LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Actress Shannon Elizabeth, best known for a famous bedroom scene with Jason Biggs in the film American Pie, advanced to the "Elite Eight" of the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship last night at Caesar's Palace.
Elizabeth defeated Jeff Madsen, who won two World Series of Poker bracelets in 2006, and Barry Greenstein, who owns two WSOP bracelets and has also won two World Poker Tour titles, in the round of 16.
Elizabeth will meet Costa Rican professional poker player Humberto Brenes in the Club bracket championship today. Brenes, a prolific tournament player, cashed in eight WSOP events in 2006 alone.
Nam Le, who holds one WPT title, defeated Annie Duke in the second round and knocked out defending champion Ted Forrest in the round of 16 to advance to the Spade bracket championship. He will face Paul Wasicka, the 2006 WSOP Main Event runner-up, who had perhaps the toughest schedule yesterday, as he beat 2005 WSOP Main Event champ Joe Hachem in the second round and Hall of Fame player T.J. Cloutier in the round of 16.
Full Tilt pro Andy Bloch will face fellow Full Tilt pro Gavin Smith in the quarterfinal round today. Smith is the third consecutive Full Tilt pro Bloch will face, as he defeated Allen Cunningham and Mike Matusow to advance to the Heart bracket championship. Smith beat two-time WSOP Main Event champ Johnny Chan and Phil Gordon yesterday.
Kristy Gazes, one of the hottest players on the WPT in recent months, has used that momentum to advace to the quarterfinals, defeating Isabelle Mercier and Scott Fischman to advance to the Diamond bracket championship. She will face Chad Brown, who beat Gabe Kaplan and Brad Booth.
The tournament will conclude today, including a best 2-of-3 championship match.
The winner will claim the $500,000 first-place prize, with second place earning $250,000. Semifinalists who fail to advance to the championship will earn $125,000, quarterfinalists will earn $75,000, and players who fail to advance to the quarterfinals will earn $25,000.
NOTE: The author tangled with Elizabeth in the WSOP Media/Celebrity event last summer. Read about it here.
