Galfond Challenge: Galfond Picks Up Another €19,099
On Friday, March 13, Phil Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ continued their ‘Galfond Challenge’ match by playing another 628 hands of €100-200 PLO on Run It Once Poker. Galfond came out on top of the session with a €19,099.65 win.
Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ have no played 15,200 hands of their 25,000-hand match. ‘VeniVidi1993’ is still leading overall by a large margin, but Galfond has trimmed the deficit from more than €900,000 to €634,087.02. The two have less than 10,000 hands to go to complete the challenge, with Galfond risking €200,000 in side action to the €100,000 of ‘VeniVidi1993.’
Galfond starting off the winning on Friday almost immediately. Just a few hands into the session, he won the following pot without having to go to a showdown.
On the 
board, there was €5,398.50 in the middle. Galfond was first to act and bet the pot. ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call to see the 
pair the board on the river. Galfond fired all in for €13,811.24. ‘VeniVidi1993’ folded and Galfond picked up the pot.
A little bit later, Galfond won another big one, this time for €44,793.
On the 
flop, ‘VeniVidi1993’ led with a bet of €1,835.49 and Galfond called. The turn was the 5s and ‘VeniVidi1993’ fired a pot-sized bet of €7,269.98. Galfond raised the pot to €29,079.92, effectively putting ‘VeniVidi1993’ all in. ‘VeniVidi1993’ called off his last €11,491.53.
Galfond revealed the 
and ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
. The river completed the board with the 
and Galfond scooped the pot with his two pair, eights and threes.
Shortly after that, another big one went Galfond’s way. This time, he scooped a €43,193.50 pot with a full house, fours over queens.
On the 
flop, ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €1,835.49 and Galfond raised to €4,600. ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call and the 
landed on the turn. ‘VeniVidi1993’ fired a pot-sized bet of €12,799, with €2,398.25 behind. Galfond shoved and ‘VeniVidi1993’ quickly called.
‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
for a turned Broadway straight. Galfond had the 
for a set of fours and a flush draw. The river was the 
to pair the board and that gave Galfond a winning full house.
Later in the match, at about the halfway point, ‘VeniVidi1993’ was able to score a nice one with a king-high flush to Galfond’s lower flush.
There was €7,198 in the middle on the 
board and both players checked to see the land on the river. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked, Galfond bet the full pot, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call.
Galfond had the 
for a club flush, but it was the 
of ‘VeniVidi1993’ that was the winner of this €21,594 pot.
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 |
| – | – | – | – |
| Total | 15,200 | VeniVidi1993 | €634,087.02 |
What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?
The Galfond Challenge between Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ will continue on Saturday, March 14 starting at 12 p.m. ET.
The match is currently 15,200 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.
