The Online Railbird Report: Blom Gets Back on Track; Polk Continues to Dominate Sulsky
It��s been an interesting few weeks on the virtual felt. For a long time, the week��s biggest winners and losers were losing upwards of $500,000, and oftentimes more than twice that. Now, things seem to have slowed a bit. That��s not to say there hasn��t been plenty of money exchanging hand �C just ask Viktor ��Isildur1�� Blom, who finally halted his slide and finished as the week��s biggest winner with $418,528 in profit in 11,028 hands over 167 sessions.
While Blom was busy recouping the $165,026 he lost the week before, others were busy adding to their yearly totals including Hac ��trex313�� Dang ($333,626 in 42 sessions/2,573 hands), Ronny ��ronnyr37617�� Kaiser ($287,801 in 77 sessions/3,201 hands), and Phil ��Polarizing�� Ivey (+$266,932 in 48 sessions/3,178 hands). If you recall, Ivey was last week��s biggest winner, and his back-to-back wins suggest he��s on the right track to turning his year around.
Of course not everyone can be a winner. Among those to grace the loser��s list this week were ��samrostan�� (-$499,427 in 3,664 hands/49 sessions), ��RookieNFL�� (-$338,764 in 944 hands/6 sessions), ��punting-peddler�� (-$331,213 in 11 sessions/1,308 hands) and Tom ��durrrr�� Dwan (-$287,771 in 18 sessions/1,655 hands). Earlier this week we told you about the ��Durrrr Challenge II�� between Dwan and Daniel ��jungleman12�� Cates, which is where the former lost most of his money. To read all about that match, click here.
Polk Continues to Dominate Sulsky in Challenge
Two weeks ago the highly publicized heads-up no-limit hold��em challenge on Full Tilt Poker between Doug "WCGRider" Polk and Ben "Sauce1234" Sulsky kicked off.
The challenge will consist of 15,000 hands of $100/$200 NLHE over a number of sessions. Each session will come to a halt if either player builds an effective chip stack of more than 250 big blinds, and the player who is ahead at the time the 15,000th hand is complete will be awarded the $100,000 put up by the losing player. With 61% of the challenge complete, Polk held a healthy $491,000 lead.
That is where things stood on Friday, Sept. 27 when the duo met for the fifth time. Once again Polk bested Sulsky, taking $102,200 from his opponent in seven hours. That put Polk up nearly $591,700 with just 3,600 hands remaining in the challenge.
On Sunday, Sept. 29, the two played for a sixth time, completing 2,158 hands over nine hours (which means the Challenge in 90% complete). It was a back-and-forth match, and by the time it came to an end Polk was a small $4,300 winner.
It seems a forgone conclusion that Polk will win the Challenge given that he is up $596,000 with less than 1,500 hands to go, but it��ll be a few weeks before the final nail is put in the coffin.
Challenge will conclude in a couple weeks, bad scheduling and i am busy up until that point.
— Douglas Polk (@DougPolkPoker)
Blom Begins to Rebuild
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Viktor ��Isildur1�� Blom finished as the day��s biggest winner with $280,300 in profit, which was more than five times the next biggest winner. Blom, who had been struggling in September, began by winning a $600 heads-up sit and go, which he parlayed into a $4,444 win at the $100/$200 2-7 triple draw tables against Eugene ��fishosaurusREX�� Yanayt. From there, he won an additional $6,500 playing pot-limit Omaha before heading to the 8-game table to take on ��punting-peddler.��
The two played for six hours and proceeded to run over his opponent. Blom was up $400,000 at one point, but eventually left a $331,000 winner. The two played some big pots, but none bigger than one during $300/$600 PLO. It happened when Blom ($409,574.65) opened for $1,800 on the button and ��punting-peddler�� ($90,937) called from the big blind. The 10?10?2? flop saw ��punting-peddler�� check, Blom bet $3,000 and ��punting-peddler�� check-raise to $8,400. Blom pushed back to the tune of $16,200, ��punting-peddler�� four-bet to $37,200, and Blom five-bet to $103,200. ��Punting-peddler�� called off his remaining $51,937 and just like that there was a $181,874 pot on the line.
Blom: 2?2?6?6?
��punting-peddler��: 10?2?K?A?
It was a sick cooler for Blom as his flopped full house was no good. He was actually drawing dead, which means ��punting-peddler�� was pushed the pot when the J? was put out on the turn followed by the 9? on the river.
Blom Continues Upswing While Dang Finishes as Thursday��s Biggest Winner
It was a good day for Hac ��trex313�� Dang on Thursday, which is when he won $235,000 playing $400/$1,000 CAP PLO. Dang played for more than two hours and won $136,000, which was actually the same game Viktor ��Isildur1�� Blom won $270,000.
Blom also won $71,000 playing 2-7 triple draw, but ended up losing $210,000 to ��SallyWoo�� at the fixed-limit Omaha hi/lo tables. Nonetheless, Blom ended the day a $165,100 winner.
