With 32 players locked in heads-up battle on Thursday, young poker savants fill the Brasilia Room at the World Series of Poker looking to make the $10,000 Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em Championship a nice bullet point on their resumés. One more win locks up a trip to the sweet sixteen and a minimum cash of $26,711 – and a chance at much more.
Among the hoodies and sunglasses, one player stands out. John Smith looks at his cards as he battles Denver's Chance Kornuth, a stellar player with numerous titles and more than $5 million in tournament winnings.