SOURCE: Press Release

(New York, N.Y.) — NBC presents the most watched TV poker series with an ultimate big-stakes poker showdown – the National Heads-Up Poker Championship from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev. this Sunday at Noon ET.

The winner of the 64-player, "Heads-Up" championship will be considered poker's best one-on-one player. The National Heads Up Poker Championship presented by Vonage, features a $1.5 million purse and will air on six consecutive Sundays, complete schedule below.

The 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship will feature the most impressive field ever assembled for this event.

Of the 64 players competing 11 have won the World Series of Poker (Main Event), 112 World Series of Poker bracelets have been won and more than $124 million in total prize money has been awarded.

Poker legends Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan play alongside some of poker's biggest stars such as 2007 Poker Hall of Fame recipient "The Poker Brat" Phil Hellmuth, "Kid Poker" Daniel Negreanu, 2007 National Heads Up Poker Champion Paul Wasicka, 2005 and 2006 National Heads Up Poker Championship runner-up Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and 2003 WSOP Champion Chris Moneymaker.

"The Heads-Up championship is a unique concept that we all like and it's really our only opportunity to play head-to-head against all the top players," said Brunson.

"It's an important event in the poker world."

The 2008 Heads-Up championship not only brings the skill of the most elite poker players in the game today, but will cover celebrity poker players who try to dethrone the pros.

Celebrity participants include Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Don Cheadle (Ocean's Thirteen, Hotel Rawanda), Shannon Elizabeth (Scary Movie, American Pie), Jennifer Tilly (The Fabulous Baker Boys) and 1988 Cy Young Award Winner and 1988 World Series MVP Orel Hershiser.

This Sunday's episode highlights the match-up between Hellmuth and 21 year-old high-stakes cash game player Tom Dwan. Also, actor Don Cheadle squares off against "The Great Dane" Gus Hansen.

A true "David vs. Goliath" match-up takes place between Phil Ivey, fresh off of a win at the L.A. Poker Classic of the World Poker Tour, and 23 year-old Alisha Kunze, an amateur who won her seat to play in the event through an online qualifier.

"There is huge prestige in just being here," said Hellmuth. "It's one of those things where you know it's an honor just to be invited to play."

Complete 2008 National Heads Up Poker Championship Schedule:

April 13 at Noon ET
April 20 at Noon ET
April 27 at Noon ET
May 4 at Noon ET
May 11 at Noon ET
May 18 at Noon ET

Check Local Listings for other time zones

For more information on the event visit NBCSports.com