Doug Polk and Daniel Negreanu Setup System to Prevent Cheating in First Online Heads-Up Match kicking off tonight at 11.30 pm CET

Daniel Negreanu has revealed his setup designed to prevent cheating during the grudge match against Doug Polk. The pair agreed to implement some measures for the online part of the match to set each other’s mind at rest over potential cheating issues.

Negreanu and Polk Cover All Bases

It’s understandable that both Negreanu and Polk want to set their minds at rest when it comes to cheating. Polk tweeted,

“Just for clarity, today @RealKidPoker and I setup some very good systems to prevent any kind of cheating. Probably overkill but it’s best to have no chance of funny business. Will be a good clean fight.”

Although poker is complex enough that even the best GTO solvers cannot give a perfect answer, the heads-up format of the game is the most easily solved for a computer.

For example, heads-up limit hold’em is believed to be as good as solved. In the hands of a world-class player even just the smallest amount of real-time computer assistance will be enough to make a substantial difference.

This is my set up for the match tomorrow. Surveillance cameras were installed today, got my space chair, a comfy blanket and a backup IPad just in case my internet goes out.

It has the last 3 nights in a row. Yikes. pic.twitter.com/2uJLPdFJox

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) November 6, 2020

Both players have already clashed on social media over minor details that many would consider nitpicking. The legality of pre flop charts caused quite a stir, which seems ridiculous.

If either player cannot memorise their pre flop game in its entirety at this stage of their careers they should retire.

No Stone Unturned

Two cameras are positioned behind the players showing their every move. It wasn’t clear from Negreanu’s video exactly how closely focussed to the screen they will be, or if there will be a screen recording app in use.

In a strange turn of events, Negreanu showed his ipad positioned at the ready because his internet connection has gone down the last three nights in a row. In 2020 this is unthinkable in a developed country, but there we are.

Bill Perkins chimed in to say that despite the acrimonious relationship both players are men of integrity and nothing amiss is likely to happen.

The first online session of the match is tomorrow at 2:30pm-4:30pm PST

You can watch the action live https://t.co/5fgRmN1alD with commentary and I’ll join in for a post game chat.

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) November 6, 2020

Watch it All Here

There’s no doubt about it—this grudge match is going to be the one that we are still talking about for many years to come.

You can watch every minute of the action right here.

Negreanu took a healthy lead of close to six buy-ins during the first 200 hands of the battle. These were played live in the PokerGO studio, Las Vegas.