Doug Polk and Daniel Negreanu are heading into what just might be the most important phase of the heads-up match as the 12,500-hand mark approaches. The poker pros took a break last week, but have two sessions planned before Christmas.

Doug Polk and Daniel Negreanu have two sessions planned this week. (Image: Poker Central)

Negreanu booked a huge win in the most recent match — more than $140,000. But he’s still deep in the hole as the heads-up battle nears its midway point. And that midway point is important because the player who trails at the time has the option to call it quits without penalty. If that individual opts to continue on, the no-limit hold’em competition will last another 12,500 hands.

Polk leads the match by $814,290 over 10,784 hands, 1,716 shy of the halfway mark. Negreanu has made it clear in his post-match interviews on the GGPoker YouTube channel that he intends to continue on. We all know at this point he will trail at the 12,500-hand mark. It’s just a matter of by how much.