- Hansen was set to play his pro counterpart Viktor “Isildur1” Blom in a three-game high stakes match, with the winner receiving $50k from the loser.
- However, Gus Hansen, who has lost of $20 million playing the nosebleed matches lifetime, did not appear for the match.
- The Showdown managed to generate substantial buzz ahead of the event, with threads in major online poker communities and chatter across social media.
Due to “unforeseen circumstances,” Gus Hansen, one of two who make up “The Professionals” sponsored players on Full Tilt, did not participate in a scheduled Heads Up Showdown spectacle yesterday on Full Tilt Poker.
Hansen was set to play his pro counterpart Viktor “Isildur1” Blom in a three game heads up match, with the winner receiving $50k. Full Tilt players got involved by joining one of two freeroll tournaments—a $10K Gus Supporters Freeroll or the $10K Viktor Supporters Freeroll—to bet on who would win the tournament. There was further promotion through social media, and players voted on which game they should play.
However, Gus Hansen, who has lost of $20 million playing the nosebleed matches lifetime, had to cancel at the last minute. Instead, Jake Cody, a PokerStars pro, took his place.
“We regret that Hansen was unable to play, and we apologise to his fans,” a company representitive wrote in a statement issued to pokerfuse. He added only that “Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Gus Hansen did not play the heads-up match against Isildur,” though no explanation was given.
Isildur and Cody played stud hi/lo, triple draw, and no limit hold’em freeroll sit and gos. Ultimately Isildur won on home turf and took the $50,000:
Originally the loser had to choose between releasing a video of themselves singing the winner’s national anthem, or take to the tables to play 1,000 hands of $0.05/$0.10 Razz. However Cody, who stepped in at the last minute to help out, will not have to perform this forfeit.
The Showdown managed to generate substantial buzz ahead of the event, with threads in major online poker communities and chatter across social media. PLO grinder Joey Ingram, who runs a popular video podcast, had scheduled to livestream the event with guest commentary from Brian Hastings, which further raised its profile.
