The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Is Week's Biggest Loser, Durrrr Challenge & More

Chad Holloway
PR & Media Manager
6 min read
Phil Ivey

It’s been awhile since Viktor “Isildur1” Blom wasn’t the main story in The Online Railbird Report. He still managed to win $1.4 million in a single day this week, but by the time the week closed he was up just $133,004.

This week’s biggest winner ended up being “samrostan,” who won $700,758 in 2,411 hands spread across 21 sessions. Other winners included Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene (+$481,144 in 44 sessions/3,140 hands), Kyle “KPR16” Ray (+$400,166 in 37 sessions/5,242 hands), Alex “IReadYrSoul” Millar (+$371,183 in 15 sessions/1,152 hands), Hac “trex313” Dang (+$311,014 in 14 sessions/1,190 hands) and Patrik “FinddaGrind” Antonius (+$234,459 in 6 sessions/451 hands).

On the flip side, Phil “Polarizing” Ivey was the week’s biggest loser after dropping $685,751 in 2,320 hands over 29 sessions. He was followed by Gus Hansen* (-$574,751 in 36 sessions/2,067 hands), “punting-peddler” (-$523,023 in 15 sessions/2,323 hands) and Isaac “luvtheWNBA” Haxton (-$492,196 in 26 sessions/3,703 hands). It marked the second week in a row that Haxton lost big — he was last week’s biggest loser with a $792,597 loss.

*Read about Hansen's recent win in Event #8 €1,000+€100 UK vs. Ireland Heads-Up Championship of the Full Tilt Poker Galway Festival.

Blom & “Odd_Oddsen” Mix It Up

On Thursday, July 25, Viktor “Isildur1” Blom was back in action and got off to a bad start by dropping nearly $300,000 to Kyle “KPR16” Ray at fixed-limit Omaha Hi/Lo (FLO8). Fortunately for him, he was able to right the ship by taking $85,000 off “Sanlker” playing $500/$1,000 CAP no-limit hold’em and $216,000 from “SallyWoo” at FLO8. It was against the former that Blom won the day’s biggest pot.

The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Is Week's Biggest Loser, Durrrr Challenge & More 101
Viktor \"Isildur1\" Blom

It began when “Sanlker” ($160,549.50) opened for $2,400 on the button and Blom ($159,412) three-bet to $8,000. After a call, the flop came down 1028 and Blom bet $10,400. “Sanlker” raised to $24,200 and then called off his remaining $127,212 when Blom shoved all in. “Sanlker” tabled the AJ for a flush draw, but he was behind the JJ of Blom. Neither the K turn nor 8 river was what “Sanlker” needed and he watched the $318,824 pot pushed to his Swedish opponent. Blom went on to finish a $64,800 winner on the day.

Another player who fared well in Thursday action, albeit on PokerStars, was “Odd_Oddsen,” who was recently featured in our popular Online Chat series. The Norwegian won $186,700 at the $100/$200 pot-limit Omaha tables.

Blom Wins $1.4 Million on Sunday

As previously reported in a special edition of The Railbird, this past Sunday belonged to Viktor “Isildur1” Blom as he won an astounding $1.4 million in a full day of action. Blom started the day by winning $150,000 in two hours from Isaac “luvtheWNBA” Haxton at the $500/$1,000 CAP no-limit hold’em tables. After winning $49,000 at the 2-7 Triple Draw tables, Blom took to fixed-limit Omaha hi/lo where he won $240,000 in the first three and a half hours. Over the next 80 minutes, Blom caught fire and won $423,000 more against the likes of Kyle “KPR16” Ray, Gus Hansen and Phil “Polarizing” Ivey.

Blom didn’t stop there. Here are some other highlights from his Sunday run:

  • Won $73,000 in 40 minutes of $400/$800 no-limit hold’em against “Sanlker.” The two then switched to $500/$1,000 CAP NLHE and Blom won another $212,000.
  • Won $52,000 from Ivey in just 25 hands of 2-7 Triple Draw.
  • A six-hour rematch against Haxton saw Blom add another $110,000 to his bankroll.
  • Won $70,000 from “SallyWoo” at the $2,000/$4,000 FLO8 tables in early Monday morning.

For more on Blom’s big win, check out the recap in The Railbird.

