In 2009, Tom "durrrr" Dwan was at the top of his career playing high-stakes heads-up cash games online. The fact is that he was so confident in his game that he offered anyone 3-1 odds on $500k who could beat him in heads up after 50,000 hands. He posted the below message on a poker forum.
"I'm making this heads-up challenge to the world. Anyone can accept. Four tables, minimum of $200/$400, and I'll put up $1.5 million to their $500,000. We play 50,000 hands minimum and if they end up a dollar after rake they keep the side money or whatever. So basically, if you and I played and you won a dollar, you would get my $1.5 million and if I won a dollar I would win your $500,000. So I'm giving a million dollars free if anyone thinks they can do it."
Patrik Antonius was the first player to accept the challenge, then Daniel "jungleman12" Cates did the same in August 2010. As of today, neither of the challenges have been completed. According to one durrr challenge fan site, Dwan is up $2,059,719.50 against Antonios after 39,436 hands but down $1,251,059 against Daniel Cates after 19,335 hands. (We believe that the Dwan vs Cates results aren't correct, because Cates claims that the two have played almost 25k hands in a recent post on 2+2. Contunue reading to find out more).
Cates has been very unhappy with the long pause of the durrr challenge. Last year, for example, he wrote the following to a fellow high-stakes regular on Full Tilt:
punting-peddler: jungle not whining so much today when ur up 3.5 buyins
jungleman12: not up
punting-peddler: aha then im really surprised
punting-peddler: ah i guess i havnt won a pot yet against u
jungleman12: its easy to whine against you specifically
jungleman12: since ur endless luckbox ofc
punting-peddler: ur the one with the blessed account not me
jungleman12: blessed funny
jungleman12: 3m hands and i win
jungleman12: must be blessed
jungleman12: featured pro scams me
jungleman12: must be blessed
punting-peddler: yeye whatever
punting-peddler: what?
punting-peddler: who scamed u
jungleman12: tom
punting-peddler: aha i see
punting-peddler: im sure he will pay u
jungleman12: big scam
jungleman12: yeah ok
jungleman12: as soon as he finishes his angle
punting-peddler: but indeed takjing a long time
jungleman12: he doesnt have to play if its not completed
jungleman12: according to him
jungleman12: ask him
punting-peddler: lol
punting-peddler: quite a joke to say that from him
jungleman12: moment i owe him though
jungleman12: oh wheres my money??? he says
punting-peddler: well i really hope he finishes it
punting-peddler: pretty ridic not to complete
jungleman12: yes
Now, here are some promising news on the durrrr challenge. On Tuesday, highstakesdb reported that challenge between Dwan and Cates is scheduled to be played in the next nine months. Well, at least if we should believe what Cates wrote on 2+2 recently.
"We have completed 25k hands roughly. Tom and I have had some disputes but I believe we have essentially resolved them. The challenge is agreed to be played out in the next 9 months (God-willing). I think tom intends on finishing the challenge but has been distracted by things of great importance... In addition Black Friday greatly hindered our progress."
Given that Full Tilt removed all high-stakes tables recently, we are not sure where the challenge would be played if it continues. Perhaps on PokerStars? Feel free to share your thoughts on this!
