High Stakes poker player Daniel Cates, also known as Jungleman, has issued an open challenge to the poker world to be completed next month at the Prague Poker Festival. Cates will play heads-up poker against the first challenger at stakes of 200-400 euros, with a minimum sit-down of 100,000 euros. The match will be played on December 6th , the day after the live stream of the WPT Prague, and streamed on the internet on a fifteen-minute delay with hole cards revealed exclusively at www.Thepokerfarm.com.
Asked why he’s chosen to issue this challenge, Cates responded, “I’m sick and tired of all the negative publicity the game of poker has received in the past few months. As someone who loves the game, I think the poker world deserves to know who the best poker player on the planet is. I’m confident that it’s me. If anyone has the nerve to take me on, let them come to Prague in December and sit down across from me at the table.”
Cates is rumored to be the biggest winner in the history of internet poker, with some websites reporting his total profit at over $7 million, most of this coming in the discipline of heads-up No Limit Hold’em. Last year Cates undertook the Durrrr Challenge, an open challenge issued by Tom Dwan to the poker community that was to consist of 50,000 hands of heads-up play on the internet. Though the match was never completed, Cates was substantially ahead of Dwan when play was suspended. Asked if his new challenge is directed at Dwan, Cates said, “This is not about the past. I don’t run away from something once I start it. And there is no person alive who I will refuse this offer to play me.”
The betting exchange site Matchbook.com will be offering betting markets on the challenge. A Matchbook.com spokesman said, “There has already been substantial interest in this challenge, even without knowing who Jungleman’s opponent might be. Cates has very little experience playing live and he has never played in front of cameras with his hole cards revealed. There are people out there who think he cannot possibly win without his computer screen!”
The match will call for an initial buy-in of 100,000 euros. Re-buys will be allowed for an initial period of play, with the winner to be determined either by the player who is ahead after the predetermined time period or when the losing player gives up the game. Any interested parties should contact jmanchallenge@thepokerfarm.com to reserve their spot. Cates has declared no serious inquiries will be refused. “Nobody can beat me, and I’m more than prepared to put my money where my mouth is.”
Read more about the Prague Poker Festival HERE
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Matchbook.com is a betting exchange which has been in operation since 2004.
Poker Traveller introduces you to the Prague Poker Festival, a 12-day feast of cards at the start of December 2011 with 3 main events, over €4.5 million in prize money, 16 side events, non-stop cash games and 3 VIP parties. Our exclusive deal with the Corinthia Hotel includes complimentary Wi-Fi, breakfast and access to the gym facilities, for €99 per night for a double or twin room for 2. If you book with us your hotel booking is part of our “Bust Out, Check Out” offer, so if you bust an event early then choose to go home, you will be refunded the balance of unused hotel nights.
