Phil Galfond Biography

Phil Galfond

Phil Galfond is most known for his exploits in the online poker scene. But there is more to him than the screen name “OMGClayAiken”. Galfond has won a World Series of Poker bracelet; he was a guest on High Stakes Poker and is a devoted contributor to the game of poker as well as a successful business entrepreneur.

In 2004 Galfond began his poker carer by playing $10 Sit & Go tournaments online. Over the course of a single year he grinded his way all the way up to $100 buy-in games. After that he tested his skills at the $200 and eventually the $1000 buy-in games. In 2006 he made the switch that would lead him to poker fame; the cash tables. Galfond started at $5/$10 Limit and continued his rise to the top by moving up to $10/$20 and eventually $25/$50. He finally hit the wall and ran bad while playing at the $50/$100 games. He was determined not to let this stop him; by moving back down to $5/$10 he vigorously rebuilt his roll for the higher stakes games and this time, he never looked back. Within the space of just two years he managed to rise from $5/$10 all the up to $200/$400, all the while cementing his status as a true poker player by transferring his skills from Limit to No Limit Holdem and then to Pot Limit Omaha.

In 2007 Galfond finally reach the pinnacle of an online poker player’s career; playing the notoriously tough $500 / $1000 No Limit Holdem games at Full Tilt Poker. He finally sunk his teeth into high stakes action and he had no intention of letting it escape from his jaws. Regularly playing the likes of Gus Hansen and Phil Ivey in the biggest online cash games available he has solidified his status as a top online pro. With his uncanny skills at the poker tables and his modest demeanour Galfond has acquired the respect of all of the top professionals in the game today.

Galfond reached another peak in his career in 2008. His online success saw him reach the second most profitable player on Full Tilt Poker behind Phil Ivey. “OMGClayAiken” had reportedly won almost $7 million dollars on Full Tilt Poker alone. This same year saw his success transfer from online poker to the live arena. Aged a mere 23 years of age he managed to reach the final table of the WSOP PLO $1.5K Event. He had to face some of the toughest players in the game, including; Phil Helmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Johny Chan and David Benyamine. He eventually won, netting him an $800,000 payday and a coveted WSOP bracelet.

This year Galfond dedicates much of his time towards financing and running his newly launched poker training site “Blue Fire Poker”. The site offers him the opportunity to discuss his strategies about the game which he has also accomplished over the years by writing for the illustrious Bluff Magazine and contributing on the 2+2 poker forum under the username “jayman28”. Galfond continues to play at the highest games available online. According to Poker Table Ratings since March 2008 he has amassed a staggering $5 million in winnings on Full Tilt Poker alone.

In today’s age of poker, the new legends seem to come and go based on how aggressive they can play while Galfond has gained his adoration from his unusually passive approach towards the high stakes games. The unassuming demeanour that has made Galfond such an endearing player is perhaps the thing that singles him apart from the others high stakes regulars. “I’ve never bought anything over $5000,” Galfond says “I don’t own a car. I live in an apartment which costs less than $500 per month. I don’t really see the point in showing off. My life is great the way it is”.