Major online poker site UltimateBet announces launch of 64-player heads-up poker tournament and intention to expand unique one-on-one tournament format.

March Madness might be all but a distant memory, but the intensity of the popular bracket competition is stronger than ever thanks to a new online poker tournament modeled after the college basketball series.

UltimateBet today announced the launch of Heads-Up Smackdown, a 64-player one-on-one tournament that's turning the popular online poker site into a true heads-up headquarters.

"This opening series officially puts UltimateBet in a league of its own," stated UltimateBet spokesperson George MacLean. "With our new heads-up competition and the upcoming expansion of this unique heads-up format, we're separating the contenders from the pretenders."

MacLean expects UltimateBet's heads-up format to be overwhelmingly popular, noting the success of NBC's National Heads-up Poker Championship -- a series that began in 2005 as replacement programming during the NHL lockout and instantly attracted a large following.

A total of 64 players & women poker players will compete in a fierce one-on-one heads-up bracket battle for a first place prize of $11,200, a limited edition Heads-Up Smackdown championship ring and entry into the end-of-year Heads-up Bracket of Champions where the winner gets to play 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth for $30,000.

The fact that an end-of-year tournament of champions has already been established speaks volumes about UltimateBet's intention to build a full time schedule around the heads-up concept. Download poker wallpapers.

Would-be Texas Hold'em champions will compete over five weeks as the playing field narrows itself down from 64 players to the final two. The battle begins on Saturday, August 4th. Players can secure their spot in the 64-player tournament for $500+30 or win their spot through daily satellites.

Registration begins on Monday, July 16th. Full details on the Heads-up Smackdown can be found online at UltimateBet.com. Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.

About UltimateBet
Designed with the assistance of the best poker players in the world -- Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke -- UltimateBet provides the best poker games available on the Net. Players can download the free poker software, play in free ring games and poker tournaments and get tips from these pros to learn the sport or to enhance their playing strategy. UltimateBet currently has over 2 million registered players.

Poker News Source: Finance Visor