PGT Leaderboard Top 40: Negreanu, Hendrix, Rheem, Lichtenberger On The Edge

The final series for the 2023 PokerGO Tour (PGT) season is PGT Last Chance, running January 2-7, 2024. It will be the last opportunity for players to earn points and qualify for the PGT Championship $1,000,000 Freeroll that is open to the Top 40 and select Dream Seat winners. Two Dream Seats will be awarded during PGT Last Chance to the two highest-ranked players on the PGT Last Chance leaderboard who don't finish in the Top 40 after PGT Last Chance.

Players such as Isaac Haxton, Chris Brewer, Stephen Chidwick, and Alex Foxen have locked up their seats in the PGT Championship, but they will have the opportunity to increase their starting stacks during PGT Last Chance, as every 10 PGT points equals a big blind in the PGT Championship. However, some players who are currently in the Top 40 are vulnerable to falling out if results don't fall their way during PGT Last Chance. Others on the edge of qualifying for the Top 40 may need to final table a PGT Last Chance event to overtake a player above them to lock up their seat in the PGT Championship.

Kisacikoglu, Koon, and Smiljkovic Eyeing 1,200 PGT Points

Orpen Kisacikoglu, Jason Koon, and Daniel Smiljkovic have all been playing in various events at the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas this week, and it is fully expected that they will be making an appearance at PGT Last Chance. Sitting above them on the PGT leaderboard is a cluster of four players separated by one point as Josh Arieh sits in 28th with 1,201 PGT points, while Alexandre Reard, Juan Maceiras, and Toby Lewis are all tied on 1,200 PGT points.

If Kisacikoglu, Koon, and Smiljkovic can all find an in-the-money finish or two that rockets them over the 1,201 PGT point threshold, it would be safe to say that they'll be near-locks to be playing the PGT Championship. For Koon, there is an added incentive to qualify for the PGT Championship as he is the defending champion from 2022, where he defeated Sean Winter heads-up to win the $500,000 first-place prize.

Negreanu, Coleman, Hendrix, and Oya Need a Podium Finish

The next wave of players are more vulnerable to slipping outside the Top 40 and will feel pressure in every event during PGT Last Chance. Daniel Negreanu sits in 35th with 1,117 PGT points, while Maxx Coleman (1,097 PGT points), Adam Hendrix (1,080 PGT points), and Masashi Oya (1,079 PGT points) round out the final few spots in the Top 40 and are expected to be playing PGT Last Chance. 

Negreanu is just a podium finish away from surpassing the 1,201 PGT point mark that will be crucial in separating from the pack, while Coleman, Hendrix, and Oya will need to put in a bit more work to guarantee their spot in the PGT Championship. Coleman and Hendrix have held spots high on the PGT leaderboard all season, while Oya shot up the PGT leaderboard after winning the WSOP Paradise $100,000 Ultra High Roller for $2,940,000 and his first WSOP bracelet. Oya earned 550 PGT points for his victory and also took the top spot on Japan's All-Time Money list, according to The Hendon Mob.

Trading 4 Cards for 2?

Pot-Limit Omaha has been a big part of the 2023 PGT season with two stand-alone Omaha series' and the inaugural Super High Roller Bowl: Pot-Limit Omaha. Consequently, several players have parlayed success in those series' and other PGT events into a strong position on the PGT leaderboard. Ben Lamb (36th - 1,108 PGT points), Arthur Morris (40th - 1,048 PGT points), and Jonas Kronwitter (T-41st - 1,032 PGT points) are all regarded as Omaha experts and have dabbled in No-Limit Hold'em events, but will they take part in PGT Last Chance. 

With Lamb based in Las Vegas and holding a stronger position on the PGT leaderboard, he will likely monitor each PGT Last Chance result to see if he needs to play in some of the final events to ensure his seat in the PGT Championship. Morris is on the edge of the PGT leaderboard in 40th place, and even though he is just a short flight away, he might concede this opportunity and gracefully fall out of the Top 40. Kronwitter is based in Europe and will likely also concede and not chase a seat in the PGT Championship.

Rheem, Barbero, and Lichtenberger Will Be On the Grind

Three players that are expected to be heavily involved in PGT Last Chance are Chino Rheem (43rd - 1,029 PGT points), Nacho Barbero (44th - 1,014 PGT points), and Andrew Lichtenberger (45th - 1,001 PGT points). Rheem is just a $20,000 cash from the Top 40, while Barbero and Lichtenberger will need to ladder up and cash for $35,000 and $48,000, respectively, to enter the Top 40. With six events during PGT Last Chance, Rheem, Barbero, and Lichtenberger will have plenty of chance to find the payday to put them in the Top 40.

The consolation prize for these players is the two added Dream Seats towards the PGT Last Chance leaderboard. These two Dream Seats will give players direct entry into the PGT Championship with at least 100 big blinds, and they will be awarded to the two highest-ranked players on the PGT Last Chance leaderboard that do not finish in the Top 40 following the conclusion of PGT Last Chance.

PGT Leaderboard: On the Edge of Qualifying

Leaderboard standings as of Thursday, December 21, 2023. See the complete and current PGT leaderboard at pgt.com/leaderboard.

PGT Last Chance Schedule

For full PGT schedule information, check out pgt.com/schedule.

Connect with PokerGO.com on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Watch daily poker clips on the PokerGO YouTube channel. Join the conversation on the PokerGO Discord server. You can save $20 off an annual subscription to PokerGO.com by using the code “PGT2023” at checkout.