Category Archives: Gambling

Polk vs. Negreanu Match Update: Crucial Sessions on the Horizon

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.

Phil Galfond is on Fire, Now Leads Galfond Challenge by 17 Buy-Ins

Phil Galfond has completely taken control of the Galfond Challenge against Chance Kornuth, and now leads the heads-up poker match by a country mile. But variance is still in play, meaning the outcome of the 35,000-hand match is still in question.

Give Phil Galfond credit for battling through some tough times. (Image: Twitter)

Persistence, discipline, and patience has paid off for Galfond. But then again, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who has followed his brilliant poker career.

The Run it Once poker site founder took a beating from an extremely talented opponent for a couple of months in this challenge. Kornuth won consistently for the better part of 10,000 hands against arguably the top pot-limit Omaha player ever. And he still is another heater away from getting right back into the match. But it may take a miracle to pull this one out.