Phil Galfond Wins 2015 $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball Championship

Phil Galfond topped an elite field of 77 of poker’s top players to win the 2015 World Series of Poker $10,000 no-limit deuce-to-seven lowball championship, earning his second gold bracelet and the $224,383 first-place prize.

The 30-year-old poker pro, known to many fans of the game by the screen name "OMGClayAiken,” had to overcome not only a tough field but also an incredibly accomplished final table. Among those he had to contend with on the final day were two-time bracelet winner Eli Elezra (6th – $31,463), top tournament pro Jon Turner (5th – $42,298), eight-time bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel (4th – $59,532) and 2012 Card Player Player of the Year runner-up Dan Smith (3rd – $87,898).

“It means a lot, especially in a field this tough and at a table this tough,” said Galfond of his win. “I have a ton of respect for all my opponents."

Even after outlasting that murderers row of top talent Galfond had his work but out for him, because his heads-up opponent was two-time champion of this event, Nick Schulman. Schulman won this tournament in 2009 and again in 2012, and looked like he was going to continue his pattern of taking down this prestigious tournament every three years when he began heads-up play with more than a 3-to-1 lead.

But Galfond was able to take down a few pots and double up to get back in the fight and then went on to extend his own lead to nearly 3-to-1 by the time the final hand arose.

Galfond raised to 50,000 from the button and Schulman moved all in from the big blind for a total of 649,000. Galfond confirmed the amount and thought it over before electing to make the call. Schulman contemplated his options before eventually electing to discard one card. Galfond also drew one and they flipped up their four card draws:

Schulman: 9-6-4-3
Galfond: 8-6-5-2

Galfond was drawing to an eight low and made it when he picked up a 7, leaving Schulman’s nine low draw without any chance of winning. With that the two-time champ to the rail as the runner up with $138,665 for his latest run in this event while Galfond joined him as a two-time bracelet winner. Galfond increased his lifetime tournament earnings to over $2.2 million. The high stakes cash game player admitted that, although he was happy to earn a six figure payday, the title and bracelet are what really mattered to him.

“I’ve played for cash game pots the size of first place," said Galfond. "This feels a lot bigger and I think it’s because of this stage and the bracelet. It’s more meaningful than cash games.”

Galfond also earned 420 Card Player Player of the Year points for his win. This was his second final table of the year, having placed fourth in the WSOP $10,000 deuce-to-seven triple draw lowball championship earlier this summer for $89,939 and 300 more points. He now sits in 210th place in the overall standings. Fourth-place finisher Erik Seidel earned 210 points for his seventh final-table finish of the year. With two titles won along the way Seidel now sits in 10th place in the overall POY standings.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

For more coverage from the summer series, visit the 2015 WSOP landing page complete with a full schedule, news, player interviews and event recaps.

Winners photo and quotes furnished by WSOP.

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