Phil Galfond Challenge vs. 'VeniVidi1993'
The first match of the Galfond Challenge sees Phil Galfond take on 'VeniVidi1993' in 25,000 hands of €100-€200 PLO

If you’re rooting for Phil Galfond in his ‘Galfond Challenge’ match against ‘VeniVidi1993,’ then Friday was not a pretty sight. Galfond suffered his worst losing session of the match, dropping nearly €270,000 to ‘VeniVidi1993.’ Galfond is now down €749,173.10 overall.

The two played just 470 hands of €100-€200 PLO on Run It Once Poker on Friday, but that didn’t stop ‘VeniVidi1993’ from racking up a €267,949.70 win.

Through 8,675 hands of the 25,000-hand match, ‘VeniVidi1993’ is up three-quarters of a million dollars. They’re just about one-third through the entire match and things are not looking good for Galfond. Friday marked the 13th session between these two players, and Galfond has averaged a loss of €57,628 in those 13 sessions. Per 100 hands, Galfond is losing at a rate of $8,636 and 43.18 big blinds.

Just a few dozen hands in, Galfond lost the following pot of more than €32,000 to start the slide.

On the 9h7c3c2d board, ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked, Galfond fired a pot-sized bet of €3,599, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €14,396. Galfond called and the river was the Kh. Both players opted to check and it was the QsTsTd8d that won the €32,391 pot for ‘VeniVidi1993.’

At right around 100 hands played on the day, Galfond lost the following pot worth more than €40,000 after he was picked off on the river by ‘VeniVidi1993.’

There was €16,195.50 in the middle on the Js5d4sJd7d board. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked to Galfond, and Galfond fired all in for €12,001.75. ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call with the JcTc9s8d for trip jacks with a ten kicker. Galfond had the Kc5c4c2s for two pair and lost the €40,199 pot.

Not long after that loss, Galfond was on the bad end of another one, and this time it was full house over full house.

With €1,199 in the middle on the JhThTs3d board, Galfond checked and ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €611.49. Galfond called and the 6h completed the board on the river. ‘VeniVidi1993’ led with a pot-sized bet of €2,421.98 and Galfond raised to €9,687.92. ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call.

‘VeniVidi1993’ had the Tc9s4c3c for a full house, tens over threes. Galfond also had a full house, but it was an inferior one with the Ad8d6d6s for sixes over tens. The pot wasn’t the biggest we’ve seen, but it was still worth nearly €22,000 and it went the way of ‘VeniVidi1993.’

The following hand provides a good example of how Galfond is running in some spots. ‘VeniVidi1993’ didn’t have a monster holding, nor was it was monster pot at €14,397, but it’s a good example of how things have been going.

With €7,198.50 in the middle on the 7d7h2h5dAs board, Galfond bet €3,599.25 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call. Galfond showed the QdJhTh9d for a pair of busted flush draws. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the Ac8h6h4s for two pair, aces and sevens, and won the pot.

It was more run bad for Galfond on this next hand, despite flopping top set on a board that didn’t contain any immediate flush draws. The money went in on the flop and Galfond lost a pot of more than €47,000.

With €3,599 in the middle on the Qc8h4d board, ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €6,298.25 after Galfond bet €899.75. Galfond fired back with an all-in reraise to €21,708.37 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call.

‘VeniVidi1993’ showed the Qs7s5h4h and Galfond had the QhQdJsTh. The turn was the 6h to give ‘VeniVidi1993’ a straight, and then the Td completed the board. ‘VeniVidi1993’ won with a straight and pulled in the €47,015.74 pot.

A bit later in the session, Galfond got his money in holding aces but it didn’t work out.

In preflop action, ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €600, Galfond made it €1,800, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ called. The flop was 8h6c2d and Galfond led with a bet of €3,599. ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €14,396 and Galfond reraised all in for €18,799 total. ‘VeniVidi1993’ called to create a pot of €41,197.

‘VeniVidi1993’ shows the Kc9c8s5c and Galfond had the AcAs7s3h. The turn was the Tc and the river was the Kh. ‘VeniVidi1993’ finished with two pair, kings and aces, to beat Galfond’s aces and win the pot.

Not too long before the day’s session came to a close, ‘VeniVidi1993’ scored another pot of €39,999 off Galfond. Here’s how it went down.

Galfond started the action with a preflop raise to €600, then ‘VeniVidi1993’ reraised to €1,800. Galfond called and the flop was Td9h2h. ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €3,599 and Galfond raised to €14,396. Galfond had €3,804 behind and ‘VeniVidi1993’ reraised enough to put him all in. Galfond called and the cards were shown.

Galfond had the KcTh9c8d for top two pair. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the KdJdJs3s. The turn was the 6s and then the river was the Qd. With that river, ‘VeniVidi1993’ made a king-high straight and won the 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
Total 8,675 VeniVidi1993 €749,173.10

 

What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?

Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ are planned to resume play on Saturday, February 8, starting at 11 a.m. ET.

Be sure to stay tuned to PocketFives for more on the Galfond Challenge.