“MalACEsia” Rebounds; Wins $366K Pot Off Tollerene

Gracing the loser’s list week in and week out is something “MalACEsia” knows all too well, but that all changed this week after he finished a $181,244 winner, which came from 2,201 hands over 26 sessions. On Monday, “MalACEsia” won $436,800 after playing $400/$800 no-limit hold’em against the likes of Alex “IReadYrSoul” Millar, “punting-peddler,” and “Denoking,” just to name a few.

As the clock rolled over into Tuesday morning, “MalACEsia” won a massive pot off Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene. Have a look:

Tollerene may have lost that pot but he didn’t let it discourage him. Instead, he kept playing the $400/$800 NLHE game through the afternoon and finished up $411,200.

It was also in Thursday action that a $315K pot developed at the $400/$800 NLHE tables. It happened at a six-handed table when action folded to Niklas “ragen70” Heinecker ($168,287) on the button and he opened for $1,920. “Call_911” ($156,937.33) then three-bet to $8,000 from the small blind, the big folded and Heinecker pushed back with a four-bet to $21,120. “Call_911” then five-bet to $34,400, Heinecker called and the flop came down 65K. “Call_911” bet $25,000, Heinecker called and the 10 turned. “Call_911” ended up check-calling a bet of $30,120 and the A completed the board on the river. “Call_911” checked for a second time and then called off his remaining $67,417.33 when Heinecker shoved all in. Heinecker tabled the AA for a rivered set, and it was good as “Call_911” folded. Ship the $315,272 pot to the German.

Finally, Thursday saw Viktor “Isildur1” Blom take on “Sanlker” in heads-up play at $400/$800 NLHE and $500/$1,000 CAP NLHE. It was in the former game that the Swede dropped $330,000 in just 23 minutes, though that was offset as Blom had won $415,000 playing FLO8 that day. When the day came to an end, “Sanlker” was a $408,400 winner while Blom was down $23,000.

“Durrrr” Challenge Back On?

The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Is Week's Biggest Loser, Durrrr Challenge & More 102
Tom \"durrrr\" Dwan

On July 22, Daniel “jungleman12” Cates took to TwoPlusTwo to announce that the long-delayed “Durrrr Challenge” between him and Tom “durrrr” Dwan will resume in August. The two have already played nearly 20,000 hands from the 50,000-hand match, which was agreed upon three years ago, with Cates out in front by more than $1 million.

Dwan laid Cates 3-to-1 odds on a $500,000 bet, meaning if Cates can maintain his lead he will win $1.5 million. Here’s what Cates had to say in the forum post:

“regarding the durrrr challenge, we agreed to play a min of 4k hands/month, and then 8k hands every 2 months afterwards. If we dont play 4k hands a month in august, then restrictions will be made. I guess restrictions means scheduled times, penalties for not complying... I will be posting here in august/september if this doesnt help state of challenge”

Millar vs. Blom Once Again

Viktor “Isildur1” Blom and Alex “IReadYrSoul” Millar have become archrivals at the high-stakes no-limit hold’em tables. On the first day of August, the two were back at it, though they only played for 45 minutes at two tables. Even so, Millar managed to win $425,000 in the approximately 200-hand match! Here’s a look at the three biggest pots from that match:

Hand #1: Millar ($221,786) opened for $2,700 and then called when Blom ($128,249) three-bet to $9,600, bringing about the A76. Millar then called a bet of $12,800, the 6 turned and Blom check-called a bet of $22,550. When the 3 completed the board on the river, Blom checked and then called off for $83,299 after Millar shoved. Millar tabbed the K10 for the nut flush, and it was good enough to win the $256,498 pot as Blom mucked his cards.

Hand #2: Millar ($154,357) opened for $2,700 only to have Blom ($125,636.50) three-bet to $9,600. Millar called, the flop fell 1085 and Blom led out for $12,800. Millar raised to $28,800, Blom three-bet to $75,000 and Millar four-bet to $150,000. Blom called off his remaining $41,036.50. The 9 was put out on the turn followed by the Q on the river, and Millar tabled the Q10 for two pair. Blom then showed the AK for a missed flush draw and Millar took down the $251,300 pot.

