The second event of this year’s PokerGO Tour PLO Series saw Pot Limit Omaha stars reconvene at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA on the Las Vegas Strip. With the top two sharing over $175,000 in prize money, modern poker legends such as Jesse Lonis and James Chen – who also cashed in the Event #1 showdown won by PokerStake player Ky Nguyen – also made the latter stages as poker fans tuned into the action on PokerGO.

Poker Legends Make the Money

With an incredible 159 total entries, 23 places were paid, with Mark Chapic the unfortunate player who busted in 24^th for nothing. The bubble boy was eliminated by Jesse Lonis when the latter made a full house of queens and fives to take out the luckless Chapic. That put everyone in the money and soon after, two players busted in the same hand. Once again, Lonis was the executioner, this time making queens and fives for two pairs to knock out John Riordan and Maksim Pisarenko in 23^rd and 22^nd place respectively, with each man cashing for $5,247.

Other PokerGO legends followed those out of the door, as Allan Le (18^th for $7,155), Sean Winter (16^th for $7,155), Jim Collopy (11^th for $1,925) and Patrick Leonard (10^th for $14,310) all departed. A painful exit came next for PokerGO commentator Nick Schulman, who had hearts but to no avail as Lonis flopped a full house to send Schulman to the rail with $14,310 in ninth place).

Shortly after Schulman’s exit, Joao Simao’s departure came in eighth place for $19,080. The brilliant Brazilian had a dominated hand from the moment he put his chips in the middle against James Chen but initially overtook him when he paired an eight on the flop. Sadly for Simao, eight proved only the place he exited the event, as Chen went runner-runner on turn and river to a flush and survived at his opponent’s expense instead.

Hubbard Leads Final Table

Stephen Hubbard led the final table on 4.84 million, but it was a slim lead and the American soon lost it. Again, the seemingly invincible Lonis won a big pot leading to an elimination. Tyler Brown was his victim for $19,080, pocket aces no good against Lonis’ trip tens, but Hubbard took a massive hit too, slumping to 2.3 million, as Lonis vaulted to 6.75 million.

John Richards was the next player to bust, cashing in sixth place for $23,850. This time it was James Chen who made a set of aces himself to jump up the leaderboard. Richards was out, but Lonis lost a little too, as Chen went to turn his second cash in two events into a victory.

At the start of the final day, just five remained, with Lonis the chip leader. It was Chen who was the first to leave the five-handed fun, busting to Lonis in a massive clash that gave Lonis more than the remaining three opponents in his way. Chen lost with A-K-Q-7 against Lonis’ A-Q-7-6 after a cruel board gave Lonis runner-runner two pair to skittle Chen at the worst point of the final as the player who was third in chips cashed for $28,620 in fifth place instead.

Tarango and Hubbard Play for Gold

Out in fourth place was Arthur Morris, who cashed for $35,775 when Hubbard was the hero. All-in on a flop of with pocket aces, Morris lost when Hubbard’s met with fortune on the turn, making two pair and sending Morris home at his expense.

There were few chips between the top three when the last race to the line began, and it was Lonis was ran out of luck. All-in with top pair on the flop Lonis ran into a monster as Billy Tarango had flopped trip fives. There was worse to come, as Lonis’ pair hit to give Tarango a full house and he survived the river to send the biggest name home in third place for $47,700.

Billy Tarango turned bully after the two players agreed to a chop. Tarango moved ahead, then pressed home his edge as Hubbard couldn’t hold on. Eventually, Hubbard’s aces in the hole couldn’t hold when Tarango hit a runner-runner flush to end the event. Both men scored the same prize of $88,245 but it was Tarango who claimed the trophy, bragging rights and the PGT points too.

PokerGO Tour 2025 PLO Series $5,100 Event #2 Final Table Results:
Place	Player	Country	Prize
1st	Billy Tarango	United States	$88,245
2nd	Stephen Hubbard	United States	$88,245
3rd	Jesse Lonis	United States	$47,700
4th	Arthur Morris	United States	$35,775
5th	James Chen	United States	$28,620