Poker legend Phil Hellmuth defeats Daniel Negreanu in the second round of a high-stakes match

Phil Hellmuth defeated Daniel Negreanu in the second consecutive game in the second round of their heads-up fight at PokerGO's High Stakes Duel.

15 - time World Series of Poker bracelet winner won the entire $), 000 prize pool, earning half as the second round doubled the stakes and required a $ 100,000 buy-in.

In late March, during the first round of the match, Hellmuth made an epic comeback after Negreanu jumped into the 19-1 chip lead. Hellmuth's victory prompted Negreanu to take advantage of the double-stakes rematch option on Wednesday night in Las Vegas at the PokerGO studio in Aria. High Stakes Duel series after he defeated Antonio Esfandiari in three matches, making a $ profit of 350,000 over the course. Hellmuth is 500 in the last five games, .

There will be a third and possibly final match between Negreanu and Hellmuth, probably in early June. He will have a $ 200,000 buy-in.

While not a return to the monster he finished last game, Negreanu held the chip lead for much of the game and had a 3-1 chip lead at one point in the match.

But a key bluff and a bad beat finally turned the game in Hellmuth's favor.

In the first tier of the game, Hellmuth gained a slight chip advantage by simply checking and taking a few of Negreanu's bluffs. Negreanu drew his first blood, however, when he hit three bets in the middle with a top set on the river.

With blinds 150-300, Hellmuth limped 6h4h and Negreanu raised from the big blind with J J. . The flop came 10 6 3 and Negreanu bet 1,200, Hellmuth called. Turn to J and Negreanu raised by 3,100. Hellmuth called.

It was 4 and Negreanu raised a third time, this time 13,000. Hellmuth thought for a moment before going to 43,000 with his two pair. Negreanu finally clicked it back and he made it 43,000. Hellmuth bet and hawed before calling.

The pot was hit to Negreanu, and he was holding 144,000 of the 200,000 chips in play.

A few tiers later, with blinds 400-800, Hellmuth took the color and brought the match back to his advantage. Negreanu raised to 2.10 on the Q button 10 and Hellmuth three-bet to 8,000 from the big blind from 10 9 .

the flop is Q 8 2 and both players waited for turn 9 . Hellmuth 9,000 plant and Negreanu called. 4 came on the river which gave Hellmuth a flush and he raised 18,000. Negreanu thought for a moment before calling.

Hellmuth regained the lead, but it was short-lived. Negreanu's K 4 defeated Hellmuth 10 8 on board 6 5 2 Q 6 to get him back on track. Hellmuth checked the check-down so Negren's lead was still rather small.

The two players practically traded stabs for quite some time. Hellmuth made a few bluffs that gave him a 4: 3 chip advantage. And then Negreanu won several pots to reverse the result.

However, after more than four and a half hours of play, the fireworks finally started flying and the game ended in a series of three hands. With blinds 1, 10 - 2,000 and Hellmuth holding 114,000 from 200,000, Hellmuth raised from the button to 4,000 from Q 4 . Negreanu saved his dark Q 6 .

Both players raised Q on the flop 7 2 and 6 on the turn. Negreanu raised to 5,500 and Hellmuth raised to 12,500. Negreanu 3-bet to 28,000 and Hellmuth called. Negreanu pushed on 13 river and Hellmuth folded.

That pot gave Negreanu a slight advantage, but on the next hand Hellmuth regained the lead from a massive bluff.

Negreanu raised to 4,000 on the button from 9 7 and 3-bet Hellmuth at 14,000 out of 10 2 . Negreanu called. The flop came K 6 6 and Hellmuth plant 13,000. Negreanu called. The turn came 8 which gave both players a draw for a flush.

Hellmuth plant 28,000 and Negreanu called. Hellmuth moved all in on river 9 which gave Negreanu the best hand, but he was unable to pull the trigger for the rest of Hellmuth's chips. Hellmuth opened a 3-1 chip lead.

Just a few hands later, with Negreanu sitting on a chip around 50,000, he raised to 4,000 on the button from 8 8 and Hellmuth moved all in from the big blind with A 4 . Negreanu called.

There was no J on the board 9 9 6 K. giving Hellmuth a color, pool, and match.

"Good job, mate," Negreanu said. “You played well. I thought you played well. This one, I thought you played a lot better than the first. I think we will have to see you again in round three. "

"So that's the official challenge," said Hellmuth of the final rematch. “I was lucky in that.

If Hellmuth wins the third game, he has the option to cash out his winnings and reserve $ 700,000 in profits on his last six heads-up matches. On the other hand, if Negreanu wins, any further matches will have to continue to double the stakes. Hellmuth does have an end option, however.