Hand #3:

Biggest Winners/Losers (Full Tilt Poker)

Biggest Winners (7/26-8/1): “samrostan” (+$700,758), Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene (+$481,144), “proudlikeagoat” (+$412,729), Kyle “KPR16” Ray (+$400,166), “John R Turk” (+$390,570), Alex “IReadYrSoul” Millar (+$371,183), Hac “trex313” Dang (+$311,014), Patrik “FinddaGrind” Antonius (+$234,459)

Biggest Losers (7/26-8/1): Phil “Polarizing” Ivey (-$685,751), Gus Hansen (-$574,751), “punting-peddler” (-$523,023), Isaac “luvtheWNBA” Haxton ($492,196), “Rhje” (-$462,023), “Trueteller” (-$438,630)

Year’s biggest winners: Kyle “cottonseed1” Hendon (+$3,556,082), Viktor “Isildur1” Blom (+$3,140,715), Alexander “PostFlopAction” Kostritsyn (+$2,714,965), Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene (+$2,405,690), Patrik “FinddaGrind” Antonius (+$1,790,599), “Odd_Oddsen”* (+$1,615,567), Hac “trex313” Dang (+$1,607,796), Tom “durrrr” Dwan (+$1,484,451)

Year’s biggest losers: Gus Hansen (-$4,003,528), Phil “Polarizing” Ivey (-$2,859,477), “samrostan” (-$2,817,245), “punting-peddler” (-$1,648,452), “MalACEsia” (-$1,380,398), “patpatpanda” (-$1,330,885), Scott “mastrblastr” Seiver (-$1,220,399), Ben “Sauce1234” Sulsky (-$1,210,658)

*Denotes PokerStars

Data, hands and replayer obtained from HighStakesDB.com

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Chad Holloway
PR & Media Manager

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, host of both the PokerNews Podcast & MPST Podcast Presented By PokerNews, and 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

