Wednesday, June 13, 2007

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PokerTek goes heads-up with WSOP

Antonio Esfandiari will test the table for the first time against friend Phil Laak.

By Erin Warner

Electronic table innovator PokerTek is introducing a new dealerless felt to its lineup with the launch of the Heads-Up Challenge product.

Using the heads-up table, two players compete against one another in Texas Hold'em using computer screens that eliminate the dealer and speed up the action.

PokerTek is already making plans to place the tables in bars and restaurants worldwide and is working with the World Series of Poker to co-brand the product.

The Heads-Up Challenge table will make its debut at this year's WSOP on July 5 during the Main Event. Pros Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari are the first players scheduled to test the electronic table in a lounge at the Rio that afternoon.

The product will also be at the Gaming Life Expo conference for the rest of the week to allow visitors to give the dealerless heads-up play a whirl.

"People love to play heads-up poker," said PokerTek president James Crawford in a release. "It's fast-paced, it's one-on-one and the competition is intense. Bringing the world's greatest card game into the amusement space is an exciting next step for our company."

And a partnership with the WSOP is a strategic fit, said the tournament's commissioner, Jeffrey Pollack.

"The success of any sports property is directly related to its ability to introduce the brand to new audiences," he said in the release.

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