The PGT Championship is the PokerGO Tour’s season-ending event. The PGT Championship is an exclusive invite-only event open to the PGT’s top 40 players and select PGT Dream Seat winners. To date, there have been four editions of the PGT Championship, concluding the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 PGT seasons. The fifth PGT Championship will conclude the 2025 PGT season, and the event once again offers a $1,000,000 prize pool that is a freeroll to the qualifying players.

The top 40 eligible players as ranked by the official PGT leaderboard qualify to play in the event. Those qualifying leaderboard players will be joined by a select group of PGT Dream Seat winners.

What is the PGT Championship?

The PGT Championship is the PGT’s season-ending poker tournament. The $1,000,000 freeroll poker tournament is open to only the top 40 players ranked by the official PGT leaderboard and a select group of PGT Dream Seat winners. All qualifying players are invited to compete in the event at the end of the PGT season.

History of the PGT Championship

The PGT Championship has evolved over the years to what it is today. In 2021, the first PGT Championship event was the final tournament of the PGT season and had a $50,000 buy-in. There were 46 entries, and Rok Gostisa topped them all by winning the $689,100 first-place prize.

Starting in 2022, the PGT Championship transitioned to a season-ending freeroll tournament. In 2022, the event featured a $500,000 winner-take-all prize pool. Jason Koon won the 2022 PGT Championship for the $500,000 top prize. Koon topped a final table that included Nick Petrangelo, Benny Glaser, and Stephen Chidwick. In heads-up play, Koon defeated Sean Winter.

In 2023, the prize pool was increased to $1,000,000, and first place remained at $500,000. There were then additional payouts for players at the final table. This year, it was Daniel Smiljkovic topping a field of 54 entries to win the $500,000 top prize. Smiljkovic battled with Dream Seat winner Arden Cho in heads-up play, sith Cho finishing in second place for $200,000. 

In 2024, it was 2024 PGT Player of the Year Jeremy Ausmus topping a field of 50 entries to win the $500,000 first-place prize. This was the first year that the regular-season PGT Player of the Year also went on to win the PGT Championship, a result that only further solidified Ausmus' place among poker's elite. Ausmus bested another top-notch player, Nick Schulman, in heads-up play, with Schulman winning $200,000 for the runner-up finish.

Previous PGT Championship Winners

When is the PGT Championship?

The 2025 PGT $1,000,000 Championship will be held at the end of the 2025 PGT season. The specific dates for the event are to be determined. Stay tuned to PGT.com and the official PGT schedule for complete event details.

Where is the PGT Championship held?

The PGT $1,000,000 Championship is held at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. The 10,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility is located on the ARIA Resort & Casino property.

How can a player qualify for the PGT Championship?

Players can qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship either by qualifying through the PGT leaderboard or by winning a Dream Seat. Here is how players can qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship.

The first pathway is by finishing in the top 40 of the PGT leaderboard and having cashed in three PGT-qualifying events during the regular season. Players can compete in qualifying PGT events throughout the season, earning points for in-the-money finishes. A player’s points accumulate from all of their cash results during the season. Players are then ranked by points on the PGT leaderboard. After all open events during the PGT season are complete, the top 40 players ranked on the leaderboard receive an invite to compete in the PGT $1,000,000 Championship freeroll tournament. Prior to the final series of the season, players in the Top 40 will be contacted by the PGT and must opt-in to attending the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. If no response is received, their seat will be vacated and rolled to the next eligible player.

The second pathway is by winning a PGT Dream Seat. A Dream Seat is awarded via special events and promotions. If a player wins a Dream Seat, that player is granted exclusive entry to compete in the PGT Championship. For more information on Dream Seat promotions and how they can be won, click here.

What events qualify to earn PGT points?

The 2025 PGT season includes select high-roller poker tournaments with a minimum buy-in of $3,300. Players can earn PGT points by cashing in owned-and-operated PGT events such as the PokerGO Cup, U.S. Poker Open, Poker Masters, Super High Roller Bowl, PGT Mixed Games, PGT PLO Series, and PGT Last Chance. Additional events may qualify for the PGT, including various World Series of Poker tournaments.

Please refer to the official PGT schedule page for a complete list of qualifying PGT events.

What is the format of the PGT Championship?

Players who qualify for the PGT $1,000,000 Championship will begin play in the tournament with starting stacks based on their position on the PGT leaderboard, which is determined by PGT points earned during the regular season. All qualifying players, including PGT Dream Seat winners, will start the tournament with a minimum of 100 big blinds.

What are the prizes for the PGT Championship?

The 2025 PGT Championship will have a $1,000,000 prize pool on offer. It is a freeroll for all qualifying players. First place is set to be $500,000, with additional prizes to be determined at a later time.

The player who finishes the 2025 PGT season with the most leaderboard points will be named PGT Player of the Year and awarded a $50,000 PGT Passport.

Can I watch the PGT Championship?

Yes, you can watch the PGT $1,000,000 Championship. The event will be livestreamed on PokerGO for viewers worldwide to watch. Stay tuned to PGT.com and PokerGO.com/schedule for broadcast information.

Click here to access the PokerGO collection of PGT Championship livestreams and episodes.