Is it twelve o’clock noon or midnight? The High Stakes Feud is about to reach a critical juncture.
Three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Doug Polk and Poker Hall of Fame inductee Daniel Negreanu will soon reveal whether their heads-up challenge match will go the distance (25,000 hands), or be halted by the losing player halfway through.
Both players established before the match began that whoever is behind after 12,500 hands has the option to quit at that point and accept defeat.
The duo have played a total of 10,784 hands so far in their $200/$400 No Limit Hold’em “grudge match,” with Polk currently ahead by $814,290 following 19 sessions.
Decision Could Have Dramatic Impact on Side Bets
The upcoming decision could have significant ramifications for side bets that have been placed by several well known members of the poker world — with the potential for dramatic swings in expected value depending on whether the match continues or concludes once 12,500 hands have been dealt.
I have x-book bet @RealKidPoker V @DougPolkVids at 7.5bbs/100 for remainder of their Challenge
So, 22k hands left, Doug wins $660k & I am even, Doug wins $200K, I win $460k, Doug wins $1m, I lose $340K, but dream happens & Dengs wins $340 & I win $1M
How do you like this bet?
— Rob Yong (@rob_yong_) November 22, 2020
Six-time WSOP bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu will be the sole individual responsible for deciding the grudge match’s fate at that point, unless he is able to overcome a 20 buy-in deficit over the next 1,700 hands.
Late last month, Negreanu supporter and fellow high stakes poker player Bill Perkins hinted that Daniel is very likely to continue regardless of how much he might be behind to the Upswing Poker co-founder halfway through.
“I don’t know why he wouldn’t play,” Perkins told Poker Life Podcast host Joey Ingram.
“Maybe I’ll get Daniel at 13:1 for $50,000 if he keeps going. Who knows? You know what I mean? I want it to go to the death!”
More recent communication from @RealKidPoker himself seemingly confirms that Daniel’s intentions are to play out the full 25,000 hands vs. Doug.
Crunching some numbers from the challenge:
Currently losing 10bb/100 (you don’t get to count all in EV spots) and would bet real money that I’ve lost with two natural pair or better at a ratio of at least 3-1.
Looking forward to second half!
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) December 14, 2020
Fans Await Word on Second PokerGO Live Cast
The prospect of a second “live session” via premium subscription service PokerGO remains a possibility, and could potentially coincide with the U.S. leg of the 2020 World Series of Poker Main Event final table — scheduled to begin Monday, December 28th, at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
However, the preparation and logistics of making a second High Stakes Feud telecast a reality could change at any moment due to the evolving nature of health precautions associated with COVID-19.
The inaugural kickoff event for the Polk vs. Negreanu heads-up No Limit Hold’em showdown has achieved nearly one million views on YouTube since its original November 4th cast date.
Daniel Negreanu vs. Doug Polk Grudge Match – First 200 Hands (Poker Central)
High Stakes Feud Grudge Match Resumes Next Week
Both Polk and Negreanu have consistently engaged each other in real money online poker competition over the course of the past six weeks, while going above and beyond in satisfying the expectations of poker-playing colleagues as well as longtime fans in terms of delivering on their promises to meet each other at the live or virtual felts.
Session #20 of the High Stakes Feud Grudge Match is set to resume next week, on WSOP Nevada.
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