On Sunday, the PokerStars-sponsored “Million Dollar Challenge” returned to Fox. The program can be seen before or after NFL games on the network and features poker pros and celebrities battling against an online qualifier. This week, Carmenlita Cothron, a sign language interpreter, took to the stage.
First up for Cothron was former Super Bowl champion John Elway. Each player began with 20,000 in chips and Negreanu was seated alongside Cothron. He could not see her hole cards, but was able to offer up advice and insight as needed. In addition, Cothron was granted one time out to consult with “Kid Poker” in a critical hand.
Cothron called the big blind with J-9 and Elway raised to 2,800 with K-Q of hearts. Cothron came along and the flop came 9-10-Q, hitting both players hard. Elway bet 3,000 with top pair and a gutshot straight draw and Cothron called behind with bottom pair and an open-ender. The turn was another queen and the football icon moved all-in for his last 1,800 with trips. Cothron called and watched as a nine hit on the river to give Elway a double up with a better full house.
Elway moved all-in for nearly his entire starting stack with J-4 of diamonds and Cothron called with A-3. The board ran out Q-K-6-2-5 and Cothron earned a $5,000 trip to the Bahamas for the 2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
Then, it was on to face a PokerStars sponsored pro, this time with $25,000 hanging in the balance. Cothron drew 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Chris Moneymaker and Negreanu moved to an isolation booth where he could see the qualifier’s hole cards and communicate with her through an earpiece. Moneymaker could shut off all communication between Cothron and Negreanu twice during the match by invoking the “Dome of Silence.”
Cothron doubled up early on after Moneymaker moved all-in with 8-5 of clubs on a board reading 2-3-4-10 with two clubs for straight and flush draws. Moneymaker used the “Dome of Silence,” but Cothron correctly called all-in with the best hand. The river was a red seven and Cothron doubled up to 34,000. She held all but 6,000 of the chips in play and had a stranglehold on the match against Moneymaker.
In the final hand, a crippled Moneymaker moved all-in with J-3 of clubs and Cothron insta-called with Q-3. Negreanu told Cothron that he would have folded the marginal holding, but the better starting hand held and Cothron collected $25,000. She was then met with the decision of whether to take the cash and dash or face Negreanu heads-up for $100,000 and a spot in the Tournament of Champions later in the season.
Cothron’s mother made the decision easy, telling the viewing audience, “If she needs $25,000, I’ll write her a check. Let’s go forward with this thing.” Accordingly, Cothron went for it and ultimately emerged victorious against the four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner. She raised to 2,000 pre-flop with Q-10 in the match’s final hand and Negreanu called with J-9 of hearts. The flop came 9-4-4, giving Negreanu two pair, and he check-raised to 8,000. Cothron called with what ESPN poker commentator Norman Chad would dub “squadoosh,” but promptly hit a queen on the turn to take the lead.
Negreanu moved all-in for 9,200 when the face card peeled off and Cothron tanked before calling. The river was a king and Cothron walked away with $100,000. She’ll face off against other winners of the $100,000 prize in the Tournament of Champions at the end of the season. The winner of that sit and go moves on to face Negreanu heads-up for $1 million.
The next new episode of the PokerStars “Million Dollar Challenge” airs on October 10th on Fox before or after coverage of the NFL. Season 1 of the poker game show can be seen on GSN. Check your local listings for more details.