Galfond Challenge: Galfond Trails By €8,171 with One Session Left
Who doesn’t love a six-figure coin flip? That’s basically what the ‘Galfond Challenge’ between Phil Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ is down to.
Through 24,302 hands of their 25,000-hand challenge, ‘VeniVidi1993’ holds a small lead of €8,171.67 over Galfond. The remaining 698 hands should be cranked out in one final session that will decide it all, with Galfond having an additional €200,000 on the line up against the €100,000 of ‘VeniVidi1993.’
The two have now played 38 sessions of €100-200 PLO on Run It Once Poker. Through the first 15 sessions, ‘VeniVidi1993’ put a hurting on Galfond to the tune of more than €900,000 total. Galfond took an extended break, paid a few penalties for missed sessions, and returned with a comeback for the ages, fully wiping out the deficit.
Now, it’s one final session, scheduled for Sunday, April 12, to decide it all.
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Friday’s session saw ‘VeniVidi1993’ get the lead early, but then Galfond battled back to move in front. During the middle bit of the session, ‘VeniVidi1993’ was out in front and it looked like he might run away with things. Galfond fought back, though, and ended up the day in the black by €23,581.50.
Giving some worry to Galfond backers early was the loss of a huge €65,209.64 pot that Galfond suffered to ‘VeniVidi1993.’
Galfond checked the 
board with €7,198 in the middle and ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet the pot. Galfond check-raised to €28,792, leaving himself with just €213.82 behind. ‘VeniVidi1993’ shoved and Galfond called.
Galfond had the 
for trip fives. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
for a full house, deuces over fives. The river 
kept ‘VeniVidi1993’ in the lead and he hauled in the big pot.
Just when it looked like ‘VeniVidi1993’ was going to really pull away from Galfond in the middle portion of Friday’s session, Galfond started clawing back, including winning the following €14,397 pot.
With €4,799 in the middle on the 
board, Galfond checked and ‘VeniVidi1993’ fired a pot-sized wager. Galfond called and the river was the . Both players checked and it was Galfond’s 
that won him the pot with a flush. ‘VeniVidi1993’ mucked his hand.
Another pot involving a Galfond-winning flush was the following one worth €10,791. This one also came during the middle portion of Friday’s session when ‘VeniVidi1993’ was winning on the day but Galfond was fighting back.
There was €1,199 in the middle on the 
board and ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked. Galfond bet €1,199 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call to see the 
complete the board. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked, Galfond bet a pot-sized €3,597, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ quickly called.
Galfond showed a queen-high flush with the 
and ‘VeniVidi1993’ mucked his hand.
Nearing the end of the session, Galfond got paid off in the following €32,391 pot.
After ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked the 
board, Galfond bet a pot-sized €3,599. ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call and the 
hit the river. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked and Galfond bet €10,797, which was the full pot amount. ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call.
Galfond revealed the 
for an eight-high straight and ‘VeniVidi1993’ mucked his hand.
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 |
| Day 30 (Mar. 27) | 777 | VeniVidi1993 | €26,992.32 |
| Day 31 (Mar. 28) | 393 | Phil Galfond | €106,328.51 |
| Day 32 (Apr. 2) | 664 | Phil Galfond | €113,680.87 |
| Day 33 (Apr. 3) | 632 | VeniVidi1993 | €28,538.21 |
| Day 34 (Apr. 4) | 680 | Phil Galfond | €28,722.88 |
| Day 35 (Apr. 6) | 758 | Phil Galfond | €121,486.95 |
| Day 36 (Apr. 7) | 592 | VeniVidi1993 | €34,580.19 |
| Day 37 (Apr. 9) | 883 | VeniVidi1993 | €78,237.54 |
| Day 38 (Apr. 10) | 734 | Phil Galfond | €23,581.50 |
| – | – | – | – |
| Total | 24,302 | VeniVidi1993 | €8,171.67 |
What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?
The Galfond Challenge between Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ has just 698 hands to go. After a break on Saturday, April 11, for the Run It Once Poker charity event to benefit COVID-19 relief to take place, Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ will be back on Sunday, April 12, for another session of €100-200 Pot Limit Omaha on Run It Once Poker. Sunday’s session should be the final session between these two. With the gap being so small, it’s anyone’s game to win.
Be sure to stay tuned to PocketFives for more on the Galfond Challenge.