High-stakes poker pro and heads-up specialist Doug Polk spent most of his adult life playing heads-up no-limit hold’em against the best in the world.
First, he battled the best players willing to play high-stakes online poker. More recently, he won $1.2 million in a grudge match against Daniel Negreanu.
Most recently, he beat comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. The comedian could’ve walked away with $40,000. Instead, Polk will perform one minute of stand-up comedy on the popular Kill Tony podcast.
Hinchcliffe said the two met after a taping at Mitzi’s, the bar and lounge attached to Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership in Austin. Before the meeting, others had already told Hinchcliffe that Polk was in attendance and explained his poker prowess to the comedian.
Then, upon meeting, an already intoxicated Hinchcliffe challenged Polk to a heads-up match.
$40,000 Vs. One Minute Of Stand-Up
The stakes? $20,000 vs. a minute of stand-up on the podcast.
“So there we are at Mitzi’s after an episode, and we play heads-up poker – me and the best in the world,” Hinchcliffe told guest host Harland William. “Twenty minutes later, guess who won 20,000 fucking dollars? Me.”
Since the match was so quick, Hinchcliffe wanted to double the bet and play again. He would either leave with $40,000 or Polk would do a minute of stand-up.
“I won $20,000,” Hinchcliffe said. “We doubled the bet to $40,000 and any day now he’s going to be popping in on the show. Be on the lookout for the best heads-up poker player. It was so much fun.”
Hinchcliffe said the bet was double or nothing. But some Twitter users pointed out that doubling the bet meant there was more on the line. It appears the payout was simply settled with the one minute of comedy and not with Hinchcliffe owing another $20,000.
“We were 10 drinks deep at 3 a.m.,” Polk noted. “It wasn’t the most coherent negotiation.”
Watch the complete video below:
The secret is out
Here’s the story of how I risked $40,000 for 1 minute on Kill Tony
I’m ready @KILLTONY @TonyHinchcliffe pic.twitter.com/iiYRTcWpwy
— Doug Polk (Code Doug) (@DougPolkVids) May 20, 2025
The Kill Tony podcast is a live stand-up comedy variety show Hinchcliffe created in 2013. The YouTube show has more than 2.2 million subscribers.
Polk has shown an interest in stand-up comedy for quite some time. He incorporates comedy into his poker-themed YouTube videos and is hosting an open mic night at the bar attached to his Austin poker room.
