Who Will Make the PGT Leaderboard Top 21?

The conclusion of the 2022 PokerGO Tour (PGT) season is upon us, with just four events remaining on the schedule, including the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.

Three events have yet to begin on the PGT schedule that will give players the last opportunity to climb into the top 21 on the PGT leaderboard or to increase the starting stacks of those players already eligible to play. On Saturday, December 16, there will be a $10,000 buy-in ARIA High Roller, while on Monday, December 19, and Tuesday, December 20, there will be two final $10,000 buy-in ARIA High Rollers. These three events will be held inside the ARIA Poker Room.

The record-setting WPT World Championship attracted 2,960 entrants and created a prize pool of more than $29 million. The top 370 players will finish in the money, while for the first time in WPT history, all six of the final tablists will earn a seven-figure payday. The PGT implications see players that reach the final six guaranteed 1,200 PGT points, while the winner will take home 1,500 PGT points - still not enough to sneak into the top 21 of the PGT leaderboard unless they have at least 26 PGT points.

The 2,960-entrant field has been reduced to 1,185, and some of the players at the top of the chip counts include Justin Bonomo (1,011,000), Dan Smith (746,000), Adam Hendrix (658,000), Vikenty Shegal (563,000), Brian Rast (530,000), and Chance Kornuth (505,000). Those six players also sit within striking distance of the top 21 of the PGT leaderboard and will need a deep run in the WPT World Championship if they are to qualify for the season-ending PGT Championship.

Rast sits the highest on the PGT leaderboard in 61st place with 910 PGT points, while Bonomo sits in 64th place with 884 PGT points. Kornuth sits 71st with 841 PGT points, while Smith is in 83rd place with 759 PGT points. Sitting in 100th and 101st place, respectively, are Hendrix (656 PGT points) and Shegal (641 PGT points). Those six players, along with many others, are eyeing Daniel Negreanu, who currently sits in 21st place with 1,525 PGT points. Negreanu bagged 252,000 in the WPT World Championship and still has a chance to increase his PGT points total.

Stephen Chidwick Extends Lead

There have been five ARIA High Rollers during December so far, and Stephen Chidwick has benefited the most by winning one and cashing in another to extend his lead to 3,412 PGT points. Cary Katz managed to win one and cash in another also to climb into the top 21 of the PGT leaderboard with 1,597 PGT points. Other event winners include Brian Kim, Jeremy Ausmus, and Sam Soverel. 

Soverel managed to cash in two other events and has added 229 PGT points to move into 24th place with 1,439 PGT points, moving all the way up from 40th place on the PGT leaderboard.

2022 PokerGO Tour Leaderboard Top 10

Note: PokerGO Tour leaderboard is accurate at the date of this article.

Click here to view the complete PokerGO Tour leaderboard.

What Does the PGT Winner Get?

The 2022 PGT season will culminate in the season-ending PGT Championship, which is a $500,000 winner-take-all tournament. The top 21 players on the PGT leaderboard at the end of regular-season events qualify for the PGT Championship. The winner of the 2022 PGT Championship will be crowned this season's champion and take home half a million dollars in prize money.

Starting stacks in the PGT Championship will be based on the number of points earned by a player during the regular season.

What’s Next for the PGT?

Three ARIA High Rollers remain on the PGT schedule and will run in the ARIA Poker Room on December 16, 19, and 20. Following the conclusion of these events, the PGT Championship will begin on December 21 with the entire tournament being streamed live on PokerGO.com.

Click here to view the upcoming PokerGO Tour schedule.

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