21 players competed in the inaugural event, which was taped at Palms Hotel and Casino April 14-16, 2006, and aired on CBS for seven weeks beginning June 17, 2006.

Jeff Medders and Gabe Kaplan provided commentary.

The field of 21 players was split into three groups of seven, each of which participated in a double elimination Texas hold 'em "shootout."

With the field narrowed to six, the remaining players played another double elimination round.

At the best of three heads up final table, Yoshio Nakano of Japan defeated Australia's Tony G two out of three to take down $350,000.