Gossip Column: Poker Pro Brad Booth Missing For 23 Days; Negreanu Accepts Polk’s Grudge Match Challenge & More

Former high stakes poker pro Brad Booth has gone missing since July 13. Poker pro and DAT Poker podcaster Adam Schwartz tweeted about his disappearance and even talked about him during an episode with Daniel Negreanu and Terrence Chan on August 4.

Speaking of Negreanu, the six-time WSOP bracelet winner has finally agreed to the terms and conditions of a ‘Grudge Match’ against arch-nemesis Doug Polk. But no interaction between the two is ever complete without some mud-slinging, or in this case, a Twitter battle. So, that happened too!

Iowa-based David Rush, who already has 150 Guinness records to his name, broke yet another record when he successfully stacked 48 poker chips in 30 seconds!

We round up this feature with the report of a Manchester United fan, Tony Ward, who bet his inheritance of £55,000 on Liverpool winning the Premier League. As luck would have it, Ward ended up winning £91,000.

Former High-Stakes Pro Brad Booth Missing For 23 Days

Just days after the poker world was saddened by the gruesome murder of Susie Zhao, more troubling news emerged when the disappearance of former high-stakes poker pro Brad Booth came to light. Reno police are investigating the disappearance of Booth, who has been missing since July 13.

According to the missing person’s report, Booth was last seen departing the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in northern Nevada. He was driving a 2002 Silver Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, with plates listed as 601PMR. Booth is believed to have informed his roommate that he was going camping, although it’s understood the provisions he packed would only have lasted “a day or two”.

Poker pro and DAT Poker podcaster Adam Schwartz tweeted about the case, saying Booth’s friends are “very worried for him”.

Brad Booth’s friends are very worried for him, he was last seen in Reno July 13 when he told his roommate he was going camping, attached is MP report

If you have any information about Brad or his whereabouts please tweet it at me

Plz RT for awarenesshttps://t.co/Eq5zjwx2yz

— Adam Schwartz (@ASchwartzPoker) August 4, 2020

The August 4 episode of the DAT Poker Podcast conducted by Daniel Negreanu, Schwartz, and Terrence Chan acknowledged that Booth “had his problems” but added that his disappearance is “super concerning”.

Booth was once an iconic figure in high-stakes poker, raking in massive takings. In more recent years, however, he suffered financial hardships and is said to have lost millions.

Reno PD is investigating Booth’s disappearance under case number 20-12315. Community service officer (II) Tazy Ciofalo of the missing person division has been listed as the department’s point of contact.

Negreanu v. Polk: The Grudge Match is ON!

Former WSOP bracelet winners Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk are finally done negotiating the terms of their ‘Grudge Match.’ Polk initially offered to play four tables of online heads-up No-Limit Hold ’em, however, Negreanu pushed back since heads-up No-Limit Hold ’em is known to be Polk’s specialty.

Polk countered by proposing a mixed format with one game picked by each player, but Negreanu eventually conceded by agreeing to play two tables of $200-$400 No-Limit Hold ’em.

This is how it went down…

1) I know you are anti giving to charity to help others, that’s fine.

2) How much do you want to play for?

3) What stakes?

4) When? After WSOP mid September to early October?

You worked hard for this opportunity. I’ll give the people what they want.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) July 29, 2020

$200-$400 online

2 tables

Hold’em

Table Stakes

If this will make you feel better and give you some type of closure from your multi year obsession with me.

Deal the fucking cards. pic.twitter.com/8yERJltM0z

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) July 29, 2020

Polk agreed. The only details left to iron out are which site to play on, how many hands they will play, and the exact dates of the match. Negreanu stated that he would be willing to play between 10,000 and 25,000 hands.

Both players agreed to live-stream their battle, with Polk offering to expose hole cards on a delay to increase fan engagement. The match will take place sometime in the fall after the 2020 World Series of Poker Online series gets over.

Towards the end of Negreanu’s post, he laid out why exactly he is taking the worst of this match. In short, he says it’s for the benefit of the poker world. That the fans want the match, and he’s willing to give it to them.

This rivalry between the duo has been simmering for quite some time. Polk has made Negreanu a frequent target of his videos after Negreanu, then an ambassador for the online poker site PokerStars defended the company’s decision to increase rake across the board in 2016.

Polk used a short clip of Negreanu saying, “more rake is better” over and over. He later wore a T-shirt with the phrase while randomly seated alongside Negreanu in a poker tournament. Polk even paid to put the phrase on a billboard outside the Rio during the WSOP in 2018.

Negreanu has said the phrase was taken out of context and that he was only trying to say that the increase would not necessarily hurt recreational players.

The idea for the match came about after Polk joined in the criticism of Negreanu after the latter’s profane rant on a WSOP live stream in response to a commenter insulting his wife. Polk challenged Negreanu to a heads-up match, and as per the latest update, Negreanu has accepted.

