Chris Ferguson Defeats Andy Bloch For 2008 Heads-Up Title.

Tournament specialist and Full Tilt Poker Pro Chris Ferguson finally shook off the National Heads-Up Championship monkey off his back.

In what was built up to be the “Battle of the Bridesmaids,” it was the tourney veteran Ferguson who would defeat fellow FTP pro Andy Bloch en route to the 2008 National Heads Up Championship title.

Andy Bloch, who has been known for not being able to close out the “big tournament” at times, was last put in this situation in the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, where he lost both a huge chip lead and [eventually] the heads up battle against the late Chip Reese.  The final match against Chris Ferguson would prove to have a similar fate, although he didn’t go down without a fight.

In fact, the best-of-three match would go down to the wire.  The 1st one went to a rallying Andy Bloch, as he came back from a 4-to-1 chip deficit to beat out Ferguson’s TPTK with a flopped set.  With momentum clearly in Bloch’s corner, it was the man they call Jesus who had to now come from behind.  In the 2nd match, Ferguson did just that.  He hit quad Queens against his fellow Full Tilt pro, and the match was squared up at 1 apiece.

In the 3rd and final match, it would be a coin-flip that would decide the players’ fate in the Heads-Up Championship.  On a flop of 10 7 3 (with 2 spades), Ferguson would bet out $35k.  Bloch re-popped it to $105k, and Ferguson would just smooth call.  The turn would pair the board with a 7 of hearts.  Bloch would bet out $150k, and then Ferguson re-raised him all-in.  After a few minutes, Andy Bloch called and decided to put his tournament on the line with a pair of tens and a spade flush draw ( T 4 suited, spades) - against Chris Ferguson’s pocket Jacks.

The final card was a 7 of clubs, giving Jesus a full house and eliminating Andy Bloch in the process.

This was Chris Ferguson’s 3rd final match in the last 4 years at the National Heads-Up Championship, and it would prove to be one of his finest hours.  He took home $500,000 for his efforts, a sweet trophy, and a $10,000 entry into the WSOP Main Event!

(His counterpart Andy Bloch walked away with $250,000 and yet another “woulda, coulda, shoulda” story….maybe next year Andy….)

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