The Durrrr challenge involved playing 50,000 hands on four tables of heads-up NLHE Or PLO with the minimum stakes being $200/$400.
The first session between Dwan and Antonius happened in mid-February of 2009 with Dwan winning about $134k over a roughly 1,500 hand session. The poker world was all abuzz at the opportunity to see regular high stakes action between the two. Full Tilt Poker added special tables and the poker media hyped up the challenge fiercely.
Two years later and the challenge is unfinished with Dwan currently maintaining a $2,059,719 lead over Antonius after 39,436 of the required 50,000 hands in their match. The last session between the two took place in August of 2010.
Then in August of 2010, a second "durrrr" Challenge was started with top Full Tilt cash game beast Daniel "jungleman12" Cates, even though the first "durrrr" Challenge was still in progress.
After a promising start, more promotions and the nature of "jungleman12's" grinding capabilities that this challenge would end quickly, it also ground to a halt. Dwan currently holds a $819,213.50 lead after 17,108 hands. The last session between Dwan and Cates was played about 1 1/2 months ago on January 4th.
Zimba Analysis:
It is amazing to me that Dwan and Full Tilt Poker have allowed this potential bonanza of promotion grind to a halt twice. Where is the honor in setting an endless challenge that no one prioritizes? If it pales in comparison to the stakes Dwan is playing live, find time to sort out a buy-out and move on. Leaving it hanging annoys everyone involved.
Although PokerStars was late to the game and does it for smaller stakes, their SuperStar Showdown with Viktor "Isildur1" Blom has been managed much more professionally and succinctly. They understand that poker player's attention span is limited but their desire for high stakes battles is unlimited.
It is amazing to me that Dwan and Full Tilt Poker have allowed this potential bonanza of promotion grind to a halt twice. Where is the honor in setting an endless challenge that no one prioritizes? If it pales in comparison to the stakes Dwan is playing live, find time to sort out a buy-out and move on. Leaving it hanging annoys everyone involved.
Although PokerStars was late to the game and does it for smaller stakes, their SuperStar Showdown with Viktor "Isildur1" Blom has been managed much more professionally and succinctly. They understand that poker player's attention span is limited but their desire for high stakes battles is unlimited.
