Esfandiari Takes on Laak in the WPT Montreal Playground Poker Hockey Challenge

November 27, 2012

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

The World Poker Tour Montreal, the first-ever $3,300 buy-in WPT Main Event at the Playground Poker Club, has already been deemed a rousing success after drawing a field of 1,173 entries — a record in Canada for a tournament with a buy-in of $1,000 or more. While that event is still going on, the WPT Montreal Playground Poker Hockey Challenge has come to an end.

According to the WPT Live Blog, which was on hand to capture the spectacle, the challenge was actually a prop bet between Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak to see who was the better ice hockey goalie.

The duo, who are notorious for their outlandish prop bets such as the highly-publicized dunk-tank wager at the Playground Poker Club earlier this year, even invited a number of notables to take part in the affair including Daniel Negreanu, Marvin Rettenmaier and pro hockey players Guy Carbonneau and Phil Kessel, the former retired captain of the Montreal Canadiens and a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively.

A special iceless rink was built for the shootout, UFC announcer Bruce Buffer (who finished 19th in the Main Event for $17,615) was brought in to give the introductions, and then the aforementioned guests took turns shooting pucks at Laak and Esfandiari, who were dressed in full goalie gear.

Negreanu, who is an experienced hockey player, scored five out of five against the “Unabomber”, but that didn't stop Laak from actually defending more shots than Esfandiari. So, while statistics and specifics aren’t available, Laak has once again defeated his friend in a prop bet at the Playground Poker Hockey Challenge.

What's more, Royal Flush Girls Angelique Velez and Ivy Teves, who were both wearing high heels, spent some time testing their hockey skills after the match, and we don't know about you, but anything the RFGs do in short skirts is worth watching.

Here are some photos from the WPT Montreal Playground Poker Hockey Challenge courtesy of the WPT Live Blog: