09 December 2025
It was this past Saturday that the first session of a very special norwegian duel was played: Ola Amundsgård vs congressman Erlend Wiborg.
As stated before (
here and
here), Amundsgård had issued a challenge to norwegian politicians: if a politician beats him in poker, he will pay them 1 million krone ($162,715).
Erlend Wiborg, congressman, took him up on the offer.
After this first session, it seems very unlikely for Wiborg to win. The two players faced off at a conference center (Felix Konferansesenter) in Olso, although they were playing online at PokerStars.
The table was being broadcast in a giant screen, allowing the audience to follow the poker match. Thor Hansen, a norwegian poker legend, was one of the spectators.
This first round lasted around 1000 hands - Amundsgård won 2666 chips (almost 27 buy-ins).
"I'm impressed." said Wiborg, after the session. "I knew I was going to lose, but I also noticed that a lot of concentration is required, as well as being good at mathematics".
