The Tom Durr Dwan Phenomenon

Aside from the fact that poker pro Tom "Durr" Dwan is from Gambling911.com Publisher Chris Costigan's home town of Edison, New Jersey...really - I wouldn't know who he is if I bumped into him even wearing that silly hat.  He kinda, sorta looks Asian.  The last name suggests he is.  Certainly growing up in Edison, he stands a 1 and 3 chance of being Asian like Yours Truly, Madame Woo.

The kid is somewhat of a legend it seems and last weekend made an appearance on the National Heads Up Poker, where he failed to make the final cut.

Tom "Durr" Dwan ("Durr" is his online poker name) has one of the strongest followings in all of poker these days.   He has 615 fans Facebook in fact.

My impressions of Durr is that he's a bit off the wall.   I guess I'm right considering he's always challenging everyone to million dollar poker competitions. 

In January 2009 Dwan issued a $1,000,000 challenge to play anybody heads up for 50,000 hands 4-tabling 200/400 or higher No Limit Holdem or Pot Limit Omaha. If his opponent is ahead after 50,000 hands, Dwan agrees to give them $500,000 plus an additional $1,000,000. If Dwan is ahead he will get an additional $500,000.

There have been a few takers:  Patrik Antonius being one.  But the hype seems to be fizzling. 

Part Time Poker reports:

"Problem is they aren't even 10% of the way to the goal of 50,000 hands. Hands have not been played for the challenge since March 1, and there hasn't been an update on the Web site that tracks the challenge in six days. And even they are doubtful that the challenge will be completed."

With that said there are still more searches for Tom "Durr" Dwan than any other poker player these days it seems.

"Typically we get three Tom ‘Durr' Dwan search inquiries per every 50 searches," said Payton O'Brien, Senior Editor of the Gambling911.com website.

This number is likely to increase once the National Head's Up Challenge airs on NBC next month.

That's because Durr made some pretty impressive moves.

Josh Slagler of Michigan Live:

"(Durr) dominated the Season 5 action (of what's being shown) through the first two episodes on the Game Show Network and topped it all off with the following hand (seen here)."

I think we'll be hearing a lot from Durr over the coming months.

Watch for my upcoming interviews with Ron Paul, Annie Duke and the Producer of Australia's hottest television series, The Underbelly.