Negreanu said in a post on his website, FullContactPoker.com, that he disagrees with people calling his interactions with Polk a “back and forth.”

“I have never made a video targeting this man, I have barely referenced him in the last four years, while my name is on his lips constantly,” Negreanu wrote. “Where is the evidence of a ‘forth’ in this case?

“Maybe this was all part of his long game plan. Attack me endlessly, bully me, mock me, in the hopes of getting me to agree to a high stakes poker match. If that’s the case, well played. You have your wish.”

Polk hit back by posting a video on his YouTube channel.

He also responded to the Canadian pro’s blog and tweeted, with a series of tweets of his own.

Some really great stuff in this Dnegs blogpost

1) YOU said 10-25k hands and YOU said $200/$400. Get out of here with “his turf his rules”

2) If we both show holecards its equal, you have just as much opportunity to watch as I do. Its also what the fans want. pic.twitter.com/jNI8FlNzR6

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) July 30, 2020

3) “Many have suggested adding a charity component… but he is anti giving to those in need. ”

Imagine thinkig im “anti” helping people. I said I didnt want to use charity as a promotional aspect to this match. Most charities are also horribly mismanaged.

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) July 30, 2020

4) “For many years now this man has made a living off of trashing me on a regular basis”

I have won millions of dollars online and live, can you explain to me the part where I made my living from trolling you with pictures of rakes.

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) July 30, 2020

Not to be outdone, Negreanu said….

You don’t play poker for years. You have a Youtube channel you profit from and a backend coaching site you sell subs for.

You clearly don’t make money in crypto, so your revenue stream is literally YouTube and selling subs?

You make this too easy.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) July 30, 2020

To which Polk replied…

I bought BTC in 2013. Explain to me not making money in crypto.

My lifetime youtube revenue is aprox 250k. I spent probably 300-400k making that content. Its a loss leader.

Upswing has made millions of dollars though. But I have still made way more from poker + bitcoin

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) July 30, 2020

Wow! These two really know how to hold a grudge!

David Rush Stacks 48 Poker Chips in 30 Seconds to Set a New Guinness World Record

During the lockdown, many people have been using their extra time to try new hobbies, learn a new skill or perfect an already acquired talent. American David Rush has been doing all of this while adding to his growing Guinness World Records collection. He recently broke a world record when he used one hand to stack 48 poker chips in 30 seconds.

The man from Iowa, who has broken more than 150 Guinness records to promote STEM education, said he practiced for about a year and one-half before he was able to stack chips with enough speed to challenge the record of 42 chips. Rush said he had to use only one hand to stack only one chip at a time, with the chips initially placed at least 4 inches away from the stack.

The serial record-breaker said he managed to stack 49 chips, but the last was placed just after the time ran out, making his new record 48. The stack remained standing on its own for at least 5 seconds, qualifying for the record.

In the past few months, the father-of-two has set records for sticking ping pong balls in shaving cream on a head, the most wet sponge hits to the face in 30 seconds, and even the first sword social distance record.

With over 150 titles to his name, the serial record-breaker holds the crown for the longest time balancing a bicycle on his chin, the farthest distance to blow a pea in one breath, and the farthest tortilla thrown.

Watch Rush talking about his incredible achievements below.

Man Utd Fan Bet £55K Inheritance on Liverpool Winning the Premier League

For most Manchester United fans, this particular season of the Premier League has been quite disappointing. However, one such fan managed to make the most out of the situation, eventually raking in a £91,000 windfall!

Tony Ward staked a whopping £55,000 on Liverpool to win the title back in October at odds of 4/6. Liverpool’s success, sealed after Manchester City draw with Chelsea last month, means Ward is now £36,000 richer.

Ward bet the inheritance money he received after his mother Rose passed away in 2017. Despite his allegiance to Man Utd, seeing Liverpool open up a lead last year was just too tempting for him.

Tony Ward, a Manchester United fan, staked his £55k life inheritance on Liverpool winning the league and wins £91k. (Credit: SWNS)

An example of separating loyalty from business acumen? pic.twitter.com/Z8DxMV6Ojd

— Mobola (@Mowiththesauce) July 11, 2020

“Liverpool were always looking like they could win the title. I picked them after a long, long debate,” he told the Daily Mail.

“It was a two-horse race between them and Manchester City, as far as I was concerned. I’m an armchair supporter, really – I’ve actually been a fan of Manchester United since I was a kid! [Mum] wouldn’t have minded what I did with the money – not at all. She liked a flutter! She liked the horses. But I’d give it all back to still have her around. I cherished her,” he added.

It was an excruciating wait for the 53-year-old as Liverpool’s wait to win the title was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He even feared his bet would be voided if the remaining matches were canceled.

“I would have got my stake back, I think if the season had been canceled. But that would have been unfair. Liverpool were that far clear. They only needed six points. They had to play Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the two games after [the bet was placed]. I thought that if they could get through them I was going to win,” he concluded.