'durrrr Challenge' Update: Dwan Pulls Ahead

March 25 2009, Nicole Gordon

Tom "durrrr" Dwan and Patrik Antonius' challenge match is proceeding along at a nice clip at last, with the two high-stakes cash gamers logging three sessions in the last four days. Dwan and Antonius fired up four tables of $200/400 pot-limit Omaha just before 5:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday morning, getting in 705 hands before calling it quits two hours later. Dwan finished the session $51,924 in the black, putting him $67,162 ahead of Antonius over the 6,633 hands they have played so far. It still remains an extremely close match, though, with Dwan ahead by only a little more than one and a half buy-ins.

As has been the trend throughout the match, Dwan won the majority of the smaller pots while Antonius took down two of the session's three largest, though Antonius still ended up on the losing end. Their first major confrontation unfolded only ten minutes in, with Antonius raising to $1,200 and Dwan calling. Dwan tested the waters with a $2,000 lead bet on the flop and Antonius responded with a raise to $8,400. Dwan re-potted to $27,600, Antonius moved all in for $37,396, and Dwan called, showing the flopped nut straight with . Antonius was looking for the board to pair with and got his wish when the hit the turn. The was the meaningless river card and Antonius picked up the $77,192 pot.

The session's largest pot turned out to be a battle of the two-pair hands. Antonius opened for $1,200, Dwan raised to $3,600, and Antonius made a rare four-bet to $10,800. Dwan called. Dwan check-called a $21,600 bet from Antonius on the flop, then moved all in for $49,398 when the hit the turn. Antonius called and showed for top pair, top kicker and a flush draw while Dwan revealed he was ahead with for top and bottom pair and a gutshot straight draw. The on the river favored Antonius, though, to make him a better two pair and he raked in the $163,596 pot.

About twenty minutes later, a massive pot that was five-bet pre-flop also fell to Antonius via a lucky turn card. The Finn was the initial raiser, making it the standard $1,200 to go and Dwan reraised to $3,600. Antonius countered by re-potting to $10,800 and Dwan re-potted again to $32,400 before Antonius finally flat-called. With $38,746 behind and nearly $65,000 in the pot, Dwan moved all in on the flop and Antonius quickly called. Dwan had the overpair with while Antonius had flopped middle pair with his . However, the on the turn made him trips, snapping off Dwan's aces. The completed his boat and Antonius earned the $142,291 pot with trip nines.

Dwan would get his revenge near the end of the session, though, with his very own nine on the turn. Dwan opened for $1,200 and Antonius called. The flop was and Antonius led out for $2,400. Dwan called. The turn was an action card, Antonius check-raising Dwan's $5,600 bet to $21,200. Dwan again called and they saw the land on the river. Antonius bet $37,600 and Dwan flatted. Antonius had flopped fours full with but Dwan had turned nines full with , good for the $124,799 pot.

There are still 43,367 hands to go before a winner is official in this battle royale. Will they make it? Stay tuned to PokerNews for continuing updates.

Editor's Note: Nicole Gordon's continuing reports on the "durrrr Challenge" highlight PokerNews.com's coverage of the latest in online poker. To railbird the "durrrr Challenge" yourself, open up an account at Full Tilt poker today.

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