shaun deeb

On this special episode of the PokerNews Podcast sponsored by 888poker, Chad Holloway goes one-on-one with Shaun Deeb, who accepted a $800,000 buyout in his $1 million body fat prop bet against Bill Perkins.

Nearly 11 months ago, the poker players agreed to a 14-month wager on Deeb's ability to bring his body fat composition down significantly. The bet had essentially no stipulations -- either get to 17% body fat by the start of the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP), or lose $100,000. 

Last month, Deeb gave his X followers an update on his progress, and it was certainly positive in his favor. A January 25 Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan showed his body fat had dropped to 23.9% with still four months to go. That caused Perkins to begin proposing potential buyout possibilities on X, although nothing had been officially agreed upon.

On Friday, he went in for another DEXA scan, and he was in even better shape -- 22.0% body fat composition. Then, on Saturday, the future Poker Hall of Famer informed his social media followers that Perkins had bought out of the bet for $800,000 just over three months from the start of the 2024 WSOP.

Deeb shared all the details of his journey, why he opted to accept the buyout, and where he plans to go from here. Plus, hear his thoughts on the 2024 WSOP schedule.

Time Stamps
*Time | Topic*
Time Stamps
00:01 | Welcome to the show
00:40 | Sponsor: 888poker
01:34 | Shaun Deeb joins the show
02:38 | Still going for 17%
04:00 | Is the beard going?
04:45 | Publicizing the buyout
05:55 | How did you do it? 
10:55 | What was the most challenging thing you faced?
11:34 | How Chad met Deeb’s wife
13:48 | A lot of people didn’t think you could do it
17:45 | Do you have a celebration in mind once you hit your goal?
18:00 | The story of Ted’s Fish Fry
19:37 | Thoughts on the 2024 WSOP schedule
23:29 | Who is Charlie?
25:32 | When do you turn 40 and become eligible for Poker Hall of Fame?
25:54 | Thinking of family
27:58 | Aiming for abs
28:42 | How much side action is there on this bet?

On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast sponsored by WPT Global, Chad Holloway, Connor Richards, and Matt Hansen recap the recently-completed Borgata Winter Open, acknowledge the Anthony Zinno allegations, and dive into the PokerGO Cup.

It was there that Connor chatted with Cody Daniels, who despite severe health issues ventured to Las Vegas to live his dream of playing a high-stakes tournament. Not only did he play, but he made the final table! The crew then ventured across the street to a Bally's Live high-stakes cash game where we grabbed interviews with Daniel Cates, Mike Watson, Dylan Weisman, and Dylan DeStefano.

Other stories include Shaun Deeb closing in on a $1 million body fat prop bet, former PokerNews reporter Mo Nuwwarah winning an MSPT title and remembering Perry Friedman, who recently passed away from pancreatic cancer.

Finally, they take a look ahead to both the Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational II and CSOP "All in for Epilepsy" on Feb. 8, as well as Leigh Steinberg's 37th Annual Super Bowl Party, which PokerNews will attend. Hear the crew's Super Bowl picks, and find out where you might be able to cross paths with one of the teams after the big game.

Time Stamps
*Time | Topic*
00:23 | Welcome to the show
00:55 | Sponsor: WPT Global
01:53 | Borgata Winter Open wraps up 
02:33 | Acknowledging the Anthony Zinno allegations
03:57 | Chad’s Howard Lederer story
06:31 | PokerGO Cup is happening now
08:02 | Interview with Cody Daniels
12:26 | Early winners from the PokerGO Cup
13:33 | Bally’s Live interview with Dylan DeStefano & Dylan Weisman
15:15 | Bally’s Live interviews with Daniel Cates & Mike Watson
20:15 | Shaun Deeb closing in on $1 million in body fat prop bet
22:20 | Former PokerNews reporter Mo Nuwwarah wins MSPT Bally's Black Hawk for $155,189
25:30 | Remembering Perry Friedman
27:33 | What’s coming up?
28:07 | Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational II on Feb. 8
31:11 | Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) “All in for Epilepsy” also on Feb. 8
32:05 | PokerNews headed to Leigh Steinberg's 37th Annual Super Bowl Party
35:20 | Super Bowl picks – San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
37:50 | Where to find a Super Bowl after-party with one of the teams

On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode, Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards talk about the grand opening of the Horseshoe Las Vegas, Garrett Adelstein's interview with Doug Polk, and recent winners from the 2023 PokerStars USA SCOOP.

