The NBC National Heads-Up Championship at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas is quite an event.  It has a $20,000 buy-in ($500,000 first place prize) and 64 players, including many of the top names in the world.  The night prior to the start of the tournament, there is a big cocktail party where the drawing takes place.  This is always a fun time, as there is an air of excitement and anxiety about who will be playing who. I happened to be standing next to two NBC executives at the party.  Prior to the drawing, they asked me who I'd like to play.  Well, there were some celebrities in the tournament that you wouldn't mind drawing, but I really wanted to play Phil Hellmuth and told them so.  Incredibly (as you may know from watching the event unfold on NBC), I drew Hellmuth for my first round match.  One thing was for sure:  I knew our match would generate media attention.  I also thought we'd be at the feature table.  I turned out to be right about both. I really have no fear of playing Phil.  I know how good he is.  I truly believe that Hellmuth is the #1 seed in any big-time Hold'em tournament ...