It has been a tough old time recently for the ever-popular ‘Bankroll Challenges’ with both Doug Polk and Ethan “Rampage” Yau suffering setbacks in pursuit of 6- and 7-figure goals.
Bankroll challenges have been part and parcel of poker for at least two decades now, players looking to turn next to nothing into a significant something, cheered on by their fans on social media.
Back in 2006, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson took 18 months to go from literally zero playing online freerolls to his $10,000 target. Almost a decade ago, Doug Polk turned $100 into $10k (in 57 days of play across two years!)
Polk is in the news again just now trying a similar, though much tougher feat. Last month he posted:
I’m setting out to win $100,000 in one month on the new online poker site @ClubWPTGold. Everything I win will be given back to people who sign up and deposit using code: DOUG
It's called the "Code Doug" Challenge and I'll stream the whole thing
More details⬇️
— Doug Polk (Code Doug) (@DougPolkVids) February 26, 2025
Starting out with low stakes, heads-up, No Limit games on ClubWPTGold, Polk’s plan was to give away everything he wins. ClubWPT Gold is the US-focused sweepstakes model site, not to be confused with WPT Global, which offers cash games and tournaments outside of the USA.
You win some, you lose a lot
However, a few losing sessions in, and Polk changed his tune slightly:
“Regardless of how this challenge ends up, I am officially guaranteeing at least $100,000 to be split among everyone who signs up and deposits at @ClubWPTGold and uses ‘Code DOUG’.
A couple of days’ later and Polk was all smiles, posting:
“8 straight wins and we have officially crossed the $20,000 threshold in the $100,000 Club WPT Gold “Code Doug” Challenge!
Today’s Results: +$6,330
Overall Results: +$20,160
Hopefully the run good continues tomorrow!”
That, however, was the start of a horror run for Polk, who lost $36k+ to IamBenough and followed it with another losing session of more than $13k.
Halfway through his challenge and Doug Polk now has his work cut out to show any kind of profit.
Riches to Rags?
Someone else who has found a bankroll challenge much more difficult than he ever could have expected is Ethan “Rampage” Yau. The popular streamer pro has spent the last year trying to reach $1million but, despite some early promise, failed spectacularly after taking shots at some of the biggest games going.
Unlike Polk’s online challenge, Yau spent 12 months grinding mid- to high-stakes cash games, but he finished with a relatively paltry $30k in profit. Yau described it as a “complete failure”.
It’s not all doom and gloom, at least not for his US-based followers, who have been invited to a $100,000 Freeroll on ClubWPTGold, tomorrow March 18th.
If you fancy trying a bankroll challenge of your own, check out our best online deals below:
- Get the best rakeback deals
- See the best poker promotions
- View the latest poker news
- Get the best No Deposit Poker Bonuses
- Benefit from the biggest poker bonus
- Calculate your rakeback with the rakeback calculator
Terms and conditions apply. New customer offer and 18+ only. Should you require help regarding your betting pattern, please visit www.begambleaware.org
