In a recent blog posted on the online poker site Betfair, Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi, a sponsored player of the online poker room, outlined an Iron Man Challenge against Team PokerStars Pro member Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier. A total of 17 events will make up the competition, with at least $10,000 per event on the line.
Sixteen events will see the winner take home $10,000. The “Main Event,” so to speak, is kick boxing, where $20,000 will be up for grabs. Whoever takes home the most individual event victories will receive a cut of 15% of the other player’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) winnings up to a maximum of $300,000. As far as the motivation for taking part in the grueling challenge, Mizzi explained on Betfair’s website, “It’s a pretty sick schedule, I know, but I’m keen to do it. I said last year that having a healthy lifestyle can only improve your poker game, as it [affects] your mind and overall well-being.”
If either Mizzi or Grospellier can emerge victorious in 80% of the events, they’ll receive an extra $50,000 from the other player. No performance-enhancing substances are allowed, as defined by whether or not they would be legal in the United States. A drug test can be requested by either player at any time. If either Mizzi or Grospellier were to fail a drug test, they would both lose the bet entirely and be forced to pay a $50,000 penalty for breaking the rules. The winner of all weight lifting exercises is determined by whoever can lift the most for three repetitions.
The competition is scheduled to begin sometime prior to the start of the WSOP in Las Vegas, which kicks off at the end of May. On the first day, the Iron Man Challenge focuses on an upper body battle, the bench press, bicep curl, shoulder press, triceps pull down, and chin-ups. On Day 2, the proceedings will see Mizzi and Grospellier compete in a lower body event, the angled leg press, leg extension, squats, and an event to be determined. On Day 3, the Team Betfair and Team PokerStars Pro members will compete on the tennis courts, with the winner determined in the best of three sets. On the match, Mizzi commented, “I’m looking forward to the tennis, as I enjoyed playing a bit when [I was] out in Australia for the Millions.”
On Day 4, Mizzi and Grospellier will battle in a jump roping challenge. Whoever can jump the most number of times without missing will be crowned its champion. Day 4 will also see the two acclaimed poker pros compete in an arm wrestling match, with whoever wins the best of three taking down the title. Day 5 will see the $20,000 kick boxing extravaganza take place. The two will square off for nine rounds in the ring.
On Day 6, the pair will take to the water. A special swimming challenge will test Mizzi and Grospellier to determine who can stay at the center of a pool the longest without touching the sides or bottom. The final event, rowing, takes place on Day 7. The winner of the event is determined by whichever poker star can row the furthest in 15 minutes.
The challenge between Mizzi and Grospellier is reminiscent of the high-stakes boxing match between Theo Jorgensen and Full Tilt Poker pro Gus Hansen. The battle, which took place in Copenhagen at the end of the city’s European Poker Tour stop last month, ended with Jorgensen winning by a judge’s decision after three rounds. Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak host “I Bet You” on television station MOJO. The show includes a variety of prop bets, which have become commonplace among poker players.
Mizzi chopped the Irish Poker Open in 2007 and has a pair of victories in Full Tilt Online Poker Series events. He’s flanked on Team Betfair by Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad, John “kunku wap” Tabatabai, and Peter “Zupp” Jepsen, who was signed in February. Grospellier is one of just three players to have captured feature tournament wins on the World Poker Tour and European Poker Tour; the other two are Gavin Griffin and Roland de Wolfe. Grospellier was the first person ever to reach Supernova Elite status on PokerStars.
