Phil Galfond

Phil Galfond, born in 1985 in Maryland, is a famous poker player in Las Vegas known as OMGClayAiken. He has earned $2,976,763 in live tournaments, with his best win being $817,781 at the 39th World Series of Poker in 2008. He runs a popular YouTube channel focused on poker, with 71.6k subscribers and 554 videos.

Phil Galfond: Early Life

Phil Galfond started playing poker when he was young and worked his way up from playing low-stakes games to becoming good at the highest-stakes Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) games on Full Tilt Poker in the 2000s. Despite being successful, he struggled with social anxiety when he was younger, which affected how he saw the world even though people liked him.

Galfond started playing poker with a small amount of money in his online account like many other pros did. As he learned more, he moved up to high-stakes sit-n-go games on PartyPoker, gaining recognition in the poker world. Now, he is not just a poker player. He plays less and focuses more on growing Run it Once, the poker training site he founded, with contributions from Galfond and other top pros. The site has helped numerous players enhance their poker skills.

Outside of poker, Phil Galfond prioritizes his family life. He is married to Farah Galfond, who is not only a skilled poker player herself, but also a former soap opera star. Farah gained fame for her role as “Mimi Lockhart” on the long-running soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” The couple shares the joys of parenthood, and caring for their young child.

Phil Galfond: Poker Career

Galfond had his first live cash on January 23rd, 2006, during the $10,000 Championship Event – No Limit Hold’em at the WSOP Circuit in Robinsonville, Galfond quickly claimed the 18th position, securing a commendable $22,895.

On June 14th, 2008 Galfond achieved his biggest milestone in the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha in the 39th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He triumphantly walked away with a WSOP bracelet and $817,781 in winnings.

Galfond had more success during the WSOP on June 28th, 2013, at the 44th World Series of Poker. During the $25,000 No Limit Hold’em event, he finished in 2nd place cashing for $744,841.

On June 13th, 2015, marked another significant triumph at the 46th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas during the $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball No-Limit Championship. finishing in 1st, Galfond claimed another bracelet and celebrated a well-deserved reward of $224,383.

The winning streak persisted on June 29th, 2018, at the 49th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas during the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo – Championship. Capturing the top spot, he celebrated a remarkable victory, pocketing $567,788.

He last appeared on June 4th, 2023, participating in the $500 No Limit Hold’em – Bankroll Builder (Online Bracelet Event 2) at the World Series of Poker. Despite securing the 34th rank, he still managed to walk away with a respectable $2,622 in earnings. Such consistent excellence defines a remarkable poker career.

Conclusion

Phil Galfond went from a poker enthusiast to a top player and entrepreneur, proving his dedication. He not only excelled in poker but also contributed to the poker community through RunItOnce and RunItOncePoker. Despite personal challenges, Galfond’s resilience led to success in both poker and business, making him a respected figure in the global poker scene. Balancing family life with his poker ventures, he remains an influential and admired personality in the world of cards and chips.