Chance Kornuth took the lead in his high stakes showdown against Phil Galfond after around 6,400 hands played and maintained the advantage through the entire month of November. The two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner extended his lead to as much as $344,500. In recent weeks, though, Galfond has mounted a comeback that eventually resulted in a lead change as the two approached the midway point of their 35,000-hand pot-limit Omaha heads-up cash game showdown.

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For those who don’t know, three-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Galfond issued a challenge to the poker world in late 2019 that was accepted by six opponents so far, with a likely seventh match also likely to take place. The ‘Galfond Challenge’, as it came to be known, pits Galfond against other nosebleed poker players with agreed-upon stakes, amounts of hands to be played, and massive side bets on the line. Two matches have already been completed so far this year, with Galfond coming out on top in both.

Galfond and Kornuth are playing two tables of $100-$200 pot-limit Omaha for 35,000 total hands, with Galfond putting up $1 million to Kornuth’s $250,000 that he will end up ahead in terms of profit after the final hand is dealt. The two began playing on Sept. 23, 2020, and have since battled it out in a total of 32 sessions, with 17,100 hands played so far. That means that the two are roughly a session or so away from the exact midpoint of the match, with just 17,900 hands left to go.

Kornuth reached his high-water mark of $344,500 in profit on Nov. 13. Galfond responded with three straight winning sessions totaling $313,000 in profits to bring him to just $31,500 away from even. Kornuth then booked three small wins in a row to maintain the lead before the two took a break during the final days of November.

Action resumed on Dec. 2, with Galfond booking a $28,000 win in the session to find himself down just $28,000 overall. On Thursday, Dec. 3 the two played their 32nd session, with Galfond booking a $96,000 win to take a $32,000 lead in the challenge. It was the first time he had held the advantage in the match in roughly seven and a half weeks.

One of the biggest hands of the day came as the two entered the final hour of the session. All of the money ultimately went in on the flop after Kornuth five-bet preflop and received a call, creating a pot of $54,586 (just shy of 273 big blinds). Check out a clip of the hand taken from Card Player Columnist and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Nathan Gamble’s Twitch coverage.

55k pot to take us into the last 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 better be celebrating as he sips his water!https://t.co/hVXPx7c2z8

— Nathan Gamble (@Surfbum4life) December 3, 2020

Kornuth got all-in with top set of kings, only to see Galfond river a gutshot straight to take down the massive pot and secure the lead in the challenge. Kornuth took to Twitter after the session to request a new computer 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 is also squaring off against entrepreneur and frequent high-stakes poker player Bill Perkins. Only two sessions of $100-$200 pot-limit Omaha have been played in this showdown though, with Galfond up $90,144.05 for the time being. The two have not played a session since April.

Below is a look at all seven challenges and the details regarding stakes and side bets:

To watch coverage of this Galfond Challenge match when it is live, head over to Card Player Columnist and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Nathan Gamble’s Twitch channel, which can be found at Twitch.tv/surfbum4lyfe. Gamble and Henry Kilbabe are commentating the action throughout the showdown. The schedule is somewhat fluid, so make sure to follow Kilbane and Gamble on social media in order to keep up to date about when to expect coverage of this high-stakes PLO clash.

Table Of Contents

As the World Series of Poker bracelet events were winding down on GGPoker, the online poker cash game action was heating up to record levels. Six-figure pots were being won and lost on an hourly basis, as players swung millions of dollars over the course of a few weeks.

Thanks to the high-stakes railbirds at TwoPlusTwo, many of those massive pots have been recorded for fans to examine. PokerNews has compiled some of the biggest of the best that were played in September.

Aces Over Kings for $600K

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Timofey Kuznetsov, Wiktor Malinowski

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Kuznetsov raised to $4,500 in the cutoff and Malinowski made it $15,000 on his left. Action folded back to Kuznetsov and he made it $49,700. Malinowski jammed for $296,960 and Kuznetsov called with a covering stack.

Kuznetsov:
Malinowski:

They agreed to run it twice. Malinowski didn't hit anything on the first board. On the second, he added an out when flopped (one ten was dead from the first runout) but wheel cards on the turn and river missed him, sending a pot of $598,620 to Kuznetsov.

Ace-High River Call for $200K

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Timofey Kuznetsov, Markus Leikkonen

Leikkonen raised to $5,000 on the button and Kuznetsov called from the big blind. On the flop, Leikkonen continued for $6,850, half the pot. Kuznetsov made it $21,934 and Leikkonen called. Kuznetsov bet small with $18,997 on the turn and they went to a river with Leikkonen having $53,868 to play.

He shoved that in when Kuznetsov checked to him, and the Russian legend didn't even need to use his time bank before clicking call with . That was a winner as Leikkonen had for a whiffed straight draw plus overcard on the flop.

Massive Value for Kuznetsov on River Check-Raise

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Timofey Kuznetsov, Wiktor Malinowski

First to act in a five-handed game, Kuznetsov raised to $4,500 and was called by Malinowski on the button and 'crazytrader' in the big blind. Action checked to Malinowski on and he bet $6,600. Only Kuznetsov continued to the . Malinowski bet bigger this time with $22,140 and Kuznetsov called to see the river. He checked a final time. Malinowski bet $48,136 and Kuznetsov shoved for $170,537 more.