In this Series

1 The Online Railbird Report: Gus Hansen Suffers $1.4 Million Downswing to Close 20122 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Profits $4 Million in Eight Days3 The Online Railbird Report: Galfond & Blom Experience Million-Dollar Swings4 The Online Railbird Report: Kyle “KPR16” Ray Biggest Winner of Week; Robl Drops $357K5 The Online Railbird Report: Alex Kostritsyn Wins $1.2 Million; Gus Hansen Drops $376K6 The Online Railbird Report: Shchemelev Wins $406K; Blom Week's Biggest Loser & Much More7 The Online Railbird Report: Dwan Wins Over $2 Million in Six Days8 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius Extends Lead Against Cao in $1 Million Challenge9 The Online Railbird Report: Kostritsyn Wins $1.1 Million, Ivey Up & More10 The Online Railbird Report: Ben Tollerene and Viktor Blom Win $1 Million in 48 Hours11 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Becomes 2013's Biggest Winner; Ivey Week's Big Loser12 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Over $4 Million for 2013; Huge Week for Hendon13 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Drops $661,949 in Slow Week; $100K PLO Showdown?14 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Wins $1.7 Million from Tollerene in Just Six Hours15 The Online Railbird Report: Tollerene & Haxton Win Big; Blom Drops $1,474,62916 The Online Railbird Report: The Professionals Duke it Out on FTP17 The Online Railbird Report: “jama-dharma” Takes Blom for $786,971 in Limit Hold’em18 The Online Railbird Report: Dwan and Sulsky Win $1M+; Blom's Massive Swings Continue19 The Online Railbird Report: The Professionals Dominate with $1.5M Wins20 The Online Railbird Report: Tollerene & Dang Win $1.4M & $1.2M, Respectively21 The Return of the Online Railbird Report: Six Weeks of High-Stakes Action22 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Takes a $1.4 Million Hit23 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom No Longer the Year's Biggest Winner24 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Is Week's Biggest Loser, Durrrr Challenge & More25 The Online Railbird Report: "Rhje" Wins Over a Million, Blom/Hansen to Ireland & More26 The Online Railbird Report: Tollerene Week's Biggest Winner; Haxton Drops a Million27 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Up $2 Million, Millar Crushes Blom in 10 Minutes28 The Online Railbird Report: Somebody Better “Call_911” as Blom Drops a Million29 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom & Alex “IReadYrSoul” Millar Win Big30 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Loses $1.3 Million; Haxton Week's Biggest Winner31 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Week's Biggest Winner; Polk vs. Sulsky Update32 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Week's Biggest Winner; Polk vs. Sulsky Update33 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Gets Back on Track; Polk Continues to Dominate Sulsky34 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor Blom Wins Again, Phil Ivey Has a Setback, and More35 The Online Railbird Report: "SallyWoo" Week's Biggest Winner; Tollerene Leads in 201336 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor Blom Up $2 Million37 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Wins $1.3 Million in a Day; Hansen's Fall Continues38 Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Tops Yearly Leader Board; Hansen Loses $1.2 Million39 The Online Railbird Report: Rui Cao Week's Biggest Winner; Heinecker Continues to Roll40 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Biggest Winner for Third Week in a Row41 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker, Blom & Hansen Experience Million-Dollar Swings42 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius & Heinecker Fly High; Cates Fires Off in Chat43 The Online Railbird Report: “samrostan” Wins $912,000; Galfond Drops $620,00044 The Online Railbird Report: "mikki696" Jumps Out to Early Lead in 201445 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Wins $800K in Three Days46 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Fuels Action on Way to Top of 2014 Leaderboard47 The Online Railbird Report: Kyle "KPR16" Ray Rebounds; Viktor Blom Wins Again48 The Online Railbird Report: Blom and Polk Continue to Battle Online at Aussie Millions49 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Returns to Top of Weekly Leaderboard50 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Week's Biggest Loser Upon Return to Nosebleeds51 The Online Railbird Report: Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Cleans Up on PokerStars52 The Online Railbird Report: Rare Winning Week for Hansen; Tollerene Extends 2014 Lead53 The Online Railbird Report: Dan Cates Wins $1.18 Million; Tollerene Opts Out54 The Online Railbird Report: Galfond and Cates Lose $1.1 Million Each; Blom Capitalizes55 The Online Railbird Report: Hansen Loses a Million; Amundsgard & Cates Finish on Top56 The Online Railbird Report: Phil "Polarizing" Ivey Drops $945K; Galfond Wins & More57 The Online Railbird Report: Niki [Removed:552] Wins $1.1 Million in Return to Full Tilt Poker58 The Online Railbird Report: "Trueteller," [Removed:552], & Antonius Win Big; Ivey Does Not59 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius Week's Biggest Winner, Ivey Loses Again & More60 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius Wins Again, Two Mystery Players Revealed & More61 The Online Railbird Report: Ivey, Galfond, and Hansen All Grace the Loser's List62 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Drops Nearly a Million; Ivey Rebounds & Much More63 The Online Railbird Report: Kostritsyn Wins Big, Hansen Punts, and Dwan Eats Crawfish64 The Online Railbird Report: Winners & Losers of the Summer's High-Stakes Action65 The Online Railbird Report: "Sanlker" Steamrolls His Way to Massive $1.4 Million Win66 The Online Railbird Report: Alex Luneau Wins $1.1 Million; Viktor Blom Drops $976K67 The Online Railbird Report: Mikael “punting-peddler” Thuritz Biggest Winner with $491K68 The Online Railbird Report: Ruthenberg and Blom Win Big; Hansen's Bad Year Continues69 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius, Cates and Thuritz Pulling Away on 2014 Leaderboard70 The Online Railbird Report: Gus Hansen's Disastrous Year Continues71 The Online Railbird Report: Ike Haxton Wins Big; Doug Polk & "Denoking" Feud, and More72 The Online Railbird Report: Polk & "Denoking" Keep Things Interesting During Slow Week73 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Returns with a $275,000 Win74 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Drives Action While Kostritsyn Wins On PokerStars75 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Continues to Drive Action; Kostritsyn Big Winner76 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Week's Biggest Winner Despite Losing Sponsorship77 The Online Railbird Report: What's Happened to the High-Stakes Online Action?78 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Second-Biggest Winner with $472,000 Win79 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Follows Up Last Week's Big Win by Dropping $357K80 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Rebounds with $387,000 Win and More81 The Online Railbird Report: Sanlker and Kibler-Melby Battle; Ivey Wins, and More82 The Online Railbird Report: Kibler-Melby Wins Big, Ivey vs. Thuritz, and More83 The Online Railbird Report: Dan Cates Primed to Finish as 2014's Biggest Winner

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