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Daniel Smiljkovic wins $500,000 at PGT Championship
The announced conclusion of the 2023 edition from the PGT's perspective took the form of a $1 million freeroll, with a total of 50 players taking part. Those could qualify for the tournament through year-round continuous scoring, or through various promotions that ran throughout the year. The tournament consisted of two days of play, with the final six being revealed at the end of the first.
The action at the final table
Each of the finalists was still assured of a minimum $40,000 payout before play began, but in everyone's eyes shone the trophy and the $500,000 prize awarded to the winner. Going into the final table with a huge chiplead and nearly half of all the chips in play, Germany's Daniel Smiljkovic was not yet a winner - he faced the likes of Darren Elias, Leon Sturm and WSOP European Champion Daniel Weinman.
It was the superb Smiljkovic who sailed through this table as well until the final heads-up match, where he faced Hollywood actress Arden Cho. The latter went into the 1:1 duel with a 2.5:1 advantage, but a missed flip with 99 against AK turned the scales in the German pro's favour in one fell swoop.
After that moment, Smiljkovic left nothing to chance and managed to cope with his last opponent. Arden Cho took home the prize of a lifetime worth $200,000, and her opponent Daniel Smiljkovic took home $500,000 as champion.
| # | Name | Country | Reward |
| 1. | Daniel Smiljkovic | Germany | $500,000 |
| 2. | Arden Cho | United States | $200,000 |
| 3. | Leon Sturm | Germany | $120,000 |
| 4. | Daniel Weinman | United States | $80,000 |
| 5. | Artur Martirosyan | Russia | $60,000 |
| 6. | Darren Elias | United States | $40,000 |
Source: PGT, PokerNews