Yorky Pud

Poker players rarely shy away from any opportunity to make bets or swap percentage with each other but the infamous Antanas Guoga, better known as Tony G, has taken it one step further and essentially made a last longer bet with himself that could see him win an additional $100,000 just for making it to the money places of the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.

The €10,400 Main Event is into its third official day of play and the 593 have been whittled down to 89 survivors (at time of writing), of which only 64 of them will be paid out. A min-cash is worth €20,000 but if Tony G scrapes into the money he will pick up $100,000 after betting $20,000 on himself at odds of five-to-one that he would make it to the money places in the Main Event. At time of writing Tony G has a stack of 155,000, which is around 30,000 chips under the average stack.

In his blog Tony G said, “I am going to win the WSOPE Main Event. First ten minutes, STRAIGHT FLUSH – then massive double up. I am on a roll. I even bet $20,000 at 5/1 that I will make the money in the Main Event.” This means that if Tony G does make it to the money he will pick up more than the official ninth place finisher will do, including the bet amount and tournament prize money.

Betting and poker recently hit the headlines when the 2010 WSOPE Main Event champion James Bord went on record to say that he would refund any losing bets of up to $500 on the “Winner of the WSOPE Main Event” market on the sports betting site Matchbook if an American player won the Main Event. Bord said to CardPlayer Europe, “I don't think an American can win the bracelet, Europeans are now far superior. We used to look up to the US players back in the day, but those days are now long gone. I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is and refund any losing bets up to $500 if an American wins.”

If Tony G does go on to cash or go even better and take down the €1,400,000 first place prize, it will cap off quite a week for him as he has been chosen to replace Dario Minieri in the Caesars Cup, which is to be played after the Main Event finishes. No reason has been given for Minieri's withdrawal but Team Europe Captain, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier has asked Tony G to replace him. "I couldn’t say no, it is an honour,” said Tony G, “I really cannot wait. It is true that I am the captain but on this occasion Elky is as well.”

Can Tony G make it to the money and beyond or will the loudest mouth in poker be shouting for all the wrong reasons? Tune in tomorrow to find out either from the excellent Short-Stacked Shamus or myself, here on the Betfair Poker blog.

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