Looking to avenge one of his few defeats in his namesake challenge, Viktor “Isildur1” Blom will face off later today against Isaac Haxton on PokerStars. The Swedish online wizard isn’t getting any love from the odds makers, however.
According to Matchbook.com, which is accepting wagers on the tournament, Haxton is favored to once again defeat Blom in the “PokerStars SuperStar Showdown,” set for battle beginning at noon today (Eastern Time). The betting action has set up Haxton at -145, meaning that $145 would have to be wagered for the player to win $100. Blom, on the other hand, goes into today’s battle as the underdog at +125, meaning that a punter would have to wager $100 to win $125.
“Any time you have two of the best players in the world battling it out in a structured format, there will be loads of interest in betting on the match,” a spokesperson for Matchbook commented regarding the action on the event. “Given Isildur’s form, it seems crazy for him to be the underdog in this match. But money talks, and if anyone feels differently they will surely be accommodated.”
The rematch between Haxton and Blom should bring about the same excitement that the first battle between the behemoths delivered. The “SuperStar Showdown” series began late in 2010 prior to Blom revelation that he was the mysterious “Isildur1” of online legend and his signing of a sponsorship deal with PokerStars. In the very first battle, Blom battled it out with Haxton over four tables of $50/$100 Heads Up No Limit Hold’em, with Haxton pulling off a $41,000 victory.
For his part, Haxton was impressed with Blom and lauded his style of play. “Isildur’s brand of over the top – but carefully balanced – aggression is unlike anything I’ve played against,” Haxton commented following that inaugural SuperStar Showdown matchup. “(It) really takes me out of my comfort zone in a lot of situations.”
For today’s play, the action has been ramped up to higher stakes. Haxton and Blom will be battling it out at $100/$200 over four tables of No Limit Hold’em, with each player expected to bring upwards of $300,000 to the the virtual felt. The duo will play either 2500 hands or until one player calls for mercy and surrenders, which isn’t likely to happen.
Blom has been the overall winner in the history of the SuperStar Showdown. After his defeat at the hands of Haxton in the inaugural running, Blom has gone on to take every other match that has been put in front of him. Over that time, “Isildur1” has vanquished such opponents as Antanas “Tony G” Guoga, Dan “jungleman” Cates, Eugene Katchalov, Daniel Negreanu (while their match was a two-part series and Daniel won the second, Blom was the overall winner) and Rui Cao. Overall, Blom has earned over $650,000 from his “SuperStar Showdown” matches alone.
Both players seem to be at the top of their games for today’s rematch. Haxton has earned ten cashes in worldwide tournaments since their first meeting, with a third place finish at the 2011 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in December and a third place finish at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure’s $25,000 High Roller event in January of this year earning him nearly $1 million.
Blom’s live game has become almost as potent as his online version. After not securing what some would consider a “signature” win in his live career, Blom would rectify that situation earlier this year. At the PCA $100,000 Super High Roller event in January, “Isildur1” would emerge as the champion of the 30 player field, taking down an impressive $1.25 million for his first place finish and his first major live championship.
Although those in the United States may not be able to watch the action, the international audience will be able to railbird the action on PokerStars. It should prove to be an intense battle as “Isildur1” looks to avenge his only defeat by Haxton in the PokerStars SuperStar Showdown.
