10 Huge Pots From the First Galfond Challenge Match
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The first match of the Galfond Challenge is over. After two long months and 25,000 hands of €100/€200 pot-limit Omaha action, Phil Galfond emerged as the winner over "Venividi1993" by the barest of margins.
The wild ride saw Galfond go down more than €900,000 and then climb all the way back to take the lead, only to trail in the waning moments before snatching victory. He shared the graph of the match from his perspective on Twitter:
The first #GalfondChallenge https://t.co/KSw2qQJZkl
— Phil Galfond (@PhilGalfond)
To get a more granular looks at the biggest swings, PokerNews decided to comb through the pots and single out the largest of all, the ones whose outcomes ultimately had the biggest impact on the final bottom line.
Want to know everything about the Galfond Challenge? Check out thePokerNews Galfond Challenge page for more information!
Day 6: €81K Pot
Venividi raised to €600 and Galfond three-bet to €1,800. Venividi called for a 3♥10♣J♦ flop. Galfond led with small sizings of a quarter pot then €1,350 on the 4♦ turn. Venividi responded to the second bet with a raise to €9,448. Galfond called for a pot of €24,293.
On the 7♣ river, Galfond checked and Venividi bet €12,389. Galfond shoved for Venividi's remaining €16,412, and Venividi didn't need too much time before calling with J♠J♣6♦5♥ for top set on the flop and a seven-high straight on the river.
Unfortunately for him, Galfond had Q♠Q♦9♦8♦ for the cooler and dragged a pot worth €81,896.
Day 14: €75K Pot
Galfond raised to €600 and Venividi called. Venividi check-called a bet on the 7♣A♠10♠ flop and then checked the 5♣ turn. Galfond used a small sizing and Venividi potted to €8,392. Galfond called to create a pot of €25,178.
On the Q♥ river, Venividi went into his time bank then checked. Galfond went into his own bank then potted. Venividi nearly timed out before calling for most of his money. Galfond could only muster 9♥6♥2♥8♣ for a missed wrap and zero showdown value, and Venividi had looked him up with A♣Q♣10♥3♠ for aces up.
Day 12: €75K Pot
Venividi raised to €600 and Galfond called, bringing a flop of Q♣4♦9♣. Venividi continued for about €800 and Galfond called for an 8♠ turn. Venividi pushed harder with a pot-sized bet of €2,805 but Galfond responded with a check-raise to €11,200. Venividi called for a pot of €25,250.
The river was an A♣ and Galfond piled for €24,984. Venividi decided to go with his Q♥10♥J♣4♠, having turned the nut straight, but Galfond had the same straight with J♠10♣7♣3♥, except he improved to a flush on the end.
Day 18: €72K Pot
Venividi raised and Galfond three-bet to €1,800. They went to a 5♣K♦2♦ flop and Galfond led small with €899. Venividi called and a 4♥ arrived. Galfond slowed down with a check and Venividi bet just over half the pot, €2,753. Galfond raised to €13,658, and Venividi called to see a 10♠ river with €32,714 between the players.
Galfond had just €19,654 left and he ripped all of that in. Venividi called fairly quickly with K♥3♥K♠2♠ for top set, and Galfond had found his own inferior set with 10♣10♦7♥6♣.
Day 27: €68K Pot
Galfond three-bet to €1,800 preflop and K♠7♠6♦ flopped. Galfond led small with €1,187 and Venividi peeled for a Q♣. Galfond bet half pot with €2,987 and Venividi responded with a pot-sized raise to €14,935. Galfond thought awhile and called, bringing an 8♥.
There was €35,846 in the middle and Venividi had €16,543 left to play. Galfond checked over to him, and Venividi didn't hesitate before piling the rest in. Galfond called for a pot of €68,932, but his K♣3♣5♥7♥ was good for just kings and sevens, no match for K♦10♦Q♥6♠ for kings and queens.
Day 25: €67K Pot
Galfond put in the preflop three-bet to €1,800 and liked the 8♦3♥4♣ flop enough to pot it. Venividi potted and Galfond timed down a bit before stuffing it for Venividi's €32,037. Venividi obliged with a quick call.
Venividi: A♠7♥6♦5♥
Galfond: A♣5♣6♥4♥
Each player had a straight draw, but Venividi was pairless with his wrap and therefore trailing Galfond's pair of fours. That measly pair was good for a €67,674 scoop after the K♥ turn and J♣ river.
Day 37: €66K Pot
A preflop war started with Venividi raising to €600, Galfond making it €1,800 and Venividi potting right back to €5,400. Galfond called and they went to a J♥7♥6♠ flop. Galfond checked, Venividi potted, and Galfond crammed for €16,681 more.
Venividi rolled with his A♣A♥10♣6♣ but was in awful shape against J♠J♣9♣10♥ for top set and a straight draw. A 7♠ turn and 6♣ river left Galfond with a winning full house for €65,760.
Day 31: €65K Pot
Galfond three-bet to €1,800 preflop but slowed down with a check on 9♥8♠5♠. Venividi took the opportunity to fire €1,835, a hair over half the pot. Galfond went nowhere, bringing a K♦. Venividi went bigger this time with a full pot-sized bet, and Galfond again check-called for a pot of €21,809. The river was a 2♥.
Galfond went with a final check and Venividi potted for all but his last €4,571. Galfond timed almost all the way down then clicked the call button. That proved a profitable decision as Venividi's 10♣8♣7♠4♥ was good for just a pair of eights, while Galfond showed down 9♦8♦6♣3♣ for two pair to scoop €65,429.
Day 32: €65K Pot
Galfond raised on the button and called a three-bet to €1,800 from Venividi. On the 4♦8♦10♥ flop, Venividi continued for €1,835 and Galfond called. The 3♠ prompted a check from Venividi and a pot-sized bet of €7,269 from Galfond. Venividi raised all in for €29,034 and Galfond made a fairly quick call with 10♠6♠4♠9♥ for tens and fours.
He was good for the moment but facing a heap of outs as Venividi had J♦10♦9♠2♠ for top pair, open-ended and a flush draw. Galfond did manage to fade it as the 5♠ was one of the few safe cards for him, and he scored a pot of €65,338.
Day 38: €65K Pot
Another Galfond three-bet made the pot €3,599 preflop. Galfond check-called half the pot on 2♠5♥K♥ then checked the 5♠ turn. Venividi potted and Galfond used nearly all of his time before doing the same for €28,792. He still had €213 left and called that off when Venividi reraised.
Galfond: A♣5♣Q♦4♥
Venividi: 7♠6♥2♥2♦
Trips for Galfond, but he needed help against Venividi's full house. The 10♥ river didn't do it and Venividi raked in a €65,209 pot.
