The “durrrr Challenge”: Cates Adds $270,000 to Lead Over Dwan

Tom "durrrr" Dwan

Over the past few months, Tom “durrrr” Dwan has had trouble gaining momentum online. He is down $1.3 million so far in 2011, and to top it off, he hasn’t been able to stop losing ground to Daniel “jungleman12” Cates in the “durrrr Challenge.” In the early morning hours of Friday, Dwan and Cates squared off in a 780-hand match, spread across four tables of $200/$400 no-limit hold'em, which resulted in Cates adding $270,453 to his lead that now stands at $1,211,530.50 million with 18,236 hands complete.

A closer look at the stats up to this point reveals that Cates has managed to win 10,637 of the hands at an average of $1,786.42 per hand; on the other hand, Dwan has won 7,462 hands at an average of $2,383.96. So far $121,012,684 has been bet over the 18 sessions, which has spanned 32 hours and 27 minutes of play. All that before the challenge is even halfway done.

Biggest Pot of the Match

In the largest hand of Friday’s match, Dwan ($75,995) raised to $1,200 on the button, Cates ($63,994.50) reraised to $4,400 and Dwan called. The flop fell 675. Cates was first to act and bet $4,800, which Dwan quickly raised to $12,500. Cates opted to move all in for a total of $59,594.50 and Dwan quickly called.

Dwan: 56
Cates: 87

Dwan was ahead with two pair, but Cates had plenty of draws. The players agreed to run it twice, with the first run bringing down the J and J, counterfeiting Dwan and giving Cates the win. Likewise, Cates secured the second half of the pot when the 9 hit the turn on the second run followed by the 4 on the river. Just like that, Cates scooped a pot worth $127,988.

Dwan Fighting Back

Not all things went Cates’ way. In the second biggest hand of the match, Dwan ($58,794) was on the button and raised to $1,200 only to have Cates ($121,179) make it $4,400. Dwan made the call and the dynamic duo watched the flop fall A106. Cates immediately led out for $4,800, Dwan called, and the J hit the turn.

Once again Cates led out, this time for $13,600, and Dwan made the call, leading to the 8 on the river. Cates moved all in for almost $100,000 and Dwan called off for his last $35,994. Cates rolled over 89 for a pair of eights, but it was no good against Dwan’s JJ for a set. Ship the $117,587.50 pot Dwan's way.

Another $100K+ Pot to Cates

In the third biggest hand of the match, a series of raises and reraises between Dwan ($52,997.50) and Cates ($157,581.50) led to the former being all-in preflop.

Dwan: AK
Cates: QQ

It was off to the races for a $105,994 pot, and of course the board was run twice. The first run came 1034710, allowing Cates’ queens to hold up and secure him half the pot. Dwan could still break even with an ace or king on the next run, but it was not meant to be as it came down 79572.

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Executive Editor U.S.

Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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