Galfond Challenge: Galfond Wins €139,485 On Saturday
The ‘Galfond Challenge’ between Phil Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ continued on Saturday, March 14. The two battled for 664 hands, with Galfond scoring a big winning session.
On Saturday, Galfond won €139,485.78 off ‘VeniVidi1993.’ Although ‘VeniVidi1993’ is still up overall through the 15,864 hands played between the two, Galfond has cut his deficit to less than €500,000 after being down more than €900,000. The official tally has ‘VeniVidi1993’ up €494,601.24.
Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ are scheduled to play 25,000 hands of €100-200 Pot Limit Omaha on Run It Once Poker. They’ve got 9,136 hands to go and Galfond is putting up one heck of a comeback since the match went on break at the decision of Galfond to take some time off to regroup.
The two went on hiatus following the 15th session of the match that took place on February 9. At that point, ‘VeniVidi1993’ was up €900,240.17. Of the 15 sessions played up until that point, ‘VeniVidi1993’ had won in 13 of them, including daily wins of €267,949.70 on February 7 and €155,063.52 on January 27. Since returning to action on March 4, Galfond has won back more than €400,000. Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ have now played 10 sessions since the break, and Galfond has won eight of those 10.
Let’s take a look at a couple of highlights from Saturday’s Galfond Challenge session.
Galfond’s winning ways came early on Saturday, as he scooped a €42,597.84 pot just a few hands into the session.
There was €3,599 in the middle on the 
flop and ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet the full pot. Galfond raised to €14,396 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ shoved for €19,499.42 total. Galfond called.
Galfond had the 
and ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
. The 
landed on the turn, followed by the 
on the river. With the river, Galfond made an eight-high straight and won the pot.
Later on, the two clashed in an even bigger pot worth €67,674.98. Galfond won it and did so with just a pair of fours, if you can believe it.
On the 
flop, Galfond fired a pot-sized wager of €3,599. ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €14,396, Galfond shoved, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ called off his remaining €17,641.99.
Galfond had the 
for a pair of fours and a straight draw plus backdoor flush draws. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the 
for a straight draw and one backdoor flush draw. The turn was the 
and the river was the 
, leaving Galfond’s pair of fours as the winner.
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 |
| – | – | – | – |
| Total | 15,864 | VeniVidi1993 | €494,601.24 |
What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?
The Galfond Challenge between Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ will resume on Thursday, March 19, starting at 12 p.m. ET. Sunday will be a day off for the two.
The match is currently 15,864 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.
