The $1,000,000 Poker Challenge "Larry Flynt vs. Donald Trump" (2001)
Recently I was doing some spring cleaning when I came across a magazine page I had torn out of an old poker magazine over 20 years ago. The magazine probably was Card Player but I can’t tell for sure. The page includes a full page advertisement taken out by the late Larry Flynt, owner of Hustler Magazine and Hustler Casino. The page includes a photo of Flynt and a separate picture of Donald Trump holding 2 playing cards. Trump used to use that picture in his advertisements of his card tournaments. Remember this was 2001, when Trump was just known as a cocky multi-millionaire businessman and not a politician. Even the Apprentice TV show hadn’t started yet.
The ad also includes a copy of a letter that Flynt sent Trump challenging him to a million dollar poker match. Below is how the letter appeared in the ad:
___________________________
Oct 25, 2001
Mr. Donald Trump
Trump Towers
New York, NY 10022
Dear Donald,
For the past several years, I have watched with interest your advertisements featuring your picture holding two cards, promoting card tournaments and card activity at your Atlantic City properties.
As we are major casino owners and with your reputed skills as featured with your ads in Card Player, Poker Digest and other magazines, I think it is a wonderful opportunity for us to create a head-to-head owner’s Poker Championship.
I propose that we each put up $1 million and play a head-up freeze-out until one person has all the chips. This will settle once and for all who is the best player, in East vs. West contest... Trump vs. Flynt.
The winner will donate half his winnings $500,000, to the Relief/Fund Red Cross in New York City to the benefit of the victims of the September 11th tragedy.
The game will be 7-card stud.
The game stakes can be limit or no-limit, your choice.
...We both talk a good game - it’s time now that we put up or shut up. I am throwing you the challenge. Are you man enough to meet it?
Sincerely,
Larry Flynt
_____________________________
I doubt Trump ever accepted the challenge because I can’t find anything about it on the web. I know Trump didn’t accept a challenge by the late Bob Stupak (aka The Polish Maverick) to play a game of Trump’s own board game (that was selling at the time) for a million dollars.
Anyway, I thought some people might be interested in this million dollar poker challenge. Maybe we can have more challenges like this, and the recent Polk, Negreanu, Hellmuth challenges. ’
6 Replies
Bump because of Trump's recent claim to be holding the cards:
Since Trump recently told Zelensky he holds the cards, Zelensky should challenge Trump to a poker game like Larry Flynt did.
Spoiler
If Zelensky wins, the US will continue to send billions in military equipment to Ukraine. If Trump wins then Ukraine will be cut off from additional support . (just kidding)
Yes, it looks like Donald does hold the cards.
If Trump was any good at cards, we'd have heard all about it by now.
Joan Rivers had an all-time classic moment tearing apart Duke as a result of that casting.
That’s on par with Ric Flair & Dusty Rhodes’ best promos. I wonder if Melissa’s walking boot was as real as Dusty’s cast?
Getting real close to politics in NVG...
