Invitees Announced For the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship

Poker pro Phil Ivey is one of the players invited by NBC to participate in the 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Championship. (Bodog Beat Image)

NBC has just announced who it will be inviting to fill up the slots in the 2008 National Heads-Up Championship, and once again, the list is laden with big name poker pros.

The next installment of what has become a popular annual tradition will feature some players who have been on the show before and several who will be making a first-time appearance. Invited to make a return trip to Caesars Palace to compete for the $500,000 first-place prize are Barry Greenstein, Doyle Brunson, Erick Lindgren, Antonio Esfandiari, Johnny Chan, Gavin Smith, Phil Ivey, Shannon Elizabeth, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and 2007 champ Paul Wasicka.

Those invited for the first time include 2007 WSOP Main Event champ Jerry Yang, our hero Jonathan "FieryJustice" Little and online poker pro and high-stakes cash game specialist Brian "Sbrugby" Townsend.

Our favorite pairing potential is Ivey vs. Townsend; the two have had some high-profile high-stakes run-ins online and it could be a lot of fun to see them go at it face to face. The tournament will take place on Feb. 29 - March 2 and will air on NBC in April and May.