PGT Leaderboard Out, But Actually In: Matthew Wantman, Isaac Haxton, Ren Lin, and Stephen Chidwick Benefit from New Eligibility Rules

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.

Although positioned outside the Top 40 on the PGT leaderboard, nine players meet the PGT $1,000,000 Championship eligibility criteria. If the nine players in the Top 40 who currently don't meet the eligibility criteria and fail to find the necessary cashes at PGT Last Chance, the below nine players will be awarded a seat into the PGT $1,000,000 Championship.

Matthew Wantman, Isaac Haxton, Sergio Aido, and Ren Lin Just One Cash Away from the Top 40

PGT PLO Series II champion Matthew Wantman ascended the PGT leaderboard and now sits 41st with 912 PGT points. Wantman sits just 11 PGT points from overtaking Justin Saliba and Jonathan Little to move to 39th on the PGT leaderboard - essentially a min-cash in an upcoming PGT Last Chance event. 

Following Wantman on the PGT leaderboard are Isaac Haxton (42nd - 907 PGT points), Sergio Aido (43rd - 905 PGT points), and Ren Lin (44th - 904 PGT points). All three players are essentially a min-cash away from entering the Top 40. With players in the Top 40 who are ineligible likely to chase that final eligible cash, position among these four could be very important following the conclusion of PGT Last Chance.

Will Danny Tang and Stephen Chidwick Travel?

Danny Tang sits 45th on the PGT leaderboard with 881 PGT points from three cashes. Stephen Chidwick sits 47th on the PGT leaderboard with 870 PGT points from one win and 12 cashes. Chidwick frequently attends PGT events in the PokerGO Studio, while Tang doesn't. Tang qualified for the PGT Championship in 2022 - finishing ninth on the PGT leaderboard - but failed to attend the 21-player freeroll. The likelihood of Tang traveling for this season's Championship is unlikely, especially since he is on the fringe of qualification. Chidwick is expected to attend, but considering a recent relocation to his home base, there is a chance the 2022 PGT Player of the Year will miss the 2024 PGT $1,000,000 Championship.

Will Brock Wilson, Taylor von Kriegenbergh, and Brekstyn Schutten Fend Off Those Below?

On the very edge of the Top 50 on the PGT leaderboard are Brock Wilson (48th - 820 PGT points), Taylor von Kriegenbergh (49th - 811 PGT points), and Brekstyn Schutten (50th - 802 PGT points). Knowing that Jonathan Tamayo, Brian Kim, and Matthew Lambrecht are very likely to attend PGT Last Chance to chase that third cash to be eligible for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship, the final PGT leaderboard position for Wilson, von Kriegenbergh, and Schutten are extremely important. 

These three are separated only by 18 PGT points, while Wilson is 50 PGT points behind Chidwick - essentially a PGT Last Chance final table appearance. All three will likely want to score some additional PGT points at PGT Last Chance to improve their PGT leaderboard standings, as there are players just outside the Top 50 that may make a run at catching them, including Justin Zaki, Nacho Barbero, Erik Seidel, Jeremy Becker, Noel Rodriguez, and Joey Weissman.

PGT Leaderboard - Ranks #41 to #50 

These are the leaderboard standings as of Tuesday, December 17, 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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