinal counterpart. While Ivey and Ferguson waded into battle, getting bloody quick, Bloch and Seed are still in the process of sizing each other up. Seed made the semifinals here two years ago but was knocked out by Ferguson. A win against Bloch will put him in the finals and guarantee him at least $250,000.

Phil Ivey is done here at the 2008 NBC Heads-Up Championship. The action in his final hand started with an Ivey raise. Chris Ferguson then re-raised to $34k and Ivey called. The flop came 3-4-9 rainbow and Ferguson took a $45k stab at it. Ivey called again and the turn was the 5. This time Ferguson stepped it up, making it $100k to go, and Ivey pushed all-in for his tournament life. After long deliberation, Jesus made the call showing pocket eights.

For the first time in a long time, Ivey didn't have the nuts and his sixes needed to catch a set on the river or find a deuce or seven to complete his straight. The Q on the river ended all hope for Ivey and while he'll cash $125k for his semifinal finish, Ferguson is on to the final for the third time in this tournament's four-year history.