Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008

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Brit aims to smash poker-playing record

By Miguel Strother

It may be a cultural stereotype to an extent, but it's pretty much common knowledge that the British are nuts.

I mean, Eddie "The Eagle" ski jumping in the Calgary Olympics? Tony Blair following George Bush Jr. into Iraq? Supermodel Naomi Campbell allegedly attacking cops and her housekeeper? C'mon!

To add further fuel to the fire of this theory, consider poker player David Cain. Cain is currently trying to break the record for consecutive hours of poker played. That record stands at 72 hours and two minutes, and was set by poker player and freelance writer Larry Olmsted of the United States.

Olmsted took his spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004 with a marathon poker session played at Foxwoods Casino. He started playing 50¢ ante Seven-Card Stud and built his stack to near $1,000. Apparently he was so delirious by the end of that odyssey, he had to have somebody read the cards to him.

The poker endurance record is one of Olmstead's two world records. He also owns the record for traveling the greatest distance between two rounds of golf on the same day.

He's written a book about both his and others' record-setting efforts, titled Getting into Guinness. He also admits the poker record was brutally difficult and that he must have been somewhat insane to attempt it.

"Everyone forgets the two minutes, but they were the hardest part," Cain told USA Today. "I won over $1,000, which astonished the [Foxwoods] poker room manager, who thought, correctly, that I was out of my mind."

As for what motivates him and people such as Cain to try such a feat? He's not really sure.

"The prevailing motivation [for trying to set a Guinness record] seems to be glory and fame, which ironically you really don't get."

Cain believes that he'll be able to not only beat but smash Olmstead's record by playing deep-stack, heads-up poker for 100 hours (more than four straight days, for the math challenged).

"I have mentioned it in the past to a few people and been met with mixed reactions ranging from support to disbelief and mocking," says Cain. "Despite that, I am still going to do it."

Cain says he came up with idea when a pal of his tried to do the same thing some time back.

"It is something I have intended to do since a friend of mine, James 'Royal Flush' Dempsey, tried to do it several years ago. It is also something I am deadly serious about, so I will be looking for as much support as possible from everyone."

Despite the mystery around Cain's motivation, you have to give it to the guy - his heart seems to be in the right place.

"All the proceeds of my wins will be going to charity as well as a percentage of any winnings that my opponents may get," says Cain, who estimates that total will be somewhere near £10,000.

"To maximize the funds raised for the charities I am also looking for help with prize donations that can be given in place of cash. So if you, or perhaps any companies you know, can help, please get in contact."

The charities Cain aims to support are St. Barnabas and Louth and District Hospice.

St. Barnabas provides a range of free services to terminal care patients from six centers, including an in-patient unit in Lincoln.

The Louth & District Hospice was founded in 2002 and aims to help people with diseases that cannot be cured.

Cain will attempt the poker world record at the Library Bar in Lincoln, which is in the north of England and is owned by the Kurnia Group.

"It's great for Dave to have chosen the Library Bar to stage his world record attempt," says Kurnia Group director Michael Kheng. "Kurnia wish Dave success in his attempt and shall be providing all the support we can."

To follow all of the poker-playing madness that is David Cain, visit www.pokerplayingmarathon.com.

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