by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
January 8, 2009
Full Tilt poker pro Tom “durrr” Dwan has placed an overwhelming vote of confidence in his abilities, perhaps underestimating the skill of the average online poker player. In order to prove to the world that he is the best of the best on the virtual felt, Dwan is offering $1 million out of his own pocket.
According to Bluff Magazine, Dwan is willing to risk $1 million that no other player can win $1 of his money. “I’m making this heads-up challenge to the world,” he boasts. “Anyone can accept. Four tables, minimum $200/$400, and I’ll put up $1.5 million to their $500,000. We play 50,000 hands minimum and if they end up a dollar after rake they keep the side money or whatever.
“So basically, if you and I played and you won a dollar, you would get my $1.5 million and if I won a dollar I would win you $500,000. So I’m giving a million dollars free if anyone thinks they can do it.”
Dwan has placed a set of rules to his wager. The minimum of 50,000 hands must be played simultaneously at four or more tables of No-Limit Texas Hold’em or Pot-Limit Omaha. Additionally, a player may switch tables mid-game if his chip stack equals more than 250 big blinds, but most reload if it falls under 75. Any money won from additional players can be kept in addition to the $1.5 million (or $500,000).
While Dwan has forbade Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond to accept the challenge, there has been response from other online poker pros. Patrik Antonius and David Benyamine of Full Tilt will participate.
“It sounded too good to be true,” Antonius told CardPlayer magazine. “I tried to figure out what would be the trap there and I still haven’t really figured it out. But I’m sure he’s really thought about it. For sure, he’s one of the best at the moment. It’s like Phil Ivey says. He plays anyone, and everybody knows that. I’m basically the same.”
Additionally, Phil Ivey has agreed to the challenge, saying, “Somebody’s going to go broke. That’s a lot of money, and a lot of time.”
Ivey is not as confident in his ability, however, as he does not multi-table as frequently as Dwan. Ivey did emerge from the high stakes cash games at Full Tilt in 2008 as the biggest winner, followed by Phil Galfond in second, and Dwan in third.
Ivey told PokerNews.com, "I've never posted a challenge like this... I'm just assuming that everyone knows I'm going to play them – I'm going to play every game.... I'll play anybody, at every game there is. Most of the time I start off as the underdog, I feel like. Eventually I'll figure them out, figure out what they're doing – mak[ing] good enough adjustments to where I'm a favorite against them."
The date for this multi-table challenge has not officially been released, however Bluff Magazine has said that the full story will be covered in the February issue.
|
