Former NL Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser did extraordinarily well at the National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas over the weekend, beating three name pros on his way to the elite eight.  But Hershiser fell in the semis to Andy Bloch, a poker pro and also a member of the famed MIT blackjack team featured in the book, Bringing Down the House. Bloch was beaten at the final table by Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, perhaps the most recognizable poker player in the world. 

The tournament follows the NCAA basketball tournament format starting with 64 players in four brackets playing head-to-head.  It's one and done until the final table where the last two players compete in a best-of-three series.

Hershiser knocked off Ted Forrest, who won the heads-up championship two years ago, as well as Allen Cunningham and Freddy Deeb, who both have World Series of Poker championship bracelets.  At the final table, Bloch won the first match but Ferguson (right) came from behind to win the next two matches and the $500,000 first prize.  The tournament will be shown on NBC on six consecutive Sundays starting April 13.

Photo credit: Isaac Brekken/AP