Patrick Leonard Captures His First PokerGO Tour Title

Despite focusing totally on the net poker match scene, Patrick Leonard is not any stranger to success on the reside circuit. The British poker professional has cashed for thousands and thousands at in-person occasions, successful a number of huge titles alongside the way in which together with a World Series of Poker bracelet.

This week Leonard has managed a few reside poker ‘firsts’ for his profession, although. On Jan. 21 the CoinPoker ambassador recorded his first money contained in the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas, ending sixth within the first occasion of the PGT Kickoff for $21,000. One day faraway from that final-table exhibiting, Leonard got here out on prime 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 almost $4.4 million in recorded earnings after this newest victory. The Newcastle, England native additionally secured 432 Card Player Player of the Year factors for the win. With 560 complete factors, he now sits inside the highest 50 within the 2025 POY race standings offered by Global Poker.

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

Played 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. Only seven gamers returned to the PokerGO Studio inside ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas for day 2, with bracelet winner Joey Weissman within the lead and Leonard in the course of the pack.

The first knockout of the day took place 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 most important 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 Clash! Massive Triple Up for Patrick Leonard at PGT Kickoff!

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: https://t.co/vPHa9iOVDK pic.twitter.com/wViRe9Fbz4

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) January 22, 2025

Natalie Ferguson (sixth – $24,400) was the following to fall. She obtained the final of her stack in with prime pair and a king kicker, however was in hassle towards the identical pair and ace kicker of Weissman. Laskowitz quickly adopted. He obtained his final chips in with one of the best of it, however his Okay-Q failed to carry towards the Okay-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.

Another huge three means all-in quickly passed off, with Cheong’s pocket jacks holding towards 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 means of Weissman to go away him on the backside of the pile. Weissman then obtained all-in with Okay-8 trailing Leonard’s A-Okay. Weissman flopped an open-ended straight draw, however failed to enhance any additional and was knocked out in fourth place ($43,200).

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

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 along with his straight draw. Leonard guess 200,000 along 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 guess 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.

Here is a take a look at the payouts and rankings factors awarded on the last desk:

Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego.