On Saturday, Phil Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ traded blows for another 680 hands of €100-200 PLO on Run It Once Poker, pushing their 25,000-hand ‘Galfond Challenge’ to 21,339 hands complete. The latest session went Galfond’s way, as he booked a €28,722.88 win. ‘VeniVidi1993’ still leads overall, though, up by €40,422.39.

‘VeniVidi1993’ was the one who jumped out to the early lead on Saturday. He then extended his lead to nearly six figures before Galfond started to come back.

The Galfond Challenge between Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ has 3,661 hands left, so only a handful of sessions will be played out between these two. The gap is just about two buy-ins, so this duel is anyone’s to win. Should Galfond come out on top, he’ll win an additional €100,000 side bet from ‘VeniVidi1993.’ Should ‘VeniVidi1993’ be victorious over the 25,000 hands, he’ll score an additional €200,000 from Galfond.

One of the hands that ‘VeniVidi1993’ won early on Saturday was a €43,784.34 pot with a full house to Galfond’s straight.

There was €9,999 in the middle on the board. Galfond checked and ‘VeniVidi1993’ fired €5,000. Galfond called and the river was the . Galfond checked again and ‘VeniVidi1993’ moved all in for €11,892.67. Galfond called.

Galfond had the for an eight-high straight. ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the  for a full house, fours over sevens, and he scooped the pot.

In the second half of the session, Galfond picked up two big pots in quick succession that really helped him to book a win on Saturday. Here’s the first, where Galfond won a €42,125.66 pot with two pair.

On the flop, ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €2,200 into a pot of €3,599. Galfond called and the turn was the . ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €7,999, which was a pot-sized bet, and Galfond raised to put ‘VeniVidi1993’ all in. ‘VeniVidi1993’ called off his remaining €9,064.33.

‘VeniVidi1993’ had the and Galfond had the . The river was the and Galfond’s hand held up.

Shortly after that, Galfond pulled in a €39,999 pot with a set of nines.

There was €3,599 in the middle on the  flop and ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €2,200. Galfond raised to €5,600 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ reraised to €18,200 and was all in. Galfond made the call.

Galfond had the and ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the . The turn was the and the river was the . Galfond’s set of nines held up and he was pushed the pot.

Challenge Results To Date

What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?

Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ have a day off on Sunday, April 5, but then they’ll be back in action for more €100-200 Pot Limit Omaha on Run It Once Poker on Monday, April 6.

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