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 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.

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.