Legendary poker personality and 15-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth is ready to accept a high stakes heads-up poker challenge!
The Poker Brat joined ‘No Gamble, No Future’ hosts Jeff Platt and Brent Hanks Wednesday to offer a unique take on why longtime friend Daniel Negreanu was unsuccessful versus Upswing Poker co-founder Doug Polk in their 25,000 hand High Stakes Feud.
Hellmuth says that Negreanu’s decision to fight fire with fire — by implementing a Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategy — was pure folly in hindsight.
“I thought Daniel should have fought fire with Daniel.” -Phil Hellmuth
Hellmuth Is “Ready” to Play Doug Polk Heads-Up
A two-minute segment of Hellmuth’s February 10th appearance in which the 1989 WSOP Main Event Champion states he is ready to battle Doug Polk has been uploaded to YouTube.
“I told Doug that I’d play him next, and I’m ready. I have won 29 of my last 30 heads-up matches. I won the last heads-up tournament I played in. So I think I’ve only lost once to Cary Katz — our boss — at a World Series tournament.” -Phil Hellmuth {1:17-1:38}
Hellmuth’s open disposition to again enter the heads-up poker foray against some of the best players in the world could serve as a “rematch” of an August 2017 King of The Hill contest, in which the poker philanthropist defeated both Doug Polk and Dan ‘Jungleman’ Cates on Poker Night in America.
However, the most recent outreach from Doug Polk indicates that the Polker News creator is not seeking to grind poker for the time being. Even if most or all of the match is played online.
This despite Doug’s overwhelming success in the recent High Stakes Feud along with having rubbed virtual shoulders with some of the best heads-up No Limit Hold’em talent in the world.
Shorter Heads-Up Poker Matches On The Way?
The appetite for another high profile heads-up poker challenge (at least among select members of the poker world) is fervent now that “online poker pros” have come out on top versus Dusk Till Dawn poker room owner Rob Yong in their own grudge match prop bet.
What’s more, the partypoker partner is now insisting on a renewed Mon-Wed-Fri matchup that the poker world can follow, be entertained by, and possibly wager on.
Please can 2 players come up with another high stakes challenge on Mon-Wed-Fri so we have something to set prices, bet on & rail, but maybe shorter than 25k hands 🙏 pic.twitter.com/lCvsJeBQ3G
— Rob Yong (@rob_yong_) February 4, 2021
Yong’s sentiment that heads-up poker matches should be shorter in length (pertaining to the number of hands, but perhaps to the amount of time also) has been echoed by other high stakes poker players.
Near the end of Session #36 of the Polk vs. Negreanu grudge match, Solve For Why poker academy instructor Christian Soto suggested that 13,000 hands would be a more appropriate number for heads-up poker matches.
Earlier this week, Run It Once Poker CEO Phil Galfond told Poker Life Podcast host Joey Ingram that determining the correct length is a “tough one.” {VIDEO CUED: 3:03-4:11}
Galfond acknowledges that a challenge comprised of 10,000 hands would be more accessible to certain viewers and fans, while also recognizing that 25,000 hands would be more satisfactory to others who are engaged in deciphering who the most “skilled” player is over a (relatively speaking) large sample size.
Is ‘Phil Hellmuth vs. Daniel Negreanu’ Heads-Up Match The Answer?
With a seemingly disinterested Doug Polk potentially looking to relocate soon, the stage could be set for a Phil Hellmuth vs. Daniel Negreanu heads-up poker match as soon as this month.
Especially following a tweet posted by the High Stakes Feud second place finisher on Wednesday…
Yo @phil_hellmuth you said you watched “zero” of the match but seem to have strong opinions on the play.
I’ll play you a heads up match live, online, at any stakes you feel comfortable with for as many hands as you would like.
Wanna play big guy? https://t.co/ac9KVpwuaO
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) February 10, 2021
… and also because the GG Poker sponsored pro has openly communicated a willingness to play more heads-up challenges.
Who would win a heads-up poker challenge between Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu?
We may be on the cusp of finding out for ourselves!
Read More Poker World Coverage from BestBetUSA
Watch Final Session: Doug Polk vs. Daniel Negreanu High Stakes Online Match (Feb 3, 2021)
Phil Hellmuth Greatness Explored (Oct 8, 2020)
Mike Matusow Calls Former Head of Twitch Poker a “Criminal F—ing Thief” (Jan 30, 2021)
Poker New Year’s Resolutions 2021 (Jan 4, 2021)
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