Here��s a look at the biggest day��s biggest pot, which just so happened to go to Blom:
In other news from Thursday, ��no_Ola�� won $119,800 playing 288 hands of $200/$400 PLO and Patrik ��FinddaGrind�� Antonius won $100,8000 playing 2-7 triple draw for two hours.
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Biggest Winners/Losers (Full Tilt Poker)
Week��s Biggest Winners (9/26-10/3): Viktor ��Isildur1�� Blom (+$418,528), Hac ��trex313�� Dang (+$333,626), Ronny ��ronnyr37617�� Kaiser (+$287,801), Phil ��Polarizing�� Ivey (+$266,932), Dan ��jungleman12�� Cates (+$227,923), ��mikki696�� (+$225,309)
Week��s Biggest Losers (9/26-10/3): ��samrostan�� (-$499,427), ��RookieNFL�� (-$338,764), ��punting-peddler�� (-$331,213), Tom ��durrrr�� Dwan (-$287,771), Niklas ��ragen70�� Heinecker (-$281,972), Harry ��Schoitl�� Cassagrande (-$244,286), Isaac ��luvtheWNBA�� Haxton (-$162,201)
Year��s Biggest Winners: Kyle ��cottonseed1�� Hendon (+$3,718,516), Ben ��Bttech86�� Tollerene (+$3,016,676), Niklas ��ragen70�� Heinecker (+$3,003,787), Patrik ��FinddaGrind�� Antonius (+$2,488,856), ��Rhje�� (+$2,470,058), Alexander ��PostFlopAction�� Kostritsyn (+$2,263,950), Hac ��trex313�� Dang (+$1,914,639) ��Odd_Oddsen��* (+$1,727,752), ��no_Ola�� (+$1,507,850)
Year��s Biggest Losers: Gus Hansen (-$4,344,829), ��MalACEsia�� (-$3,773,524), ��samrostan�� (-$3,673,926), Phil ��Polarizing�� Ivey (-$1,957,305), ��punting-peddler�� (-$1,573,696), Ben ��Sauce1234�� Sulsky (-$1,380,120), ��patpatpanda�� (-$1,330,885), Scott ��mastrblastr�� Seiver (-$1,220,399), ��Johnbest�� (-$992,253), Rui Cao (-$974,166)
*Denotes PokerStars
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Data, hands and replayer obtained from HighStakesDB.com
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In this Series
- 1 The Online Railbird Report: Gus Hansen Suffers $1.4 Million Downswing to Close 2012
- 2 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Profits $4 Million in Eight Days
- 3 The Online Railbird Report: Galfond & Blom Experience Million-Dollar Swings
- 4 The Online Railbird Report: Kyle ��KPR16�� Ray Biggest Winner of Week; Robl Drops $357K
- 5 The Online Railbird Report: Alex Kostritsyn Wins $1.2 Million; Gus Hansen Drops $376K
- 6 The Online Railbird Report: Shchemelev Wins $406K; Blom Week's Biggest Loser & Much More
- 7 The Online Railbird Report: Dwan Wins Over $2 Million in Six Days
- 8 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius Extends Lead Against Cao in $1 Million Challenge
- 9 The Online Railbird Report: Kostritsyn Wins $1.1 Million, Ivey Up & More
- 10 The Online Railbird Report: Ben Tollerene and Viktor Blom Win $1 Million in 48 Hours
- 11 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Becomes 2013's Biggest Winner; Ivey Week's Big Loser
- 12 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Over $4 Million for 2013; Huge Week for Hendon
- 13 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 Hours
- 15 The Online Railbird Report: Tollerene & Haxton Win Big; Blom Drops $1,474,629
- 16 The Online Railbird Report: The Professionals Duke it Out on FTP
- 17 The Online Railbird Report: ��jama-dharma�� Takes Blom for $786,971 in Limit Hold��em
- 18 The Online Railbird Report: Dwan and Sulsky Win $1M+; Blom's Massive Swings Continue
- 19 The Online Railbird Report: The Professionals Dominate with $1.5M Wins
- 20 The Online Railbird Report: Tollerene & Dang Win $1.4M & $1.2M, Respectively
- 21 The Return of the Online Railbird Report: Six Weeks of High-Stakes Action
- 22 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Takes a $1.4 Million Hit
- 23 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom No Longer the Year's Biggest Winner
- 24 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Is Week's Biggest Loser, Durrrr Challenge & More
- 25 The Online Railbird Report: "Rhje" Wins Over a Million, Blom/Hansen to Ireland & More
- 26 The Online Railbird Report: Tollerene Week's Biggest Winner; Haxton Drops a Million
- 27 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Up $2 Million, Millar Crushes Blom in 10 Minutes
- 28 The Online Railbird Report: Somebody Better ��Call_911�� as Blom Drops a Million
- 29 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom & Alex ��IReadYrSoul�� Millar Win Big
- 30 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Loses $1.3 Million; Haxton Week's Biggest Winner
- 31 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Week's Biggest Winner; Polk vs. Sulsky Update
- 32 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Week's Biggest Winner; Polk vs. Sulsky Update
