Deadspin | Polk coolers Negreanu’s face off again and again to take $957K lead in grudge match

Doug Polk has backed up the truck to the tune of almost $1 million in his high-stakes grudge match against Daniel Negreanu.Deadspin | Polk coolers Negreanu’s face off again and again to take $957K lead in grudge match

In Wednesday’s 5-hour, 980-hand session, the longest of the challenge so far, Polk beat his opponent to the tune of $173,000. As a world-class heads-up player, Polk was considered a heavy favorite (betting markets had him as a 4-1 to 6-1 favorite), but he admitted he’s been getting lucky in most of the largest pots.Deadspin | Polk coolers Negreanu’s face off again and again to take $957K lead in grudge match

“I’m going on one of the hottest stretches of my entire career, at maybe the most important time ever,” Polk said in his post-game chat.Deadspin | Polk coolers Negreanu’s face off again and again to take $957K lead in grudge match

Wednesday’s highlights included Polk turning a flush with K♥10♥ vs. Negreanu’s trip Queens with the nut-flush blocker. After getting stacked, Negreanu sat out, and after a short break, returned and the players were all-in preflop on the other table (they’re two-tableing). Polk had KK but Negreanu finally had him where he wanted him, with two Aces.

Until the flop, which came King-high. Negreanu had some hope as he turned a straight draw but the river paired the board, giving Polk a full house.

Even when he made a mistake, he won, as Polk admitted he misclick 5-bet with 97 offsuit, but he got bailed out by flopping top pair when Negreanu merely had eight-high.

(Warning: NSFW)

If Polk continues winning at this rate, he’ll amass a $2.4 million score at the end of the 25,000-hand challenge. While a 24-big blind (or $9,600)/100 hands win-rate seems unsustainable, even a more realistic advantage of 8 BBs/100 would put him well over the $1 million mark.