PGT Last Chance: Leonard and Wilson Edge Closer to PGT Championship

Leonard Seals the Deal at a Thrilling Final Table

The second event of the PGT Last Chance series: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em saw competitors clash for a total prizepool of $1,260,000, thanks to 126 entries. Once again, the event featured an intensely packed final table and a prolonged battle for the title. Patrick Leonard began the final day as the chipleader, but his path to victory was far from straightforward. Among the last seven players, there were numerous double-ups and significant chip shifts.

Leonard navigated the critical moments adeptly, claiming the top prize of $315,000 and 315 leaderboard points. These points were crucial in his pursuit of a place in the $1,000,000 PGT Championship, reserved for the top 40 players. With this win, Leonard leaped to 27th in the rankings, securing his spot in the season’s finale.

In heads-up play, Leonard bested David Coleman with A c Q d against K c 2 h on a board of Q h J c 4 h Q c K d. Coleman also climbed into the top 40 of the PGT leaderboard. Elite players like Nick Schulman, Jeremy Ausmus, and Joao Simao solidified their positions in the qualifying top 40, raising the stakes for the continuation of the PGT Last Chance series.

Brandon Wilson Closes in on Two Paths to the PGT Championship

Event #3: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em attracted 108 entries, creating another seven-figure prizepool of $1,080,000. Brandon Wilson emerged as the winner, making a giant leap towards the $1,000,000 PGT Championship. His victory earned him $275,400 and 275 PGT points, pushing him closer to the top 40 leaderboard and positioning him as a strong contender for the Dream Seat from the Last Chance series.

Wilson entered the final table in second place, but Sergio Aido quickly made waves by eliminating Joey Weissman in the first hand. The final table was intensely watched due to Phil Hellmuth’s presence; however, he bowed out in fifth place, the victim of both misfortune and aggressive rival plays. 

The turning point came in a three-handed game, where Wilson’s patient and technical play gained him control of the final table’s progression. A key moment occurred in a massive pot against Jeremy Becker, with Wilson claiming victory thanks to an ace on the river, giving him a commanding lead. In the following heads-up against Sergio Aido, Wilson needed just three hands to triumph. He called an all-in with Q d Q h against 5 s 4 s, and a board of 8 d 4 c 2 c Q s A c smoothly sealed the win.

Landon Tice Leads the Final Table in Event #4

The PGT Last Chance series continued with Event #4: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em, attracting 126 entries and matching the prizepool of the second event at $1,260,000. Only seven players advanced to the final day, each guaranteed a minimum payout of $50,400. Their ultimate aim is the $315,000 prize, 315 PGT leaderboard points, and the prestigious PGT Gold Cup.

Landon Tice leads the standings after finishing with a stack of 3,635,000 chips. Second place is held by Sergio Aido, who, along with Chino Rheem, has reached a consecutive final table.

This tournament is crucial in the quest for spots in the $1,000,000 PGT Championship. A win could give Landon Tice a shot at the Dream Seat from the Last Chance series. David Coleman is defending his position in the top 40 PGT rankings, while Jim Collopy is striving to break into that elite group.

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​​​​​​​Sources: PGT, X, YouTube