- 33 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Gets Back on Track; Polk Continues to Dominate Sulsky
- 34 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor Blom Wins Again, Phil Ivey Has a Setback, and More
- 35 The Online Railbird Report: "SallyWoo" Week's Biggest Winner; Tollerene Leads in 2013
- 36 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor Blom Up $2 Million
- 37 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Wins $1.3 Million in a Day; Hansen's Fall Continues
- 38 Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Tops Yearly Leader Board; Hansen Loses $1.2 Million
- 39 The Online Railbird Report: Rui Cao Week's Biggest Winner; Heinecker Continues to Roll
- 40 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Biggest Winner for Third Week in a Row
- 41 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker, Blom & Hansen Experience Million-Dollar Swings
- 42 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius & Heinecker Fly High; Cates Fires Off in Chat
- 43 The Online Railbird Report: ��samrostan�� Wins $912,000; Galfond Drops $620,000
- 44 The Online Railbird Report: "mikki696" Jumps Out to Early Lead in 2014
- 45 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Wins $800K in Three Days
- 46 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Fuels Action on Way to Top of 2014 Leaderboard
- 47 The Online Railbird Report: Kyle "KPR16" Ray Rebounds; Viktor Blom Wins Again
- 48 The Online Railbird Report: Blom and Polk Continue to Battle Online at Aussie Millions
- 49 The Online Railbird Report: Viktor "Isildur1" Blom Returns to Top of Weekly Leaderboard
- 50 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Week's Biggest Loser Upon Return to Nosebleeds
- 51 The Online Railbird Report: Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Cleans Up on PokerStars
- 52 The Online Railbird Report: Rare Winning Week for Hansen; Tollerene Extends 2014 Lead
- 53 The Online Railbird Report: Dan Cates Wins $1.18 Million; Tollerene Opts Out
- 54 The Online Railbird Report: Galfond and Cates Lose $1.1 Million Each; Blom Capitalizes
- 55 The Online Railbird Report: Hansen Loses a Million; Amundsgard & Cates Finish on Top
- 56 The Online Railbird Report: Phil "Polarizing" Ivey Drops $945K; Galfond Wins & More
- 57 The Online Railbird Report: Niki Jedlicka Wins $1.1 Million in Return to Full Tilt Poker
- 58 The Online Railbird Report: "Trueteller," Jedlicka, & Antonius Win Big; Ivey Does Not
- 59 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius Week's Biggest Winner, Ivey Loses Again & More
- 60 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius Wins Again, Two Mystery Players Revealed & More
- 61 The Online Railbird Report: Ivey, Galfond, and Hansen All Grace the Loser's List
- 62 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Drops Nearly a Million; Ivey Rebounds & Much More
- 63 The Online Railbird Report: Kostritsyn Wins Big, Hansen Punts, and Dwan Eats Crawfish
- 64 The Online Railbird Report: Winners & Losers of the Summer's High-Stakes Action
- 65 The Online Railbird Report: "Sanlker" Steamrolls His Way to Massive $1.4 Million Win
- 66 The Online Railbird Report: Alex Luneau Wins $1.1 Million; Viktor Blom Drops $976K
- 67 The Online Railbird Report: Mikael ��punting-peddler�� Thuritz Biggest Winner with $491K
- 68 The Online Railbird Report: Ruthenberg and Blom Win Big; Hansen's Bad Year Continues
- 69 The Online Railbird Report: Antonius, Cates and Thuritz Pulling Away on 2014 Leaderboard
- 70 The Online Railbird Report: Gus Hansen's Disastrous Year Continues
- 71 The Online Railbird Report: Ike Haxton Wins Big; Doug Polk & "Denoking" Feud, and More
- 72 The Online Railbird Report: Polk & "Denoking" Keep Things Interesting During Slow Week
- 73 The Online Railbird Report: Heinecker Returns with a $275,000 Win
- 74 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Drives Action While Kostritsyn Wins On PokerStars
- 75 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Continues to Drive Action; Kostritsyn Big Winner
- 76 The Online Railbird Report: Blom Week's Biggest Winner Despite Losing Sponsorship
- 77 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 Win
- 79 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Follows Up Last Week's Big Win by Dropping $357K
- 80 The Online Railbird Report: Phil Ivey Rebounds with $387,000 Win and More
- 81 The Online Railbird Report: Sanlker and Kibler-Melby Battle; Ivey Wins, and More
- 82 The Online Railbird Report: Kibler-Melby Wins Big, Ivey vs. Thuritz, and More
- 83 The Online Railbird Report: Dan Cates Primed to Finish as 2014's Biggest Winner