Rafael Nadal beats Ronaldo in a special poker match
While the world was busy watching football and tennis matches around the globe, the two maestros of these games, Rafael Nadal and Ronaldo clashed at London's Hippodrome Casino for poker match hosted by PokerStars. The 14-time Grand Slam winner Nadal outplayed the legendary Brazilian striker in the heads-up battle.
Dream heads-up match: Rafa vs Ronaldo
On 19th November, the duo played for 20 minutes at the luxurious casino to prove which one of them is a better poker player. As the game drew to a close, it was Nadal cliching the victory in final hands. The victory brought Nadal a $50,000 prize which he announced to donate to the Rafa Nadal Foundation, an initiative created in 2007 to help socially discriminated children and teenagers who run the risk of exclusion by society.
The Brazilian football legend was made to do the washing up at the casino after losing the game. Nadal had organised for his favourite Spanish restaurant, Cambio De Tercio, to cater the event.
Similarity in poker and tennis
"In poker, you need self control, the ability to analyze your opponent and read the game to know when to go for it, a strategy that is not too dissimilar to tennis," Nadal said after the game. "It was close for most of the match and I’m delighted to have won. I called all in on the final hand, which proved to be a good move."
He then continued, "Ronaldo is a football great and it’s amazing for me to have the opportunity to face him at the poker table. I’m happy for a rematch if Ronaldo is up to the challenge."
"Rafa played well. I made a mistake going all in at the end with a bluff, but ultimately Rafa had the best hand," Ronaldo commented. "Sometimes you have to be bold in poker, and even though it didn’t work out this time, I had fun."
Nadal’s second win over Ronaldo
This was the 2nd time when these two sport wizards have seen each other at the poker table. They played against each other back in December 2013 during the European Poker Tour Prague Charity Challenge. Then too, Nadal won the poker challenge against the footballer adjoined by poker pros Daniel Negreanu and Fatima Moreira de Melo.
These charity showbiz poker-matches are definitely proving good to the promotion of this game of skill among the international audience and the millions followers of these sport stars.