Durrrr challenge seems to be finally over.

It seems that one of the most interesting duels and dramas in the poker world is finally over. It looks like Durrrrs Challenge between Dan “Jungleman” Cates and Tom “durrrr” Dwan will never be continued.

The story of “Durrrr challenge” goes back to 2009. That was the time when Tom Dwan's career was developing quickly and he could compete with any player in the world. First it was Patrik Antonius who raised the gauntlet, but the duel cost him $2,000,000.

Second opponent who faced Dwan was Daniel Cates. Here it was not so easy for Durrrr though. Dwan was clearly loosing after 20,000 hands and Cates had a profit of $1,200,000. Then “Black Friday” happened and both players had other things to worry about than their game.

Years have passed, but despite the fact Full Tilt Poker tables were waiting and Dwan was their brand name the game was not resumed. Cates was asked many times about it and he claimed they would continue what they once had started. Dwan was supposedly even paying penalty fees for delaying the game. Some players like Doug Polk even went as far as to calling the duel “the biggest cheat in the history of poker”.

There will be no continuation?
It looks like we have to abandon our dreams of seeing the two fantastic players together at a table again. At least in a HU game. On one of the tables Dan Cates and Ilari Sahamies had the following conversation:

Sahamies: What about durrrr challenge? Will you play it? I have a bet worth $30,000 I should pay to Tom, but how much of it should I really pay if you discontinue?
Cates: Tom has agreed to finish the challenge. At the end of the month.
Sahamies: What do you mean? My English is not so great.
Cates: He gave up.

Information which can be a bit surprising, especially its been last few months where Tom Dwan returned to “mainstream” game (“Poker After Dark” plus Triton Series and cash games there) we expected them to resume the duel. Even Dwan wanted to do that, as he commented:
"I would like to finish it one day. Now Jungleman is the one who plays more cash games, so he knows how little time I had. I am sure we both want to finish it finally. Perhaps we will be able to do it soon."

Neither Dwan nor Cates speak of the challenge in the social media. There is no official statement but it seems that Dwan decided to buy out of the whole thing and leave it all behind.

It's funny victor blom played as many hands in the challenge without knowing it existed, he could have asked for the challenge at the start of that and netted some extra profit.

I had a five figure bet on jungle against a 2p2er, texted him today and got a reply that I have the wrong number. Googled his screen name and apparently he killed him self after black friday

On September 25 2018 08:54 AndrewSong wrote: I had a five figure bet on jungle against a 2p2er, texted him today and got a reply that I have the wrong number. Googled his screen name and apparently he killed him self after black friday

that got dark real fast.

On September 25 2018 08:54 AndrewSong wrote: I had a five figure bet on jungle against a 2p2er, texted him today and got a reply that I have the wrong number. Googled his screen name and apparently he killed him self after black friday

god damn that escalated quickly

What the fuck Andrew, that's crazy.

On September 25 2018 08:54 AndrewSong wrote: I had a five figure bet on jungle against a 2p2er, texted him today and got a reply that I have the wrong number. Googled his screen name and apparently he killed him self after black friday

who was it?

Matt Roth "notnmyhouse" on full tilt. RIP

just curious you had a 5 figure bet and didn't reach out in 7 years or didn't think it was unusual he didn't check on you?

On September 26 2018 03:14 AndrewSong wrote: Matt Roth "notnmyhouse" on full tilt. RIP

Oh yea, I remember reading an article about that. Extremely sad. Fkn black friday

On September 26 2018 13:26 Santafairy wrote: just curious you had a 5 figure bet and didn't reach out in 7 years or didn't think it was unusual he didn't check on you?

We talked few times after Black Friday and I offered him half cents on a dollar to buy out. He was adamant he wants to see it play out and we left it at that. I honestly just crossed it off my list and didn’t expect much of it. I’ll leave benefit of the doubt and believe he would’ve paid if he was still here