Phil Galfond has officially erased a massive deficit in the Galfond Challenge against Chance Kornuth and now holds a decent-sized lead. But, he can’t get too excited because there is still plenty of time for his opponent to win.
The two skilled poker pros are competing in a 35,000-hand, heads-up Pot-Limit Omaha competition on WSOP.com at $100/$200 stakes. They have also agreed to a separate side bet in which Galfond would pay $1 million extra if he loses. Kornuth would owe Galfond $250,000 should he lose.
Galfond laid those 4-1 odds on the basis that he was so heavily favored. PokerShares handicapped the Run it Once poker site founder as a 4-1 favorite, and he showed why early on in the match, busting out to a six-figure advantage. But Kornuth, also a skilled PLO player, proved over the next 10,000-plus hands that he can compete at the highest level, even against one of the best PLO players ever.
Kornuth dominated the match for more than a month and pulled out to a $340,000 advantage at one point. Galfond, however, has taken over the match and is once again heavily favored.
Galfond Challenge Heating Up
Galfond has taken over his namesake challenge in recent weeks. He not only erased all of the $340,000 deficit, but now holds a $136,000 lead. The poker pros have completed 20,000 of 35,000 hands. You can expect this battle to conclude sometime in early 2021, likely around the middle of February.
Kornuth had an opportunity to pick up a big win on Friday. He opened up a $125,000 lead on the session, but then Galfond went on a heater and ended up booking a $113,000 profit for the day. That’s been the way things have gone for Kornuth in recent weeks.
The good news for the Chip Leader Coaching founder is that he’s talented enough to battle back, and has enough time to make it happen.
The Galfond Challenge hasn’t received the attention of the Doug Polk versus Daniel Negreanu match, and those who aren’t paying attention are missing an intense, competitive battle between two of the best poker players in the world.
