Phil Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ played another session of their ‘Galfond Challenge’ match on Sunday, battling for 659 hands at €100-€200 PLO on Run It Once Poker. The result was another six-figure loss for Galfond, as ‘VeniVidi1993’ won €102,593.34.

On Sunday, Galfond was winning for around 75% of the session’s duration, up nearly €60,000 at his high point. But the final quarter of the match was all ‘VeniVidi1993,’ as he swung the pendulum the other way in a flurry. After Sunday’s session, which was the 15th session of the Galfond Challenge between Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993,’ ‘VeniVidi1993’ is up more than €900,000.

Down €900,240.17 to ‘VeniVidi1993’ through 15 sessions, Galfond is losing an average of €60,016 per session. The two have played 9,927 hands of their 25,000-hand match, and Galfond is losing at a rate of €9,068.60 and 45.34 big blinds per 100 hands. If the same pace were to continue for the remainder of the match, Galfond would be down more than €2.26 million. If Galfond finishes down to ‘VeniVidi1993’ after all 25,000 hands, he’ll have to fork over an additional €200,000.

It wasn’t too long ago that many thought Galfond was righting the ship, thanks to a winning session of €87,940.91 on Day 12. That session was followed up by three consecutive losing sessions for Galfond, as he has dropped a combined €419,016.77 since that Day 12 win. To further put that figure into perspective, Galfond was down €481,223.40 overall to ‘VeniVidi1993’ after 12 sessions of play, so he’s lost almost as much of that in the last three times on the felt.

About halfway through Sunday’s session, Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ played the following €65,429.82 pot, and it was Galfond coming out on top with a big call on the river.

With a final board of  in the middle, the pot was €7,269.98. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked and Galfond fired a pot-sized bet. ‘VeniVidi1993’ check-raised to €29,079.92 and the raise sent Galfond into the tank.

With his time bank just about at zero, Galfond made the call with the for a spade flush. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the  and Galfond won the pot.

The following two hands took place side by side. One was a pot worth €10,791 and the other was a pot worth €41,655.66. Both pots went to ‘VeniVidi1993’ and marked the turning point in the session at which Galfond went from winning to losing.

On the left table, ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €1,199 on the board. Galfond called and the river was the . ‘VeniVidi1993’ fired €3,597 and Galfond made the call. ‘VeniVidi1993’ showed the  for a ten-high straight. Galfond mucked his hand. This pot was worth €10,791.

On the right table, there was a pot of €5,999 in the middle with a board of showing. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked, Galfond bet €5,999, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ raised to €23,996. Galfond had €11,829.33 behind and called all in with the for a full house, tens full of fives. The problem for Galfond was, ‘VeniVidi1993’ had a higher full house with the  for kings full of fives. This pot was worth €41,655.66.

Nearing the end of the session, ‘VeniVidi1993’ won the following €50,794 pot when he picked off a big river bet from Galfond.

There was €24,598.50 in the middle on the  board. ‘VeniVidi1993’ checked and Galfond shoved all in for €13,097.75. ‘VeniVidi1993’ made the call.

Galfond showed the for two pair. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the  for trip kings and scooped the pot.

Challenge Results To Date

What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?

Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ have now played nearly 40% of the 25,000 hands they’re scheduled to play, and Galfond’s deficit is approaching €1 million. The next time these two will be in action is on Tuesday, February 11, starting at 11 a.m. ET. Monday, February 10, is an off day.

The plan is for Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ to play Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week, with each day starting at 11 a.m. ET, then take Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.

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