PGT Leaderboard Just a Cash or Two Away from the Top 40: Justin Zaki, Nacho Barbero, Erik Seidel, Jeremy Becker, Joey Weissman

Only six qualifying events remain in the 2024 PGT season before the season finale PGT $1,000,000 Championship freeroll takes center stage at the PokerGO Studio from January 10-11, 2025. The final series of the PGT season is PGT Last Chance, running from January 2-9, 2025, and will provide players one final chance to qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. 

PGT Last Chance also offers a unique series leaderboard that will award a Dream Seat to the three highest-ranked players who do not qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship via the Top 40. In addition, the next five players on the series leaderboard will receive a Dream Pass and be granted entry into the exclusive Dream Seat Invitational. They will compete against other Dream Pass winners for one of the final six Dream Seats into the PGT $1,000,000 Championship.

Considering the new eligibility rules, the following players sit outside the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard. However, they are all just a PGT Last Chance cash or two away from entering the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard, and thus earning a seat in the PGT $1,000,000 Championship.

Will Pot-Limit Omaha Wizards Ronald Keijzer, Bryce Yockey, and John Fauver Test the No-Limit Hold'em Waters?

Several Pot-Limit Omaha stalwarts have already qualified for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship, and a few more sit outside the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard. The question surrounding the following three players is whether they will participate in the No-Limit Hold'em-only PGT Last Chance series. Ronald Keijzer (54th - 791 PGT points), John Fauver (57th - 732 PGT points), and Bryce Yockey (59th - 723 PGT points) are all excellent Pot-Limit Omaha players, but they still have some No-Limit Hold'em skills. Whether or not they decide to take a shot during PGT Last Chance will be based on whether they think the EV they are giving up is worth chasing the EV they gain in the PGT $1,000,000 Championship.

Another Pot-Limit Omaha player in the mix is Jonathan Bowers, who is in 63rd place with 702 PGT points. Bowers finished runner-up in the final PGT PLO Series II event and then cashed in the Texas PLO Roundup $3,300 Main Event. Bowers is a little further down the PGT leaderboard than Keijzer, Fauver, and Yockey, but remains just a runner-up finish away from entering the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard.

Justin Zaki and Nacho Barbero Eye a Final Table to Qualify

Sitting a PGT Last Chance final table away from a spot in the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard are Justin Zaki and Nacho Barbero. Zaki sits 56th on the PGT leaderboard with 747 PGT points from his two wins, six cashes, and $890,150 in PGT earnings this season. Barbero sits 58th on the PGT leaderboard with 729 PGT points from his seven cashes and $1,038,040 in PGT earnings this season. Brekstyn Schutten sits 50th on the PGT leaderboard with 802 PGT points, and when eligibility is considered, he sits 40th on the adjusted PGT leaderboard. Zaki trails Schutten by 55 PGT points and Barbero trails Schutten by 73 PGT points. Zaki and Barbero are just a PGT Last Chance final table away from overtaking Schutten, while a victory could push them to be on the fringe of the Top 40, where Justin Saliba sits with 921 PGT points.

Erik Seidel, Jeremy Becker, and Joey Weissman Just a Deep Run Away from Qualifying

PGT points have been scarce for Erik Seidel, Jeremy Becker, and Joey Weissman throughout the back half of the PGT season. Seidel bricked out at the Texas PLO Roundup, while Becker couldn't find the score he was looking for during NAPT Las Vegas. Weissman has skipped PGT events to travel the world. All three players are still just a deep run in a PGT Last Chance event away from entering the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard. Seidel sits 61st on the PGT leaderboard with 711 PGT points from his one win, 14 cashes, and $806,355 in PGT earnings. Becker sits 62nd on the PGT leaderboard with 710 PGT points from his one win, nine cashes, and $622,250 in PGT earnings. Weissman is 65th on the PGT leaderboard with 695 PGT points from his one win, nine cashes, and $719,292 in PGT earnings. Seidel, Becker, and Weissman trail Brekstyn Schutten by 91 PGT points, 92 PGT points, and 107 PGT points, respectively. This equates to them likely needing a runner-up finish in a PGT Last Chance event to enter the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard.

Noel Rodriguez sits 64th on the PGT leaderboard with 700 PGT points but only has one qualifying PGT cash. Rodriguez is aware of PGT Last Chance and will likely need a runner-up finish or better, plus another cash to be eligible to participate in the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. 

PGT Leaderboard - Ranks #54 to #65 

These are the leaderboard standings as of Friday, December 20, 2024. The complete and current PGT leaderboard is at pgt.com/leaderboard.

Remaining Events in the 2024 PGT Season

• PGT Last Chance (January 2-9) | Structure Sheet
• Dream Seat Invitational (January 9) | Structure Sheet
• PGT $1,000,000 Championship Freeroll (January 10-11) | Structure Sheet

For information on the upcoming PGT schedule, check out pgt.com/schedule.

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