National Heads-Up Poker Championship 2026: Big Names, Big Stakes

The National Heads-Up Poker Championship is returning for 2026 with 64 players, each putting up $25,000. The tournament features some of the biggest stars in the game, all vying to win six consecutive heads-up matches and add their name to the prestigious list of NHUPC winners.

Defending champion Sam Soverel is set for a chance to go back-to-back. In 2025, Soverel defeated Jonathan Jaffe, Ryan Feldman, and broadcaster Nick Wright to reach the top eight. He bested Luiz ‘Brazil God’ Rizental in the quarterfinals, and then took down Phil Galfond in the semifinals. In the championship match, Soverel came from behind to beat Keith Lehr in the best-of-three finale. Soverel’s first-place prize earned him $500,000 and a seat into the 2026 event.

Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, and Tom Dwan are set to compete in the 2026 National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Hellmuth won the inaugural National Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2005, and finished as the runner-up to Mike Matusow in 2013. Erik Seidel, the 2011 NHUPC champion, is also in the field for 2026. One of the highlights among the first-round match-ups is Hellmuth against Josh Arieh in the Clubs bracket. Seidel battles Alex Foxen in a first-round match in the Diamond bracket.