It was another rough week to be a contestant on the PokerStars-sponsored “Million Dollar Challenge.” The poker game show, which airs around NFL coverage on FOX every other Sunday, pits online qualifiers against celebrities and PokerStars pros with a chance at $1 million on the line. Longtime sportscaster Chris Rose serves as its host.
After defeating football legend John Elway in the first round to earn a $5,000 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure package, Lauren Gallant moved on to face PokerStars pro Jason Mercier. At stake this time around was $25,000 in cold, hard cash. “Million Dollar Challenge” front man Daniel Negreanu was moved to an isolation booth, where he could communicate with Gallant via an earpiece. In addition, Mercier could invoke the dreaded “Dome of Silence” twice during the match, cutting off all communication between Negreanu and the challenger.
To say that Gallant struggled would be putting it lightly. After raising pre-flop, Gallant bet out 3,000 with K-5 on a flop of 10-9-A with two spades. The challenger had whiffed completely and Mercier called her continuation bet holding A-5 of spades for top pair and the nut flush draw. The turn was the four of spades, filling Mercier’s flush, and the action went check-check to a deuce on the river. Mercier, holding the nuts, invoked the “Dome of Silence,” moved all-in, and Gallant got out of the way. In the process, she shipped one-quarter of her chips to the bracelet winner.
Then, Gallant got it all-in before the flop with A-6 of hearts. Mercier, however, woke up with A-10 and made the call. The flop of 2-Q-9 didn’t change matters, but Gallant spiked a six on the turn to move ahead with a pair. The river was a dagger, as a 10 hit to give Mercier a higher pair with the re-suck. Just like that, Gallant was eliminated, but still earned a 2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure prize package for her run to the second round of the “Million Dollar Challenge.”
The next challenger was Loren Watterworth, an ICU nurse who faced off in the first round against nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton. Negreanu sat by Watterworth’s side throughout her abbreviated match, which saw her raise to 5,000 before the flop with A-2, only to see a raise to 8,000 from Payton, who held A-K. Watterworth called for time to discuss the bet with Negreanu, who contended that she had too much money in the pot to fold. Consequently, Watterworth called and the flop came 10-4-7, missing both players. Payton bet 3,000 and Watterworth laid it down, falling to just 5,400 in chips after starting with 20,000.
Watterworth ultimately doubled up to 10,000 after her A-K withstood Payton’s 9-7. Watterworth flopped trips and never looked back, giving the nurse some life. However, the trash talking Payton prevailed after Watterworth errantly moved all-in on a flop of Q-7-Q holding just 6-2 of spades for six-high. Payton, who seemed unwilling to lay any hand down, called with K-2 and, once again, a contestant was drawing to a six. This time, the turn was a four and the river was an ace, sending Watterworth home empty-handed. Payton claimed $5,000 for the Gary Payton foundation, a charity that helps keep kids off the street.
Sunday marked the second straight week in which no challenger advanced to the third round. The next new episode of the PokerStars “Million Dollar Challenge” will air on November 7th on FOX. Check your local listings for more information.