Dave Cain Breaks Poker Endurance Record
It’s being reported that Guinness has just certified Dave Cain’s attempt to “shatter” the world record for playing poker. Apparently the old record was a mere 72 hours set by Larry Olmsted at Foxwoods in 2004. He was allowed breaks every 15 minutes to stretch, brush his teeth(!), and change clothes when he felt the need.
Dave Cain set out to break that record. So along with a team of doctors, nurses, and IT support(?) he sat down at the Library Bar in Lincoln, UK and began playing heads up poker with a string of would-be opponents. He eventually beat the old record of 72 hours under the supervision of the medical staff and Guinness.
I don’t get it. 72 hours? THAT is the world record? And it required a team of doctors, nurses, IT support staff, and lord knows what else to accomplish? What about the old record that Larry Olmsted held? He got to change clothes and brush his teeth? Are you serious? And how many more sentences can I write here that end with a question mark?
All I’m trying to say here is that 72 hours is not a marathon poker session. I’ve had longer at home games. We didn’t change clothes, didn’t brush our teeth, and certainly didn’t have a doctor on hand in case we got a cramp. There are multiple stories floating about that mention days at a time that a player will play online. The same goes for live games, with Doyle Brunson telling stories of playing for almost a week at a time. Sorry Dave, beating the record of 72 hours under these circumstances doesn’t impress me much!
