The Online Railbird Report: The Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond Show
The online high-stakes cash games at Full Tilt Poker this weekend were home to a lot of action. Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond is in the middle of what he calls his worst career downswing but had a profitable few days on the virtual felt at the expense of Scott "URnotINdanger2" Palmer. After that winning session, Galfond and Patrik Antonius battled at $500/$1,000 pot-limit Omaha and they certainly were not afraid to let the chips fly.
A Session Palmer Would Like To Forget
To the point, Galfond really put a beating on Scott "URnotINdanger2" Palmer. They battled at $500/$1,000 capped pot-limit Omaha and Galfond left with about $700,000 of Palmer's money, despite only being able to win a maximum of $40,000 on a given hand.
With the button, Galfond opened to $2,300. Palmer bumped it to $6,900 from the big blind and Galfond came back over the top to $20,700. Palmer called, seeing the flop fall Q♣9♠2♦. A check from Palmer led to Galfond betting $19,300, reaching the cap. Palmer called with A♠Q♦J♠5♣ for top pair, while Galfond showed A♣K♠10♠9♣ for middle pair and a straight draw. The key card for Galfond turned out to be his king. They ran it twice to the tune of K♦ turn 7♣ river, and a 6♥ turn K♣ river. Galfond made kings and nines on each run to win the pot.
In another hand, Galfond limped on the button and Palmer checked his option. The flop came down 6♣6♦2♠ and Palmer checked. Galfond bet $1,000, only to see Palmer pop it to $3,000. Galfond fired back an additional $4,000, but Palmer would not back down and made it $14,000 to play. Galfond put an end to the raising and just called, landing the K♣ on the turn. Palmer bet $9,000 and was quickly called, leading to the 9♣ river card. Palmer bet $19,000 to reach the cap and was met with a call. Having flopped a full house with Q♦6♥5♠2♣, Palmer was run down on the river by Galfond's J♦9♥6♠4♥.
Antonius Takes Some Of Galfond's Winnings
Thirteen pots between the two hit the six-figure mark with seven going to Antonius, three to Galfond, and three split.
Antonius raised to $3,000 on the button and Galfond made it $9,000 to go from the big blind. After Antonius called, the flop came down Q♠10♦6♣. Galfond bet $11,500, unable to shake Antonius. The turn brought the 5♠ and Galfond kept up the heat with a $41,000 bet. Antonius shoved for just shy of $120,000 and Galfond called with J♠J♦10♥9♠ for second pair, a flush draw, and an open-ended straight draw. Antonius was in the lead with Q♣9♣8♣5♣ for top and bottom pair, as well as a double-gutshot straight draw. They ran it twice, but Galfond found no help from the 4♥ and 3♣ river cards. The $279,992 pot went to Antonius.
Antonius raised to $3,000 on the button and Galfond popped it to $9,000 from the big blind. A four-bet was next from Antonius, making it $27,000. Galfond called and when the flop ran out J♥10♦6♦, he checked. Antonius bet the $54,000 pot and was met with an all-in raise from Galfond. With roughly $44,000 behind, Antonius called all-in with A♠A♦8♥8♠ for just one pair, and Galfond tabled Q♠9♣8♣7♣ for the monster wrap.
Despite being nearly 3:2 to win the pot, Galfond came up empty handed on not one, but two runs. The first brought a 6♣ turn followed by a 6♠ river, locking up half the pot for Antonius with sixes full of aces. The second again missed Galfond completely again when the 10♠ turn and J♣ river kept Antonius' aces in play. The $248,972 pot went Antonius' way once again.
Antonius raised to $3,000 on the button and Galfond made it $9,000 to play from the big blind. A call from Antonius led to a Q♥7♣2♣ flop. Galfond bet $11,500, but was quickly met with a pot-sized raise to $52,500 from Antonius. Galfond put the rest of his stack in, about $100,000. Antonius called with K♣Q♣10♠5♦ for top pair and a flush draw, needing to catch up against Galfond's 8♥8♦2♦2♥ for bottom set.
They ran it twice, and as was the case much of their session, Antonius escaped with both halves of the pot. The first run brought the 5♠ turn and Q♦ river, giving Antonius better full house; the second run delivered the 6♥ turn followed by the 4♣ river, making a flush for Antonius. Ship the $217,996 pot to Finland.
Who's Up? Who's Down?
This week’s biggest winners (2/4-2/7): Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond (+$646,000), Gus Hansen (+$185,000), Daniel "jungleman12" Cates (+$88,000)
Week’s biggest losers: Scott "URnotINdanger2" Palmer (-$787,000), Di “Urindanger” Dang (-$137,000)
Year-to-date winners: Gus Hansen (+$1.35 million), Patrik Antonius ($919,000), Di "ilvdnfl" Dang (PokerStars - +$806,000), Di “Urindanger” Dang (+$726,000)
Year-to-date losers: NEKOTYAN (-$837,000), Phil Ivey (-$682,000), Kpederson (-$543,000)
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