Galfond Challenge: Perkins Starts with $1,561 Lead Over Galfond
The second edition of the ‘Galfond Challenge‘ kicked off on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Next up for Phil Galfond was a battle with Bill Perkins and various members of the Thirst Lounge team. The first day of play saw swings both ways before ultimately ending with Perkins grabbing a $1,561.86 lead.
Galfond and Perkins are scheduled to play 50,000 hands of $100-200 PLO or until one player loses $400,000, whichever comes first. The challenge is taking place on partypoker.
On Tuesday, Galfond streamed his side of play on the Run it Once Poker Twitch channel. He and Perkins played one table and the session lasted 388 hands.
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Perkins jumped out to the early lead and began to extend the gap, which is something we’ve seen before as Galfond started off losing to ‘VeniVidi1993‘ in the first Galfond Challenge match. With Perkins up around $40,000-$50,000, the following hand came up that gave Perkins even more of a lead.
On the button, Galfond raised to $600 holding the 
and Perkins made the call. The flop came down 
and both players checked to see the 
land on the turn. Perkins fired a min-bet of $200 and Galfond raised to $1,287.32. Perkins reraised to $5,060.96 and Galfond called. The river was the 
and Perkins led with a bet of $8,490.69. Galfond mulled it over and folded his two pair.
Shortly thereafter, Galfond had to make another fold to Perkins in a pot north of $10,000. This time, Galfond folded on the turn.
Perkins raised on the button to $600 and Galfond three-bet to $1,800 from the big blind with the 
. Perkins made it $5,400 and Galfond called. The flop was 
and both players checked to see the land on the turn. Galfond checked again and Perkins fired $5,399.50. Galfond folded.
Around halfway through the session is when Galfond started to turn things around, including taking the following pot worth $11,325.64 off Perkins.
The two saw a flop of 
with $3,599 in the middle and Galfond bet $600 holding the 
. Perkins called and the turn was the 
. Galfond bet $3,263.32 and Perkins called again. The river was the 
and both players checked.
Galfond showed his hand to beat the 
of Perkins.
The biggest pot of the session was worth more than $34,000 and it also went Galfond’s way, which helped him further cut into the lead that Perkins had built.
Galfond was holding the 
on the 
flop. He bet $1,079.70 into a pot of $3,599 and Perkins raised to $3,958.90. Galfond made the call and the turn was the to give Galfond a queen-high straight. Both players checked and the river was the . Galfond fired a pot-sized bet of $11,516.80 and Perkins made the call.
Perkins’ hand was mucked after he made the call but Galfond did mention on the stream that Perkins had ace-jack-six in his hand for two pair.
Challenge Results To Date
| Hands Played | Daily Winner | Amount Won | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Apr. 14) | 388 | Bill Perkins | $1,561.86 |
| – | – | – | – |
| Total | 388 | Bill Perkins | $1,561.86 |