Poker Stories: Phil Galfond

Phil Galfond has made his mark on pretty much every part of the poker world. Not only is the Maryland native considered one of the best to ever play the game, but he's also been recognized as a prolific poker coach, and even operated his own online poker site, Run It Once.The 37-year-old recently sold that site to Rush Street Interactive, which is planning to enter the regulated US online poker market. His training site, which shares the same name, features elite poker coaches and recently unveiled Galfond's comprehensive pot-limit Omaha strategy course.  The high-stakes pro is regarded as one of the best PLO players in the world today, and has been solidifying that reputation with his ongoing Galfond Challenge, taking on all comers while laying odds. He is currently 4-0, including a €900,000 comeback win. Although he mostly focuses on cash games, he has found success in tournaments, winning three bracelets at the World Series of Poker.Highlights from this interview include scoring four touchdowns with a broken arm, Phil Hellmuth's alma mater, the guy who got him into poker, an eye-opening losing summer, winning notoriety with a bracelet, a desire to teach others, coming out of 'retirement,' doubting himself during the challenge, the problem with focusing on solvers, what it takes to start an online poker site, selling his company, avoiding soap operas, shooting his shot over Twitter, a $700,000 five-card draw pot, answering the phone at Domino's, and how many slices of pizza he can eat in ten minutes.