The first three episodes of the season were the three most-watched Poker television shows in U.S. history . The show aired on Sundays after the FOX National Football League coverage . In the first episode that aired on October 11 , contestant Father Andrew Trapp defeated John Salley , Rousso and Negreanu , winning $ 100,000 and a trip to the Bahamas in the process , all of which he promised to donate to his church in Garden City , South Carolina . Trapp also won the chance to play in a mini-tournament ( Episode 5 ) , the winner of which would play Negreanu for $ 1,000,000 . On October 18 , after contestant Tracy Nguyen defeated Bettis and won a trip to the Bahamas , but lost to Barry Greenstein , the next contestant Sergeant Denny Luna defeated Nicole , Moneymaker to win $ 25,000 and a trip to the Bahamas . Luna then chose to walk away ( and not risk the $ 25,000 he had already won ) rather than face Negreanu in the $ 100,000 match . On the November 22 episode after contestant Oluwasegun Odumuyiwa lost to Bettis , Brian Barboza defeated Nicole , Rousso and Negreanu , winning $ 100,000 and a trip to the Bahamas . Barboza also won the chance to play in a mini-tournament , the winner of which would play Negreanu for $ 1,000,000 . In December Joanna Krupa and Joe Cada were announced as newly added as celebrity and professional opponents . Ortiz and Krupa appeared on the fourth episode , which aired on December 13 . Cada appeared , but he did not play a hand . Dwayne Buth , playing on behalf of the Cal State Fullerton wrestling team , lost to Ortiz . Mike Kosowski , a first responder during the September 11 attacks lost to Krupa . The final airing of the competition among the previous winners was expected on December 27 . However , when the contestants on the fourth episode all lost , a single table tournament was held to determine the fourth contestant . Kosowski won and then bested Luna , Barboza and Trapp , in that order , in the Challenge of Champions for a $ 100,000 prize and a chance to play Negreanu for $ 1million . In three hands of heads up play , he bested Negreanu
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Million Dollar Challenge (TV program)