Poker Greats Accept Dwan’s Million Dollar Challenge

Tom "durrr" Dwan isn’t the typical trash talking type of poker player, he is composed and despite his age, mature.  So, in a move that is a bit contrary to his image, Dwan has issued a million dollar challenge, offering up the money to anyone who could beat him.  The challenge involves playing 50,000 hands at stake of at least $200/$400.  If Dwan manages to finish with at least $1 more than his opponent, they would pay him $500,000.  But, if his opponent were to come out ahead of Dwan, he would have to hand over $1.5 million.  At 3:1 odds it is a very tempting offer.

Not surprisingly, Dwan didn’t have to wait long for someone to accept his offer.  So far, some of poker’s biggest names have opted in including, David Benyamine, Phil Ivey and now Patrik Antonius.  The impressive trio combined own six World Series of Poker bracelets, two World Poker Tour titles and have appeared at six final tables during the 2008 World Series of Poker.  Benyamine who is a former professional tennis player, won his first World Series of Poker bracelet in 2008 by taking down a $10,000 buy in World Championship of Omaha High Low Split Eight or Better tournament.  He has also won the World Poker Tour’s Grand Prix de Paris during Season II.

Ivey won his first bracelet during the 2000 World Series of Poker in a $2,500 buy in Pot Limit Omaha tournament.  In 2002, he did even better bringing home three bracelets.  His most recently bracelet was won in 2005 in a $5,000 buy in Pot Limit Omaha tournament.  He has also won the LA Poker Classic in Season VI, taking home $1.6 million in winnings. 

Antonius is the latest player to sign on for Dwan’s challenge.  He has over $750,000 in career earnings from his play at the World Series of Poker but has yet to win a bracelet.  He finished second at the World Poker Tour’s Five Diamond World Poker Classic during Season VI, winning $1 million for his efforts and won the Baden stop of the European Poker Tour in 2005 and won third in the Barcelona event the same year. 

Dwan, better known as "durrr" in the online poker world, has two World Series of Poker cashes to his name, both in 2008.  He took seventh in the World Championship Mixed event and eighth in a $5,000 buy in No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball with rebuys tournament.  There are a pair of World Poker Tour money finishes on his resume, both from the recent Season VI.

It is as yet undetermined whether the game will be Hold’em or Pot Limit Omaha and where or when the challenge will take place.