After nearly 32,000 hands in the Tom “durrrr” Dwan Million Dollar Challenge, the youngster leads rival Patrik Antonius by well over $1 million. Dwan ended the latest session up $199,000 after a quick 892-hand encounter. Let’s take a look at a few recent hands during January’s play.
In a sizable Durrrr Challenge pot, Antonius raised to $1,200 pre-flop with Ac-Kc-2h-Qc and Dwan came over the top with 5d-Js-8s-6d. Antonius made the call and the flop came 9-7-A with two spades, giving Antonius top pair and Dwan flush and straight draws. Dwan check-raised to $22,000 at the $200/$400 Pot Limit Omaha table on Full Tilt Poker and Antonius called to bring the queen of hearts on the turn. Dwan bet $51,600, Antonius shoved all-in for another $19,000, and Dwan called. The river was a five, filling Dwan’s straight and trumping Antonius’ two pair. The high-stakes pot was worth $193,000.
In another $193,000 pot, Antonius raised to $1,200 pre-flop with Ks-Qs-6h-Kh and Dwan raised to $3,600 with As-7d-9d-Ad. Antonius re-raised to $10,800 and Dwan called. The flop came 3h-2h-7s and fireworks went off. With both players holding overpairs to the board, Dwan checked, Antonius bet $14,000, Dwan raised to $63,600, Antonius raised all-in for $85,600, and Dwan called the remaining $22,000. Antonius hit lightning in a bottle on the turn, as a king gave him trips. Needing help on the river, Dwan watched as a 10 hit.
In a $160,000 pot, Antonius raised to $1,200 before the flop with Kc-5c-5s-8s and Dwan made it $3,600 to go with Qd-Ac-Jc-10h. Antonius called and the flop came Ah-10c-6s. The action went an uncharacteristic check-check despite Dwan holding top two pair and a straight draw; the five of hearts hit on the turn. Dwan checked, Antonius bet $6,000 with trips, Dwan pushed the price of poker to $25,200, and Antonius called. The river was the six of diamonds, giving Antonius a full house against Dwan’s two pair. Dwan pushed for $53,000 and Antonius called all-in for $51,400, scooping the pot.
Dwan has taken down 17,041 of the 31,912 hands required for completion of the Durrrr Challenge, or 53%. Dwan has reigned supreme over his foe in the last 8,000 hands and the latest burst over the $1 million mark was his second seven-figure lead during that span. If Dwan is up by at least $1 at the end of 50,000 hands, Antonius will owe $500,000. Contrastingly, if Antonius is up by at least $1 at the end of 50,000 hands, Dwan will fork over a colossal $1.5 million. In either case, the victor keeps the spoils of the 50,000 hands of play.
Dwan has won all but two of the challenge’s 10 largest pots. However, Antonius has scooped the competition’s largest, a $477,000 pot that came back on June 19th. Despite the nosebleed-stakes action, some members of the online poker community have grown frustrated with the lack of action in the Durrrr Challenge. On PocketFives.com, one poster claimed, “Who cares about the durrrr challenge anymore! Is this the 3rd year it’s been going on now?”
Others on PocketFives.com questioned why Dwan, who dropped more than $5 million to mystery Swedish pro Isildur1, receives so much attention in the poker world: “durrrr is a losing player and he is still getting attention. after losing millions there is no reason for him to ever been acknowledged until he somehow accomplishes something in the poker world.” Despite his misfortunes against Isildur1, Dwan has largely had a stranglehold on the Durrrr Challenge, leading for all but a few thousands hands.
The action in the Million Dollar Challenge takes place across four $200/$400 Pot Limit Omaha tables. Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest challenge headlines.