Malinowski tanked and called but his proved inferior to .

Kuznetsov Wins Three-Way All-In Pot

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Timofey Kuznetsov, Wiktor Malinowski, Linus Loeliger

The good times continued for Kuznetsov in a three-way all in that began with Malinowski raising to $4,000 in the cutoff, Loeliger making it $18,000 in the big blind and Kuznetsov cold four-betting to $50,000 in the third blind. Malinowski shoved for $199,600, Loeliger shoved for $129,906 and Kuznetsov called.

Kuznetsov:
Loeliger:
Malinowski:

The flop didn't help anyone and the sweat was over on the turn when Kuznetsov hit the for an unbeatable hand. Ship $548,806 to the Russian.

Loeliger Heros Against Chidwick

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Linus Loeliger, Stephen Chidwick

Cash legends weren't the only ones playing big as nosebleed tournaments regs participated in the action. Chidwick was among them and he tangled with Loeliger in a three-bet pot, starting with the Swiss player making it $7,500 from the big blind and Chidwick reraising to $19,390 from the third blind.

Loeliger checked the flop and Chidwick continued small for $10,000. Loeliger made it $22,686 and Chidwick peeled, bringing the . Both players checked that card and the river was the . Loeliger checked and Chidwick shoved for $46,883, a little over half the pot.

Loeliger tanked and called, and his for just a single pair was good on the treacherous board, as Chidwick held that he'd opted to bluff with.

Sub-1% Runout for Loeliger

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Linus Loeliger, Markus Leikkonen

Playing four-handed, Loeliger raised to $4,000 on the button and Leikkonen made it $16,300 in the small blind. Loeliger called, bringing a flop. Leikkonen bet $12,012 and Loeliger called. The turn was the and Leikkonen bet $30,212. Loeliger called again, bringing the .

Leikkonen shoved for $59,964 and Loeliger snapped it off with the , having run out a straight flush. Leikkonen had taken an extremely nasty one with .

According to the PokerNews odds calculator, Loeliger had 0.71% equity on the flop.

Malinowski's Huge Jam Pays Off

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Wiktor Malinowski, Sam Greenwood

Action folded to the small blind, where Malinowski made it $6,800. Loeliger called in the big blind and Greenwood re-popped up to $29,200 in the third blind. Malinowski shoved covering both opponents. Loeliger folded but Greenwood called off for $222,428 more.

Greenwood:
Malinowski:

Greenwood offered to run three times but Malinowski declined. A board of brought nothing for the Canadian tournament crusher, so Malinowski dragged $511,056.

Koon Heros and Holds

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Jason Koon, Michael Zhang

Two tournament pros very familiar with each others' games clashed starting with a raise to $5,000 from Zhang on the button. Koon made it $25,700 in the third blind and Zhang called. On the , Koon continued with a sizable bet of $33,050 and Zhang just shoved. Koon called off his remaining $125,896.

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Koon:
Zhang:

Zhang was drawing with good equity and they agreed to run twice. Not a single spade or three emerged, so Koon's heroic call shipped him a pot of $371,992.

Malinowski Bluffs Off to Tollerene

Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Wiktor Malinowski, Ben Tollerene

Malinowski raised to $7,000 in the small blind and Tollerene made it $19,750 in the big. Malinowski called. Tollerene continued with a small bet of $9,775 on the flop and Malinowski made it $29,890 on a check-raise. Tollerene stuck around for the turn. Malinowski bet $31,184 and Tollerene called. On the river, Malinowski jammed for $147,995 effective, just a bit under the size of the pot.

Tollerene had been roping him along with for a flopped boat, and Malinowski had been bluffing with .

Addamo's Hero-Call Fails

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Site: GGPoker
Stakes: $500/$1,000/$2,000/$200
Players: Michael Addamo, Fraser Russell

Russell opened for $5,000 first to act five-handed, and Addamo reraised to $22,500 in the small blind. The other blinds folded and Russell came along for the flop. Addamo slowed down with a check and Russell bet $16,170. Addamo called, bringing the turn. He check-called again, this time for $54,005. On the river, Addamo checked again and Russell shipped it for $136,285.

Addamo tanked and called, but his for flopped top pair was smashed the whole way by for a set. Russell collected the $461,921 pot.

Bonus Hand: Straight Flush Over Full House for $33K

Site: PokerStars
Stakes: $50/$100
Players: 'DEX888,' Paul 'topdoll87' Newey

DEX888 opened for $220 second to act and Newey three-bet to $669 in the next seat. DEX888 called for a flop of . Newey continued for $905 and faced a check-raise to $2,970. They called, bringing a turn. DEX888 bet $2,673 and Newey stuck around for the river.

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DEX888 shoved for $10,193 effective and Newey was in there in a hurry with for a straight flush. DEX888 showed down for a turned full house.

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All photos and hand histories taken from September High Stakes Thread on TwoPlusTwo.

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