PHIL HELLMUTH AND HIS BALD HEAD
In 2002, Phil Hellmuth was eliminated during the WSOP Main Event by an unknown Robert Varkonyi. Frustrated, Phil declared that if this Varkonyi won the whole tournament, he would shave his head. Hellmuth, who is known for his sharp tongue, regretted his words this time - Varkonyi surprisingly dominated the tournament and Phil had to sacrifice his hair in front of the cameras.
The moment became a television sensation. Varkonyi himself assisted Hellmuth in shaving his head, and another tournament in which he appeared bald saw a surge in television viewership.
PETER EASTGATE AND HIS ICE MARATHON
In 2008, 22-year-old Dane Peter Eastgate became the youngest WSOP Main Event winner in history (Joe Cada broke that record a year later). Three years after his once-in-a-lifetime victory, another stunt by this poker player has taken the world by storm.
He made a bet with his friends that he would jump into the icy water of Copenhagen's Islands Brygge harbor district in winter and then run more than 4 km through the snowy city home in wet clothes. In the end, he received $6,000 and a lot of respect. He didn't even catch a cold.
ELKY VS. KACHALOV: A TRIPLE FEUD FULL OF SWEAT
France's Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier and Ukraine's Eugene Katchalov also showed that betting between players doesn't have to be just about money. They decided to spice up their friendship with a triple challenge and invented that whoever loses in each round must undergo a punishment. The competition was simple, during the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP), there were three series, and in each, the winner was determined by who earned the most money.
- In the first round, Elky won and Eugene had to do 1,000 push-ups in 12 hours. Thanks to his excellent fitness, the Ukrainian pro made it through without any problems.
- In the second round, the roles were reversed with Eugene being the better and Elky having to cycle 130 km from Cannes to San Remo. The fact that Katchalov even joined Grospellier and they covered the whole distance together is a testimony to the players' friendship.
- In the third round, the loser had to learn a foreign language. Once again Elky lost and was given the task of mastering Russian. The Frenchman took the task with honour and a few months later at an event in the Bahamas he was able to understand Russian.
HUCK SEED AND 18 HOURS IN THE OCEAN
Huck Seed, the 1996 WSOP Main Event champion, is known for his unconventional bets. When he once declared that he could stand shoulder-deep in the ocean for up to 18 hours, it was an obvious challenge that Phil Hellmuth took up, and the two of them bet $50,000 on it.
Seed put on a wetsuit and entered the water with determination. This time, Hellmuth was luckier, as he didn't have to wait long for the money. Huck only lasted 3 hours in the water before coming ashore and cashing out his opponent.
However, in another dispute, he made a bet with Howard Lederer that he would learn to backflip in two days. Lederer didn't believe the nearly 6-foot-2 Seed could do it. What he didn't know was that Huck had a big advantage. His uncle was a former acrobat, and under his tutelage he was able to learn a perfect backflip in two days. In addition to his new skill, he also won $10,000.
MCDONALD'S MARATHON MIKE NOORI
The bet that Mike Noori agreed to looks fun at first glance. When you think about it more, you quickly realize that eating $1,000 worth of McDonald's food in 36 hours doesn't sound all that appealing. Especially health-wise.
The challenge drew a great response and in the end, over $200,000 was on the line. The rules allowed Mike to spend $300 on burgers, fries and nuggets and $700 on "lighter" foods like salads and ice cream. Drinks didn't count toward the $1,000 and it was even agreed that he could vomit no more than once.
Unfortunately Mike didn't take the challenge seriously and went to a party a few hours before it started where he drank and partied. So it's no wonder he didn't even come close to fulfilling the bet. He gave up just hours before the time was up, after eating a meal for only $95.
BRIANA ZEMBIC'S SILICONES
This story is probably the most bizarre you'll ever hear. Brian Zembic, a professional gambler and former magician, became famous in the 1990s as a man who would do anything to win a bet. He earned this reputation mainly due to a bet in 1996, when he agreed to get breast implants and keep them for a year for $100,000.
What started as an argument about implants during a casino game eventually turned into a real challenge, which Brian met. Interestingly, he didn't even pay for the surgery, as he won that one in a backgammon game against a plastic surgeon. One of the conditions was that he would have the silicone breasts for one year, but in the end he proudly wore them for 20 years. He only had them removed in 2016 thanks to the reality TV show Botched.
DOYLE BRUNSON'S MILLION-DOLLAR DIET
Today, weight-loss bets are very popular in poker, thanks in part to millionaire Bill Perkins, who regularly motivates players to do something about their lifestyle. But few people know that the legendary Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson also made a bet that significantly changed his body. In 2003, Doyle’s weight became such a big problem that he had trouble getting up from the table. When he announced that he needed to lose 50 kg, other players jumped on the bandwagon and offered him odds of 10:1 and two years to achieve his goal. His weight was to get below 136 kg. If he succeeded, he would win $1 million, if not, he would have to pay $100,000.
Brunson's opponents were confident of victory. Doyle was constantly taking different bets, but he often lost, and the chances of him losing significant weight at the age of 70 were minimal, in their opinion. Doyle, however, took the bet very seriously. He turned to a team of experts and underwent a diet that helped him meet a challenging goal. Thanks to the bet, he was able to improve his health and, what's more, racked up a tidy sum.
ASHTON GRIFFIN AND THE 70-MILE MONKEY RUN
Online gambler Ashton Griffin made a bet that he would run 70 miles (about 112 km) in a single day. Ashton has always loved running and, despite the fact that the most he has ever run is a half marathon, he was convinced that he could do it. So convinced that he himself proposed odds of 3:1. If he succeeds, he will receive $ 285,000, if not, he will lose triple of that ammount.
To make matters worse, he organized a party the night before, slept 4 hours and had a brutal hangover in the morning. Many people would rather not get out of bed in this condition. And Griffin did it. An unprecedented feat for which he earned respect and a fat check.
Sources - Wikipedia, Instagram, PokerRed, Pokernews, ESPN, Card Player