Galen Sylvester

Galen Hall turned professional in 2009 after being introduced to poker in high school in 2001. His career-defining moment came in 2011 when he won the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) $10,000 Main Event, defeating a field of over 1,500 players to take home $2,300,000. A key hand heads-up against Chris Oliver saw Hall make a disciplined fold with 8♣4♦, saving himself from elimination and securing the victory.

Hall has cashed in every World Series of Poker (WSOP) since turning professional except one. Notable WSOP results include:

• 3rd place in WSOP #83: $50,000 High Roller NLH (July 2022) for $625,941
• 14th in WSOP #22: $25,000 NLH 6-Max High Roller (June 2025) for $87,971
• 10th in WSOP #72: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Championship (June 2024) for $31,617
• 37th in WSOP #26: $25,000 NLH High Roller 8-Max (June 2024) for $50,637

In 2012, Hall finished 3rd in the $100,000 Super High Roller at the PCA, earning $470,000. He outlasted Daniel Negreanu, Jonathan Duhamel, and Vanessa Selbst in a star-studded field. He also placed 3rd in an ARIA High Roller ($10,000 NLH) in July 2023 for $69,000.

Hall played online under the screen name "Turk Malloy" on PocketFives and various other aliases. Between 2009 and 2011, he earned over $1,100,000 in online tournament winnings. His online activity has since decreased as he focused more on live events.

Hall is known for a disciplined, analytical approach. His background in mathematics and data analysis informs his decision-making. He employs a tight-aggressive style, emphasizing strong hand selection and post-flop play. The famous fold in the 2011 PCA heads-up exemplifies his patience and ability to make tough laydowns.

Hall earned an MBA from Stanford Business School while maintaining his poker career. He founded a mobile dating app called "Carbon Dating" in 2014, leveraging his skills in analyzing large data sets. He is also politically engaged and active on Twitter. As of 2025, his live tournament earnings exceed $6.9 million, with He is also involved in startup ventures.