Plus, Shaun Deeb has been in the headlines this week for a few reasons. First, he won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit $1,700 Main Event at Turning Stone for $276K, and then he made a body fat percentage loss prop bet with Bill Perkins, one that could see him either lose $100,000 or possibly win $1,000,000! Finally, he actually talks to Connor about nearly losing $10,000, which had to be fished out of a trash can. Find out the story behind what happened from Deeb himself.

Also, hear from the legendary Vanessa Selbst, who stepped away from poker years ago but has recently dipped her toe back in as a part of the WSOP Thrill Team. Selbst talks to Chad about what inspired her to join, what she thinks of the game nowadays, and her plans for poker, including a likely return to the WSOP this summer. Don't miss your chance to hear from one of the best to ever play the game.

Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!

Time Stamps
*Time|Topic*
00:25 | Welcome to the show
01:20 | Highlights from the Horseshoe Las Vegas Grand Opening
04:07 | Jack Binion, Doyle Brunson & Mattress Mack hold Q&A session
05:34 | Sponsor: Global Poker
06:35 | Shaun Deeb is in the news for three big reasons
07:10 | Shaun Deeb wins WSOP Circuit Turning Stone
07:30 | Shaun Deeb bets $100K to win $1M in body fat prop bet
08:17 | Does Deeb stand a chance?
11:49 | Deeb nearly losses $10K in the trash
13:52 | Hear the story directly from Shaun Deeb
18:13 | Sponsor: partypoker
19:00 | Garrett Adelstein speaks – what did you think of his interview w/ Doug Polk?
25:43 | Sponsor: 888poker
26:35 | Recent winners from the PokerStars USA SCOOP
29:35 | WSOP Thrill Team
32:52 | Vanessa Selbst joins the show
35:00 | Six years since her brutal WSOP bustout hand
36:09 | Has the game passed her by?
38:18 | Battle Selbst at PlayWSOP.com 
39:10 | Has Selbst been keeping an eye on the poker scene?
40:24 | What do you think about all the recent controversies?
41:50 | How does she feel about the WSOP’s new home at Horseshoe Las Vegas?
43:14 | Where are your three WSOP gold bracelets?
45:00 | Finding life after poker
46:06 | Getting inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame
49:00 | If you come back to poker full-time, what’s new that you’d like to try?
50:50 | Sponsor: WPT Global
52:05 | What’s coming up for PokerNews?
54:18 | Connor’s morbid fascination with historical deaths

This week, we welcome 5-time WSOP bracelet winner and former WSOP Player of the Year Shaun Deeb. We are also joined by two time Unibet Open champion Matteusz Moolhuizen. For strategy, we analyse a funky spot of Dara’s from the recent EPT Barcelona. Kat Arnsby stops by to talk about The Chip Race Mystery Bounty. Plus, Barry Carter has got all the latest news!

This week, we are locked in and zenned out with Luke ‘Slay’ Vrabel.

The conversation between the lads is a wild ride that starts with the story behind the un-banning of Vrabel from the WSOP and his subsequent cash in the Main Event.

David brings up Dan Zack winning WSOP player of the Year and Shaun Deeb’s unofficial ‘player of the decade’ title before the chat segues to Landon Tice’s bet with Pads Leonard that he cannot leave Ballys for an entire year. Vrabel gives his opinion on bets that make someone miserable while Dara points to the tragedy of a young person sacrificing the 23rd year of their life.

Next is one of the two big stories of the week - GGPoker’s Player Integrity Council banning some cheaters but inviting back others. The lads all weigh in on the make-up of and concept behind the PIC while expressing concerns about GG’s integrity, the possible problem arising from personal biases and Fedor Holz’s involvement with the Odin solver.

Finally, the lads discuss Hustler Casino reneging on their $250,000 guarantee and the aftermath but just as the show is winding down, Vrabel veers the conversation towards the alleged anti-semitism of some high profile poker players, inspiring a brief chat on the nature of internet rabbit-holes and what the community can do.

It will come as no surprise that this is one of our longest ever episodes… but it’s also one of our most entertaining.