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Right now, two of the biggest names in poker, @RealKidPoker & @PhilGalfond, are both involved in high-stakes heads-up challenges.
What you might not know?
The two have a history which goes way back to 2006 when 21-year-old Galfond got to sit next to his idol.
A thread
What you might not know?
The two have a history which goes way back to 2006 when 21-year-old Galfond got to sit next to his idol.
A thread
1) A brief history:
In many ways, their careers have paralleled each other.
@RealKidPoker was born in July 1974 and discovered poker in the backrooms of the pool and snooker halls he'd frequent as a teenager.
He quickly made a name for himself as a feared young opponent.
In many ways, their careers have paralleled each other.
@RealKidPoker was born in July 1974 and discovered poker in the backrooms of the pool and snooker halls he'd frequent as a teenager.
He quickly made a name for himself as a feared young opponent.
2) @PhilGalfond, born January 1985, also discovered poker through other games.
A keen video gamer, Galfond began to dabble in online poker for fun whilst at college. It soon became his 'college job', and one that he absolutely loved.
"Poker was like an awesome video game."
A keen video gamer, Galfond began to dabble in online poker for fun whilst at college. It soon became his 'college job', and one that he absolutely loved.
"Poker was like an awesome video game."
3) By the early 2000s, @RealKidPoker was establishing himself as one of the greats.
Coming up with a young crew that included @philivey, @LuckBoxJuanda, & @AllenCunningham, Negreanu became a regular in the biggest cash games running in Las Vegas.
As for tournaments...
Coming up with a young crew that included @philivey, @LuckBoxJuanda, & @AllenCunningham, Negreanu became a regular in the biggest cash games running in Las Vegas.
As for tournaments...
4) @RealKidPoker won his first WSOP bracelet in 1998 & by 2004 he had three, plus two WPT titles for a combined $3 million.
Negreanu inspired a generation.
@PhilGalfond's generation.
And by the late 2000s, Galfond was a legend in his own right under the name "OMGClayAiken".
Negreanu inspired a generation.
@PhilGalfond's generation.
And by the late 2000s, Galfond was a legend in his own right under the name "OMGClayAiken".
5) Like Daniel Negreanu, @PhilGalfond also became one of the most feared cash game players in the world.
And he too came up with a crew of young poker phenoms including @TomDwan, @DWBenefield, and @Andrew_Robl, aka the "Ship it Holla Ballas".
All four still crush to this day.
And he too came up with a crew of young poker phenoms including @TomDwan, @DWBenefield, and @Andrew_Robl, aka the "Ship it Holla Ballas".
All four still crush to this day.
6) @PhilGalfond soon made waves on the live felt too.
He won his first bracelet in 2008 in a $5K PLO Rebuy for $817K.
With his training site @RunItOnce, he became the go-to guy for PLO strategy. His videos and range strategies helped countless players improve their games.
He won his first bracelet in 2008 in a $5K PLO Rebuy for $817K.
With his training site @RunItOnce, he became the go-to guy for PLO strategy. His videos and range strategies helped countless players improve their games.
7) By 2018, @RealKidPoker had six WSOP bracelets and @PhilGalfond had three.
They were arguably the two best ambassadors in poker.
Negreanu the fan favourite and people's champ.
Galfond the pro's pro & owner of one of the leading training sites.
Both had similar ascents.
They were arguably the two best ambassadors in poker.
Negreanu the fan favourite and people's champ.
Galfond the pro's pro & owner of one of the leading training sites.
Both had similar ascents.
8) In 2018, @RealKidPoker put out a tweet highlighting some of the people he felt the game of poker was lucky to have.
His shortlist included @NickSchulman, @MariaHo, @JasonSomerville...
and @PhilGalfond.
What he didn't know was quite how much that would mean to Galfond.
His shortlist included @NickSchulman, @MariaHo, @JasonSomerville...
and @PhilGalfond.
What he didn't know was quite how much that would mean to Galfond.
9) Turns out the two of them had a history that maybe @RealKidPoker didn't even realise, as @PhilGalfond outlined in a heartfelt letter.
"I got very sentimental reading this," he says.
"Not just because of the flattering words or because I'm listed in such great company..."
"I got very sentimental reading this," he says.
"Not just because of the flattering words or because I'm listed in such great company..."
10) "While reading this message, I had a flashback to the first live tournament I played when I turned 21," says @PhilGalfond.
"Right after my birthday, a couple of friends and I went to Tunica, Mississippi, where I played in a $10K WSOP Circuit event."
"Right after my birthday, a couple of friends and I went to Tunica, Mississippi, where I played in a $10K WSOP Circuit event."
11) @PhilGalfond was a semi-pro at $100-$200 Sit&Gos at the time and $10K was a huge buy-in for him.
"I went deep in the event and for two long stretches, I ended up at a table with one of my poker idols, Daniel Negreanu. I was seated directly next to him at the first table."
"I went deep in the event and for two long stretches, I ended up at a table with one of my poker idols, Daniel Negreanu. I was seated directly next to him at the first table."
12) "Being naturally shy, I didn't dare say anything to the superstar I'd watched for countless hours on ESPN and High Stakes Poker," says @PhilGalfond.
So he kept quiet.
That lasted about 30 seconds.
"Daniel welcomed me to the table, asked me my name, where I was from..."
So he kept quiet.
That lasted about 30 seconds.
"Daniel welcomed me to the table, asked me my name, where I was from..."
13) "It was surreal," says @PhilGalfond.
" @RealKidPoker talked to me like we were the same - just two guys playing a poker tournament. I immediately felt comfortable, and I had a great time playing that tournament."
It was an experience that Galfond would never forget.
" @RealKidPoker talked to me like we were the same - just two guys playing a poker tournament. I immediately felt comfortable, and I had a great time playing that tournament."
It was an experience that Galfond would never forget.
14) "I've been playing high-stakes poker for a while now," says @PhilGalfond. "It's easy to take the world I live in for granted.
"Experiencing that flashback to the beginning of my career made it occur to me that I'm living my exact dream from all those years ago."
"Experiencing that flashback to the beginning of my career made it occur to me that I'm living my exact dream from all those years ago."
15) @PhilGalfond signed off:
"I don't think about it often, but it's so f'ing cool to regularly play with a guy I've looked up to for so long, to read something like this, and to feel like the peer he treated me as from the moment I met him.
"Thanks, Daniel."
The response:
"I don't think about it often, but it's so f'ing cool to regularly play with a guy I've looked up to for so long, to read something like this, and to feel like the peer he treated me as from the moment I met him.
"Thanks, Daniel."
The response:
16) "I’ve officially been one-upped! Floored man. Truly and genuinely appreciate the kind words more than you know," Negreanu replied.
Today, @RealKidPoker and @PhilGalfond remain two of the biggest names in poker.
And both have inspired a new generation of poker players.
Today, @RealKidPoker and @PhilGalfond remain two of the biggest names in poker.
And both have inspired a new generation of poker players.
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed this thread don't forget to follow for more, then scroll back to the top and Like/Share with your friends.
I wrote about Galfond and Negreanu back in 2018: https://psta.rs/38nbuXz
If you enjoyed this thread don't forget to follow for more, then scroll back to the top and Like/Share with your friends.
I wrote about Galfond and Negreanu back in 2018: https://psta.rs/38nbuXz
