CHRIS JESUS FERGUSON CLAIMS HEADS-UP CHAMPIONSHIP

Third time’s the charm for professional poker player Chris “Jesus” Ferguson. Sunday evening was the third time he has sat at a final table in the NBC Heads-Up National Poker Championship facing a single opponent championship. Ferguson finished second to Phil Hellmuth in 2005 and repeated a second place finish to Ted Forrest in 2006; but, this night belonged to the most recognizable player in all of poker.

Ferguson quickly found himself behind after Andy Bloch grabbed the lead in the best two out of three format by winning the first match. The second match saw the two players pushing chips back and forth across the felt and once again Bloch begin to take a small chip lead. Finally, Ferguson began to catch and doubled through to take the lead. The momentum moved to Ferguson’s side of the table when he pushed all of his chips into the middle with pocket Queens and after much deliberation Andy called with K-3o. The flop brought out another Queen for a set and the turn produced the case Queen for quads. The match was tied at one all.

Lady Luck continued to ride with “Jesus” in the rubber match and he chipped away Andy’s stacks, finally putting him all in. Ferguson showed pocket Jacks to Bloch’s suited 10-4. Bloch received no help from the board and Chris Ferguson claimed the championship and the half million dollars. Andy Bloch carted away a quarter million for his second place finish.