NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship: Tom Durr Dwan Still Standing
Tom "Durr" Dwan was among the 32 remaining poker players out of 64 still participating in the NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship, which takes place all this weekend. Just this past week, Dwan had won a cool million during an online poker challenge. Dwan is among the most popular poker players featured on the Gambling911.com website.
Everyone's favorite teacher, Mr. Kotter (real name: Gabe Kaplan) was still standing Saturday morning as well.
Kaplan became involved in poker during his acting career well before the current craze made its way onto television. He made his first appearance at the World Series of Poker in 1978. In July 2004, he finished third in a World Poker Tour no-limit Texas hold 'em event, earning more than $250,000. He also finished second in the $5000 2005 World Series of Poker Limit Hold 'Em event, winning $222,515.
In 2007, Kaplan won on NBC's Poker After Dark in the episode "Queens and Kings" after defeating Kristy Gazes heads-up and outlasting Howard Lederer, Ali Nejad, Vanessa Rousso and Annie Duke.
In the 2007 World Series of Poker Kaplan finished in 9th place in the $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E event winning $131,424; Freddy Deeb eventually won the event after defeating Bruno Fitoussi in heads-up play.
As of 2008, Kaplan's total live tournament winnings exceeded $1,300,000.
Phil Hellmuth also remains standing.
Our own Jenny Woo asked Hellmuth if he liked being called the "Poker Brat".
"Poker Brat seems to fit," he said. "I do not always have the full control over myself that I want to have at the tables, especially when people beat me playing poorly. Being a "Bad boy" pays well, and I think 70% of the people watching see that there is a lot of good in me, 100 times the amount of bad. In fact, the only bad in me is that I whine too much, and go off on people, but it just so happens that it makes for great television."
Other notables still playing include Daniel Negreanu and Vanessa Rousso, interviewed by our Jenny Woo heading into this weekend.
Oh, and Doyle Brunson is a goner as is Mike Matasow.
Here is a list of those who have busted since our last report:
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Leonid Yanovski
Fred Collins
Chris Ferguson
Gavin Smith
Gavin Griffin
Blandino Gines
Mike Sexton
Joe Hachem
Mike Matusow
David Pham
Nicholas Joy
Hevad Khan
Orel Hershiser
Chris Moneymaker
Jennifer Tilly
Doyle Brunson
Kenny Yeh
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