Patrick Leonard Captures His First PokerGO Tour Title

Regardless of focusing totally on the web poker match scene, Patrick Leonard isn’t any stranger to success on the dwell circuit. The British poker professional has cashed for tens of millions at in-person occasions, successful a number of large titles alongside the way in which together with a World Collection of Poker bracelet.

This week Leonard has managed a few dwell poker ‘firsts’ for his profession, although. On Jan. 21 the CoinPoker ambassador recorded his first money contained in the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & On line casino Las Vegas, ending sixth within the first occasion of the PGT Kickoff for $21,000. Sooner or later faraway from that final-table displaying, Leonard got here out on high in occasion no. 2, beating a discipline of 96 entries within the $5,000 buy-in occasion to earn $124,800 and his first PGT trophy.

Leonard now has practically $4.4 million in recorded earnings after this newest victory. The Newcastle, England native additionally secured 432 Card Participant Participant of the 12 months factors for the win. With 560 complete factors, he now sits inside the highest 50 within the 2025 POY race standings offered by International Poker.

With 292 complete PGT factors, Leonard has overtaken the highest spot within the early season-long standings on that high-stakes-centric leaderboard.

Performed some extra.. https://t.co/msR96ce1vL pic.twitter.com/AXnBRk3iIX

— Patrick Leonard (@padspoker) January 23, 2025

The 96-entry turnout resulted in a $480,000 prize pool on this occasion, with the highest 14 incomes a share. Solely seven gamers returned to the PokerGO Studio inside ARIA Resort & On line casino Las Vegas for day 2, with bracelet winner Joey Weissman within the lead and Leonard in the midst of the pack.

The primary knockout of the day happened because of a three-way all-in. Bracelet winner Patrick Leonard raised with pocket aces from UTG+1 and three-time World Poker Tour champion Chino Rheem three-bet shoved with pocket tens from the hijack. Sam Laskowitz four-bet shoved from the button with pocket kings having the biggest stack of the three and Leonard shortly known as all-in. The board failed to attach with any of the three and Rheem was eradicated in seventh place ($19,200). Laskowitz was left brief after the hand, whereas Leonard moved right into a digital tie for the chip lead.

Monster Conflict! Huge Triple Up for Patrick Leonard at PGT Kickoff!

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— PokerGO (@PokerGO) January 22, 2025

Natalie Ferguson (sixth – $24,400) was the subsequent to fall. She acquired the final of her stack in with high pair and a king kicker, however was in hassle in opposition to the identical pair and ace kicker of Weissman. Laskowitz quickly adopted. He acquired his final chips in with one of the best of it, however his Ok-Q failed to carry in opposition to the Ok-9 suited of bracelet winner Joseph Cheong. Laskowitz earned $33,600 because the fifth-place finisher, rising his earnings to almost $3 million within the course of.

One other large three means all-in quickly came about, with Cheong’s pocket jacks holding in opposition to the A-Q of Leonard and the A-8 of Weissman. Leonard slid to the underside of the counts after that hand, whereas Cheong shot to the highest of the leaderboard.

Leonard doubled-up by Weissman to go away him on the backside of the pile. Weissman then acquired all-in with Ok-8 trailing Leonard’s A-Ok. Weissman flopped an open-ended straight draw, however failed to enhance any additional and was knocked out in fourth place ($43,200).

Identical to that, Leonard was again close to the highest of the counts. He managed to say the lead forward of the subsequent large showdown, which noticed Cheong shove he final eight or so large blinds with Q7 from the small blind. Leonard known as from the massive blind with QJ and gained when neither participant related with an ace-high runout. Cheong was awarded $57,600 because the third-place finisher. The 2010 WSOP fundamental occasion third-place finisher has now surpassed $20 million in lifetime cashes because of this podium displaying.

Heads-up play started with greater than a 3:1 chip lead for Leonard over bracelet winner Aram Zobian. The hole had shrunk significantly forward of the ultimate hand of the match, although. Leonard limped from the button for 200,000 with 106 and Zobian checked his choice with 53. The flop got here down 1064 and Zobian checked together with his straight draw. Leonard wager 200,000 together with his two pair and Zobian known as. The flip introduced the three and Zobian checked once more. Leonard fired an overbet of 1,250,000 and Zobian got here alongside to the river. The 8 accomplished the board and Zobian checked as soon as extra. Leonard moved all-in, an efficient wager of three,550,000. Zobian went into the tank for a bit earlier than making the hero name with backside pair. Leonard confirmed him tens as much as declare the pot and the title. Zobian cashed for $79,200 because the runner-up.