Gossip Column: Negreanu Rebounds With $390K Win in Grudge Match, Ivan Deyra Banned For Multi-Accounting 

It’s not over yet in the High Stakes Feud, aka, Grudge Match, between Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk. After 17,878 hands in the challenge, Polk had raked up a ginormous $1+ Million lead against the Canadian pro. But like they say, it isn’t over till the fat lady sings. With 5,638 hands now left to hit the 25,000-hand mark, Negreanu has made a strong comeback with back-to-back winning sessions booking an overall profit of $436,886.63 (Session 31 – $390,032.13 and Session 32 – $46,854.5). Nevertheless, he is still $565,708.96 behind Polk.

The poker community was rocked by the scandalous news of Winamax banning their own Team Pro, two-time WSOP champion, Ivan Deyra. Deyra was found multi-accounting on the site in several tournaments, one of which, i.e., Winamax Series €2,000 Super High Roller, he won for €83,300 (~$101,000) early in January under his father’s account.

Winamax terminated Deyra’s contract as brand ambassador immediately on discovering this and blocked his and his father’s account while redistributing the prize money he had won to those affected by his actions.

Grudge Match: Daniel Negreanu Makes a Strong Comeback, Books $390K Profit Against Doug Polk in Session#31

Just when it was starting to look like the Grudge Match was well and truly over even before the designated 25,000 hands had been played, Negreanu has managed to bring himself back in contention. After session 30, Doug Polk had pulled ahead into a commanding $1,002,595.59 lead over GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu. It was never going to be a comfortable gap to bridge, but like we had said in the previous update, miracles can happen.

Well, lo and behold, the six-time WSOP bracelet winner managed to pull off an incredible six-figure win in Session #31, profiting $390,032.13. Negreanu followed it up by winning the next session for $46,854.5. While he still trails Polk by $565,708.96, but if he can stick to his winning form, there is a slim chance that Negreanu may just pull through.

Session #31

When we last left off, Negreanu was staring at a staggering $1+ Million deficit against Polk after playing 17,878 hands of heads-up NLH with the retired pro. The duo returned for Session #31 on January 23. Over the course of 1,046 hands, Negreanu bounced back, proving to all that he may be down but certainly isn’t out. The session ended with Kid Poker registering a profit of $390,032.13.

Polk still held an overall lead of $612,563.46 after 18,924 hands in the 25,000-hand challenge.

Session: -$390,032.13 over 1046 hands

Total: +$612,563.46 over 18924 hands

We had the biggest single loss of either play of the entire challenge today. Really, really tough spots throughout. Lots of really shitty situations where we had reasonable bluff catching candidates.

— Doug Polk (@DougPolkVids) January 23, 2021

Clicked some buttons today to get back in the match with a $390k win. Match sits here:

Hands 18,924 of 25k
Result -$612,563.48
All in EV adj -$325.493.22

Losing:
Actual: -8.1 bb/100
All in Ev adj: -4.3 bb/100

Was pretty dead without a huge win today.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) January 23, 2021

Session #32

After a break of three days, Polk and Negreanu returned for Session #32 on January 26. The session lasted over 438 hands, taking the total number of hands played to 19,362. It turned out to be another winning day for Negreanu, who booked a profit of $46,854.5. Polk still leads by $565,708.96.

Session Result: -$46,854.5 over 438 hands

Total Results: +$565,708.96 over 19,362 hands.

Played a lower variance higher winrate style today. Weird @RealKidPoker interview where he seemed to not know that limping increases your EV. Also of course good to lower variance.

— Doug “Very Lucky” Polk (@DougPolkVids) January 26, 2021

Weird one today as my opponent went into full lock down mode with the prevent defense.

No longer backing up the truck, just putting it in park

Study time. Need to figure out what this limping shit is all about

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) January 26, 2021

With just 5,638 hands remaining till the duo hit the 25,000 hand-mark, Negreanu needs to hold on to his winning spree if he has any hopes of coming out on top.

With 32 sessions now in the books, here is how the Grudge Match has gone thus far.

Bracelet Winner Ivan Deyra Banned For Multi-Accounting

It’s not unusual for poker players to get involved in feuds or bizarre prop bets. But two-time WSOP bracelet champion and Winamax Online Poker pro Ivan Deyra has landed himself in a real soup. Winamax found the Frenchman multi-accounting using his family members’ names, which led the site to ban its own brand ambassador.

The trouble began soon after Deyra took down the Winamax Series €2,000 Super High Roller for €83,300 (~$101,000). He had initially entered the tournament under his name. As soon as he busted, he started playing the tourney on his father’s account and ended up winning the tourney.

The incident was first discussed at a French poker forum called Club Poker. Some noted that Deyra had not played on his personal account since January 6. Moreover, he did not play in any of the Day 2’s of the Winamax Series events he had already qualified in. Finally, some of the forum members found out that the winner’s account name “MATIVANAO” was conjured up using Deyra’s siblings’ first names.

Winamax banned both Deyra and his father’s account and redistributed the €83,300 he had won among the other affected players. His contract with Winamax, which was up for renewal in June, was also terminated with immediate effect.

Deyra Confesses

Cornered with the overwhelming evidence, Deyra came out with a statement admitting that he had played the Super High Roller on two accounts. He even confessed to playing on his father’s account that won the tourney.

Calling his punishment “heavy, very heavy,” but “logical and understandable,” Deyra apologized to the site and his fellow Team Pros, including Adrian Mateos, Joao Vieira, and Davidi Kitai. Deyra said – “…I recognize the cheating aspect of multi-accounting. How could I have been so naive or oblivious? For the days and nights that follow, I am searching within myself to dig into the reasons for this unforgivable and serious act.”

Deyra gave his own explanation for his actions – “In the past, I realized when doing my finances that on Winamax I hadn’t been making money for three years since I became a Team Pro. After asking myself several questions about my game […], I came up with a theory. Players change nicknames every six months. All the information that I collect on their play disappears at this time, but the reverse is not true since I keep the same nickname.”

The mistake has cost the Frenchman dearly. Even with an accomplished resume reflecting $1.4 Million in lifetime winnings, and a WSOP gold bracelet, it will be tough for Deyra to redeem himself!