Phil Galfond Retakes The Lead Midway Through High Stakes Poker Challenge Against Chance Kornuth

Chance Kornuth took the lead in his excessive stakes showdown towards Phil Galfond after round 6,400 fingers performed and maintained the benefit by means of the whole month of November. The two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner prolonged his result in as a lot as $344,500. In current weeks, although, Galfond has mounted a comeback that ultimately resulted in a lead change as the 2 approached the halfway level of their 35,000-hand pot-limit Omaha heads-up money sport showdown.

For those that don’t know, three-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Galfond issued a problem to the poker world in late 2019 that was accepted by six opponents up to now, with a possible seventh match additionally more likely to happen. The ‘Galfond Challenge’, because it got here to be identified, pits Galfond towards different nosebleed poker gamers with agreed-upon stakes, quantities of fingers to be performed, and big aspect bets on the road. Two matches have already been accomplished up to now this yr, with Galfond popping out on prime in each.

Galfond and Kornuth are enjoying two tables of $100-$200 pot-limit Omaha for 35,000 whole fingers, with Galfond placing up $1 million to Kornuth’s $250,000 that he’ll find yourself forward by way of revenue after the ultimate hand is dealt. The two started enjoying on Sept. 23, 2020, and have since battled it out in a complete of 32 classes, with 17,100 fingers performed up to now. That implies that the 2 are roughly a session or so away from the precise midpoint of the match, with simply 17,900 fingers left to go.

Kornuth reached his high-water mark of $344,500 in revenue on Nov. 13. Galfond responded with three straight successful classes totaling $313,000 in earnings to convey him to only $31,500 away from even. Kornuth then booked three small wins in a row to take care of the lead earlier than the 2 took a break in the course of the remaining days of November.

Action resumed on Dec. 2, with Galfond reserving a $28,000 win within the session to search out himself down simply $28,000 general. On Thursday, Dec. 3 the 2 performed their thirty second session, with Galfond reserving a $96,000 win to take a $32,000 lead within the problem. It was the primary time he had held the benefit within the match in roughly seven and a half weeks.

One of the largest fingers of the day got here as the 2 entered the ultimate hour of the session. All of the cash finally went in on the flop after Kornuth five-bet preflop and obtained a name, making a pot of $54,586 (simply shy of 273 massive blinds). Check out a clip of the hand taken from Card Player Columnist and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Nathan Gamble’s Twitch protection.

55k pot to take us into the final hour of the day, we suspect ChancesCards</a> is breaking his monitor as we speak... <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilGalfond?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">PhilGalfond higher be celebrating as he sips his water!https://t.co/hVXPx7c2z8

— Nathan Gamble (@Surfbum4life) December 3, 2020

Kornuth received all-in with prime set of kings, solely to see Galfond river a gutshot straight to take down the huge pot and safe the lead within the problem. Kornuth took to Twitter after the session to request a brand new pc monitor from his opponent.

I’ll take a Samsung 49” Odyssey monitor @PhilGalfond Thanks and Merry Xmas! https://t.co/n3BjVEwoMd

— Chance Kornuth (@ChancesCards) December 4, 2020

In addition to his match with Kornuth, Galfond can be squaring off towards entrepreneur and frequent high-stakes poker participant Bill Perkins. Only two classes of $100-$200 pot-limit Omaha have been performed on this showdown although, with Galfond up $90,144.05 in the interim. The two haven’t performed a session since April.

Below is a have a look at all seven challenges and the small print concerning stakes and aspect bets:

To watch protection of this Galfond Challenge match when it’s stay, head over to Card Player Columnist and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Nathan Gamble’s Twitch channel, which will be discovered at Twitch.tv/surfbum4lyfe. Gamble and Henry Kilbabe are commentating the motion all through the showdown. The schedule is considerably fluid, so make certain to observe Kilbane and Gamble on social media as a way to preserve updated about when to anticipate protection of this high-stakes PLO conflict.