PGT Leaderboard Just a Win Away from the Top 40: Michael Moncek, Sam Laskowitz, Frank Funaro, Dan Shak, David Peters

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, if they can score a victory at the upcoming PGT Last Chance series, they'll likely be able to participate in the PGT $1,000,000 Championship as they'll be inside the adjusted Top 40.

Can Sam Laskowitz Return to the PGT $1,000,000 Championship?

Sam Laskowitz was one of the fortunate players to earn a Dream Seat at the 2023 PGT Last Chance series, alongside Dylan DeStefano. During the series, Laskowitz won Event #3 for $205,000, and cashed two other times to earn 307 PGT points. He finished second overall on the PGT Last Chance leaderboard behind Artur Martirosyan, who improved on his PGT leaderboard position and qualified for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship by being 33rd on the PGT leaderboard. Laskowitz sits 69th on the PGT leaderboard with 680 PGT points, and sits 122 PGT points outside the adjusted Top 40. He'll need several PGT Last Chance cashes, or a victory, to enter the adjusted Top 40 and be within striking distance of having a seat in the PGT $1,000,000 Championship.

Will Michael Moncek, Frank Funaro, David Peters, and Dan Shak Qualify for the First Time?

Michael Moncek sits 67th on the PGT leaderboard with 688 PGT points. Moncek is just 114 PGT points from being within the adjusted Top 40, and if he can string a few cashes together or a win at PGT Last Chance, he'll have a seat in the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. Frank Funaro sits 71st on the PGT leaderboard with 662 PGT points. Funaro has one win and three cashes, but he'll need to accrue at least 116 PGT points at PGT Last Chance to qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. Dan Shak and David Peters will need a PGT Last Chance win to qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship, as they sit 165 PGT points and 190 PGT points, respectively, outside the adjusted Top 40. Shak and Peters have never participated in the PGT Championship since it switched to a freeroll, and they'll both be hoping for a strong PGT Last Chance showing to qualify.

Will Pot-Limit Omaha Crushers Sean Troha, Joni Jouhkimainen, Tyler Brown, and Ben Lamb Take a Shot in No-Limit Hold'em?

With Pot-Limit Omaha being a large part of the PGT season, several Pot-Limit Omaha players are within striking distance of the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard. Sean Troha (68th - 686 PGT points), Joni Jouhkimainen (70th - 667 PGT points), Tyler Brown (73rd - 640 PGT points), and Ben Lamb (79th - 609 PGT points) will have a decision if they are to participate in PGT Last Chance to try and earn enough PGT points to qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. They sit 116 PGT points, 135 PGT points, 162 PGT points, and 193 PGT points, respectively, outside the adjusted Top 40. 

Lamb is based in Las Vegas and is the most likely to attend PGT Last Chance in search for a victory to qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. Troha and Brown are less likely to make the trek to Las Vegas to participate in PGT Last Chance, while Jouhkimainen is the least likely to attend. However, Jouhkimainen normally travels for the PGT PLO Series' with fellow Finnish poker players Samuli Sipila and Eelis Parssinen who have both qualified for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. Will Jouhkimainen tag along for the trip to play some golf and a No-Limit Hold'em tournament or two? 

Will Mixed Game Players John Racener and Maksim Pisarenko Return to Play No-Limit Hold'em?

John Racener (76th - 625 PGT points) and Maksim Pisarenko (78th - 611 PGT points) are both positioned 177 PGT points and 191 PGT points, respectively, outside the adjusted Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard. Both players would need a PGT Last Chance victory to qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. However, although Racener and Pisarenko play all the games, their PGT cashes are earned predominantly in mixed games. The chance Racener and Pisarenko will travel to Las Vegas to participate in PGT Last Chance is very slim, but if they do, they'll be just an event win outside qualifying for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. 

PGT Leaderboard - Ranks #67 to #79 

These are the leaderboard standings as of Monday, December 23, 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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