Chris “Big Huni” Hunichen has caused a huge outcry with an obscene prop bet. The high stakes tournament player has been asking for action on the total COVID-19 death count in the USA.
Want to take over 100k deaths from covid-19 in US by September 1st. Must know you or if I don’t you must post or escrow.
— Chris Hunichen – OTCtrade.com (@BigHuni) April 5, 2020
Shameful of Chris Hunichen
Poker players are known for the occasional prop bet that shocks the community but many are saying this time it’s too much.
We recently reported on Mike “Timex” McDonald’s recent wager on how many basketball shots he can make. This is much more like what we are used to seeing. Not a macabre bet on how many people lose their life in this pandemic.
Chris Hunichen is one of the most well-known live tournament players in the world and has over $8 million worth of cashes on his record. Now though, it looks as if he’s going to be losing a lot of fans.
Chris I have always liked you but take this down ASAP it is not ok in so many ways. Know the lockdown will be mentally trying on people and not enough people are addressing this side effect hope thats what this is.
— Daniel Shak (@daniel_shak) April 5, 2020
He brazenly asked for takers on a bet that more than 100,000 patients would die by September 1st 2020. Within minutes there were other well-known names from the poker world asking that he remove his tweet as it was disrespectful.
“…that is the most disgusting bet I have ever seen in my life.”
Backlash
35-year-old Hunichen was completely taken aback to the responses seen on his Twitter feed. He says he meant no malice nor had intent to cause offence.
He says his only intention was to raise awareness that too many people are dying out of the ignorance of others.
its not profiting if i lose… too many people not taking this serious but now that someone offers over 100k deaths, everyone thinks its easy money? This is the point I am proving here. This many people shouldn't be dying if people were ignorant, selfish, assholes
— Chris Hunichen – OTCtrade.com (@BigHuni) April 5, 2020
“u guys seriously dont get it? I am not rooting for deaths and have already said I hope I lose. But unfortunately too many fucking idiots refuse to take this serious and refuse to stay home or practice social distancing. So it is what it is,”
Mainstream Media Involved
This story has not only offended much of the poker community, the mainstream media have also taken up the story.
The LA Times were made aware of the thread and contacted Hunichen to hear his thoughts on what had been said.
Speaking in a telephone interview Hunichen said,
“Every day, I would see some kind of article where some 30-year-old or 35-year-old dies from this stuff. Honestly, I’m terrified. If I get it, I feel like that’s going to be me.”
Maybe we shouldn’t be too tough on the man, even if what he has said is out of order. He is now holed up with his family including two young daughters aged seven and three.
He is also clearly concerned about the situation as his health is not perfect already being an asthmatic. This puts him amongst the most vulnerable section of the population.
As a kind of understanding that he now realises he’s done something wrong, Hunichen came up with a second bet for the same terms. This time the loser would pay $10,000 towards feeding the homeless in a city of their choice.
Don’t forget to check out all the latest poker news while we wait to hear what happens to this year’s World Series of Poker.
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