{"id":51790,"date":"2021-06-16T13:47:13","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T13:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=51790"},"modified":"2021-06-18T17:59:20","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T17:59:20","slug":"darren-elias-talks-about-upcoming-wpt-online-heads-up-championship-special-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/darren-elias-talks-about-upcoming-wpt-online-heads-up-championship-special-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Darren Elias Talks About Upcoming WPT Online Heads Up Championship Special Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

The World Poker Tour\u2019s<\/strong> first live event<\/a> of the season is set for June 18-22<\/strong> at the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, Florida<\/a>. However, the tour\u2019s addition of more online poker<\/strong><\/a> events also continues this month with a special high stakes, heads-up event.<\/span><\/p>\n

The $25,000 WPT Heads Up Poker Championship<\/strong> is an invitation-only event featuring <\/span>some of the biggest names in poker. That includes <\/span>Phil Ivey<\/strong>, Nick Schulman, Tom Dwan<\/strong>, Doug Polk<\/strong>, Landon Tice, and numerous others. <\/span>Superstar DJ Steve Aoki is even making an appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Four-time WPT champion Darren Elias<\/strong>, who recently signed as a member of <\/span>Above the Felt Entertainment<\/a>, will also be playing the event. He spoke this week with USPoker about his own involvement in the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
GLOBAL POKER ACCEPTS US PLAYERS<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n
Visit Global Poker<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
FREE $20 GOLD COIN PACKAGE<\/div>\n
With a Verified Account. PLUS get a $40 Gold Coin Package for $20 on purchase<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Global Poker Review<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
US Players Accepted<\/div>\n
Daily FREE <\/b>Sweeps Coins Just For Logging In<\/div>\n
Texas Hold’em Ring Games, Tourneys, and SNGs<\/div>\n
Redeemable For Cash Prizes<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
PLAY NOW<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Joining the heads-up battles<\/span><\/h2>\n

Heads-up live and online events have grown in popularity in recent months. Daniel Negreanu<\/strong> and Polk faced off<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Darren Elias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

from November through February in the High Stakes Duel<\/em><\/strong> at WSOP.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Negreanu now battles Phil Hellmuth<\/strong> for the third time live on PokerGO on June 23<\/strong>. In March, Fedor Hold battled<\/a> high stakes grinder <\/span>Wiktor \u201cLimitless\u201d Malinowski at GGPoker<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elias has expressed his own interest in getting involved in a heads-up challenge and now has the opportunity. He\u2019s looking forward to the WPT event.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m excited to play a special invitational event like this, both as a change of pace from regular tournaments and to challenge myself against some of the best heads-up players in the world,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Heads Up Championship features 32 competitors<\/strong> and the WPT will live stream<\/strong> all matches. One-on-one poker is a different type of game and recent matches have attracted some major interest online.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI think big heads-up events like this have been popular because they draw a lot of the more well-known players in poker and can be an entertaining spectacle for fans,\u201d Elias says. \u201cThis event in particular has a few streamers and other gamers in the bracket with large followings so that should drive the viewer experience even higher.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A look at the matchups<\/span><\/h2>\n

The drawing for the first round was held on Monday. Some of the more interesting matchups include:<\/span><\/p>\n