Gossip Column: Negreanu & Polk Still Working Out Grudge Match Details, Kornuth Bounces Back in Galfond Challenge & More

November 1 may have been ascertained as the D-Day for Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk’s ‘Grudge Match,’ but the rivals are still not done working out the details. It seems that the use of Real-Time Assistance (RTA) has become a point of contention, with Polk being in favor of using it, and Negreanu against it.

The heads-up challenge between Phil Galfond and Chance Kornuth has been moving along at a brisk pace. While the Run It Once founder is still in the lead, the 10th session saw Kornuth make an impressive comeback. The latter won $79,000 but is still in the red for $201,000.

Meanwhile, a year after the disappearance of Icelandic poker player Jon Jonsson, the Irish publication Independent.ie has alleged that he had been ‘accidentally killed’ in a row over money in an illegal poker game.

Daniel Negreanu vs. Doug Polk: Grudge Match Details Become Murky

Every time we think that the ‘Grudge Match’ between multiple bracelet winners Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk is final, something or the other crops up. When last we had written about this story, the archrivals had finally decided to begin the much-awaited match from November 1. However, now it seems that the duo can’t agree on the final details, namely the use of Real-Time Assistance (RTA).

Pre-flop charts. Both sides seem adamant about their use – Negreanu opposed and Polk in favor of. And the two have had a heated back-and-forth on Twitter.

Part of the debate started because Polk wants to stream the entire match with hole cards visible, while Negreanu preferred not to. In return, Polk also intends to use a pre-flop chart, while Negreanu once again is against the idea.

@DougPolkVids

1/3 you are a 6-1 favorite in the betting markets yet you feel the need to use a cheat sheet?

I won’t be using a cheat sheet, why should you?

You challenged ME to a match

I agreed to YOUR game, on YOUR approved platform, and YOUR format

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) October 9, 2020

2/3 I agreed to a start date of Nov 1st giving me just weeks to prepare after WSOP.

I’m giving you a massively +EV opportunity, but you need a cheat sheet too?

I could just say let’s play it all live. That way you can’t use your cheat sheets.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) October 9, 2020

3/3

You act like you are getting screwed here when the table is set heavily in your favor across the board.

You wouldn’t even agree to $100k freezeouts or any other format than the one format that benefits YOU most

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) October 9, 2020

How about we make a deal.

1) No charts allowed of any kind

2) We show all of our holecards to the fans for the entire challenge.

We both give a little, the fans win.

Retweet if you want to see this.

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) October 10, 2020

You challenged me.

You are a 6-1 favorite without seeing hole cards, and even bigger with.

Once again, because it seems I’m the only want trying to actually make this happen, I’m willing to show a small portion of this @pokergo with hole cards.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) October 10, 2020

The poker community also chimed in with their own opinions.

Heres a simple solution to all the rules controversy regarding the @RealKidPoker and @DougPolkVids heads up match.

Just play heads up live from the @PokerGO studio @ARIAPoker like @phil_hellmuth and @MagicAntonio just did.

No worries about outside assistance, charts etc.

— Allen Kessler (@AllenKessler) October 11, 2020

You spent years criticizing everyone on your YouTube channel. You then retire, but find a way bait @RealKidPoker into a HU match where you’re a huge favorite mid WSOP.

Now you get some heat 🔥 for wanting to use a cheat sheet, and you want to take your ball and go home. https://t.co/SUiHrJAuRW

— Chin (@chiniam1131) October 10, 2020

6-1 on Daniel.🤣 He is only one the finest players ever, he is primed and ready for this. My take is this match will never happen.

— Doyle Brunson Legacy (@TexDolly) October 10, 2020

So far, the only details that have been finalized are as follows:

>25,000 hand match. Two tables of $200-$400 NLH with an auto top-up to 100bb

>Losing player can quit after 12,500 hands

>If both parties agree, stakes can be raised in the second half of the match

As things stand currently, the match is set to begin on November 1 at WSOP.com. Let’s see if these two manage to settle their differences and agree to the details before then.

Galfond Challenge: Chance Kornuth Wins $79K, Still Trails by Over $200K

The heads-up challenge between poker pros Phil Galfond and Chance Kornuth is now heating up. In the 9th session that had been played between the duo, Galfond was leading by $103,000. However, Kornuth has now begun to fight back. In the 10th session, Kornuth won back $79,000 of his losses, though he is still in the red for $201,000.

After a few days off, the #GalfondChallenge returned last night, and @ChancesCards bounced back with a nice $79,000 win. @PhilGalfond is still out in front by $201k. These two will be back at it on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/rV5bCJVVF5

— Run It Once Poker (@RunItOncePoker) October 11, 2020

On Saturday, Kornuth won an early all-in bet in a $62,000 pot with a flopped set of sixes that held up against Galfond’s open-ended straight and flush draws. Galfond bricked the turn and river. That early pot turned out to be one of the most crucial hands of the day for Kornuth.

Galfond and Kornuth have now played just north of 7,500 of the 35,000 hands they’ve agreed to play. They’ll return to the virtual felt on Tuesday, October 13, for the 11th session on WSOP.com.

Jon Jonsson Allegedly Accidentally Killed Over Missing Money

Icelandic poker player, Jon Jonsson’s disappearance has been the subject of a lengthy investigation after he vanished without a trace in February last year. However, the latest reports assert that he may have been ‘accidentally killed’ in a row over money lost in an illegal poker game.

The 41-year-old Jonsson went missing in Dublin early last year while in the city for the Dublin Poker Festival. According to reports published a year ago, Jonsson left his Bonnington Hotel room on February 9 and then seemingly vanished without a trace.

On October 4, an article published on Independent.ie by journalist Ali Bracken claimed: “substantive advances” have been made thanks to a prisoner in Iceland. According to the report, an imprisoned criminal in Jonsson’s homeland claimed that Jonsson had lost ‘more than €4,000’ belonging to an Icelandic criminal, the night before he went missing.

Descriptions of the illegal high stakes poker game state that it was frequented by other ‘foreign nationals,’ and that when Jonsson attempted to leave after losing some of the money he was prevented from doing so and “given a few slaps” by other card players.

The €4,000 reportedly lost by Jonsson was said to be buy-in money for several other poker players in town for the festival. The following morning, the day of Jonsson’s disappearance, it is believed he had gone to meet the man who had given him the money.

The jailed Icelandic criminal source, not believed to have been in Ireland at the time of Jonsson’s disappearance and possible death, recently put Jonsson’s family in touch with a woman “close to him.”

Information revealed by the sources alleges that Jonsson was killed “by accident” during the meeting by the money man, another Icelandic criminal, angry about Jonsson losing it.

Jonsson’s family says the police informant doesn’t exist and, at best, Bracken’s story is based on “unreliable information.” They are also considering legal action against the journalist and the Irish newspaper.

Local police say Jonsson’s disappearance remains an unsolved mystery. The missing poker player’s family says they won’t give up until he’s found. All we can do is hope for the best!