Galfond Challenge: Galfond Wins €85,271, Now Down €233,624
Thursday, March 26, gave us more action in the ‘Galfond Challenge.’ After Phil Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ took a few days off, the pair was back battling in the streets of €100-200 PLO on Run It Once Poker on Thursday. As has been the story throughout the whole month of March, Galfond continued to chip away at his deficit.
On Thursday, Galfond won €85,271.31 off ‘VeniVidi1993.’ He came into this latest session down €318,895.43, and the €85,271.31 win now puts him down €233,624.12 overall. After February 9, which was the 15th session between these two, Galfond was down more than €900,000. Since then, Galfond’s comeback has been one of the biggest stories in poker.
Another 642 hands of the 25,000-hand challenge were played on Thursday, putting Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ 18,193 hands through their Galfond Challenge match. That means they’re 6,807 hands away from the finish line.
[ptable zone=”Global Poker Article Ad”][ptable zone=”GG Poker”][ptable zone=”Party Poker NJ”]
Thursday’s session saw Galfond get up more than €150,000. Although the end result was an €85,271.31 winning session for Galfond, it could’ve been much, much more had ‘VeniVidi1993’ not pulled things back towards the end.
Galfond got up early on Thursday, including pulling in the following pot after flopping a flush and ending with a full house.
With €1,798.50 in the pot on the 
board, both players checked to see the 
pair the board on the river. Galfond led with a pot-sized bet and ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €7,194. Galfond made the call.
Galfond showed the 
for a full house, sevens over fours, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
for two pair. Galfond won the €16,186.50 pot.
Another big one that went Galfond’s way was the following €43,779.66 pot. The draws missed for ‘VeniVidi1993’ and Galfond’s set of jacks was the winner.
On the 
flop, there was €1,199 in the middle. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked, Galfond bet €839.30, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ check-raised to €2,997.50. Galfond made the call. The turn was the 
and ‘VeniVidi1993’ fired a pot-sized bet of €7,194. Galfond raised all in and ‘VeniVidi1993’ called off his last €11,098.83.
‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
and Galfond had the 
. The on the river kept Galfond’s hand best and he scooped the pot.
About halfway through the session, Galfond won a €51,212.32 when his flopped two pair held up.
‘VeniVidi1993’ fired €3,599 on the 
flop, which was a pot-sized bet. Galfond raised to €14,396 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised all in for €23,806.66. Galfond called.
Galfond had the 
for top two pair on the flop. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
. The turn and river were the 
and to give Galfond the win.
It wasn’t all Galfond on Thursday, though. As mentioned, ‘VeniVidi1993’ was able to battle back some, including winning the following €39,999 pot.
Faced with a €1,799.50 bet from Galfond on the 
flop, ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call to see the 
on the turn. Galfond fired €7,198 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised all in for €16,400.50. Galfond called.
Galfond had the and ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
. The river was the 
, giving ‘VeniVidi1993’ a full house, tens over kings, and he won the pot.
‘VeniVidi1993’ also won another €39,999 with a full house later on, this time beating Galfond’s Broadway straight.
On the , Galfond fired €1,187.67 into a pot of €3,599. ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €4,234.58 and Galfond kicked it up to €16,302.74. ‘VeniVidi1993’ went all in for €18,200 and Galfond called.
‘VeniVidi1993’ had the and Galfond had the 
. The turn and river were kings – the followed by the – and ‘VeniVidi1993’ won the pot with kings full of sixes.
Challenge Results To Date
| Hands Played | Daily Winner | Amount Won | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Jan. 22) | 655 | VeniVidi1993 | €72,572.68 |
| Day 2 (Jan. 23) | 715 | Phil Galfond | €2,615.26 |
| Day 3 (Jan. 24) | 557 | VeniVidi1993 | €84,437.52 |
| Day 4 (Jan. 25) | 581 | VeniVidi1993 | €17,544.87 |
| Day 5 (Jan. 27) | 726 | VeniVidi1993 | €155,063.52 |
| Day 6 (Jan. 28) | 703 | VeniVidi1993 | €13.31 |
| Day 7 (Jan. 30) | 823 | VeniVidi1993 | €52,057.13 |
| Day 8 (Jan. 31) | 940 | VeniVidi1993 | €60,743.37 |
| Day 9 (Feb. 1) | 446 | VeniVidi1993 | €12,706.51 |
| Day 10 (Feb. 3) | 696 | VeniVidi1993 | €100,993.30 |
| Day 11 (Feb. 4) | 741 | VeniVidi1993 | €15,647.36 |
| Day 12 (Feb. 6) | 622 | Phil Galfond | €87,940.91 |
| Day 13 (Feb. 7) | 470 | VeniVidi1993 | €267,949.70 |
| Day 14 (Feb. 8) | 593 | VeniVidi1993 | €48,473.73 |
| Day 15 (Feb. 9) | 659 | VeniVidi1993 | €102,593.34 |
| Day 16 (Mar. 4) | 574 | Phil Galfond | €183,481.38 |
| Day 17 (Mar. 5) | 582 | VeniVidi1993 | €21,571.51 |
| Day 18 (Mar. 6) | 555 | Phil Galfond | €27,198.94 |
| Day 19 (Mar. 7) | 638 | Phil Galfond | €26,018.41 |
| Day 20 (Mar. 9) | 566 | Phil Galfond | €92,803.89 |
| Day 21 (Mar. 10) | 576 | Phil Galfond | €3,766.94 |
| Day 22 (Mar. 11) | 556 | VeniVidi1993 | €88,465.60 |
| Day 23 (Mar. 12) | 598 | Phil Galfond | €23,821.05 |
| Day 24 (Mar. 13) | 628 | Phil Galfond | €19,099.65 |
| Day 25 (Mar. 14) | 664 | Phil Galfond | €139,485.78 |
| Day 26 (Mar. 19) | 539 | Phil Galfond | €110,752.58 |
| Day 27 (Mar. 20) | 645 | VeniVidi1993 | €76,026.05 |
| Day 28 (Mar. 21) | 503 | Phil Galfond | €140,979.28 |
| Day 29 (Mar. 26) | 642 | Phil Galfond | €85,271.31 |
| – | – | – | – |
| Total | 18,193 | VeniVidi1993 | €233,624.12 |
What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?
Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ are scheduled for another session on Friday, March 27, starting at 12 p.m. ET.
As things stand, the match is currently 18,193 hands complete. The two are scheduled to play 25,000 hands, with Galfond putting up €200,000 in side action to the €100,000 of ‘VeniVidi1993.’
Be sure to stay tuned to PocketFives for more on the Galfond Challenge.