The opening event of the 2025 PGT PLO Series began at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday. One day on from kick off, the winner was crowned, as PokerSTake player Ky Nguyen surged up the rankings then dealt several killer blows to reign supreme and claim the title and top prize of $180,400!

Linde Loses on the Bubble

Costing $5,100 to play, the Event #1 Pot Limit Omaha field was a massive 164 entries strong, with 96 unique players pitching up in Sin City to battle in the four-card game. When the prizepool was confirmed, a massive $820,000 was on the line, with 25 players reaching the money places. Busting in 26^th and therefore missing out as ‘Bubble Boy’ was Dylan Linde, whose pair of queens were no good once five community cards fell and John Riordan made a straight with the bigger stack.

Cashes for players such as Matthew Wantman (20^th for $8,200), Daniel Negreanu (18^th for $12,300), Ronald Keijzer (13^th for $16,400) and Adam Hendrix (9^th for $24,600) followed, with the Hawaiian Kendrix sent packing after losing a massive hand to PokerStake favorite Jeremy Ausmus, who made a Royal Flush to wow poker fans yet again.

With seven remaining, Steve Zolotow fell foul of Ausmus too, this time with top set of three aces. Zolotow’s rockets were shot down by Ausmus’ pocket kings which rivered quads to triple up Ausmus and do Zolotow’s stack fatal damage which eventually helped the latter to bust in seventh place for $32,800.

Ausmus Bows Out Early

With six players remaining, play was paused between Day 1 and Day 2. When players returned, Bryce Yockey was the chip leader, his late Day 1 double through Brian Breck before he busted the same player in the next hand in 12^th place pivotal. With a top prize of $180,400 on the line to the finalists, whoever busted first would only take home $41,000.

That player turned out to be Jeremy Ausmus, despite the American poker legend coming into play in third place of the six finalists. After dropping early, Ausmus lost his final chips with when James Chen’s connected more with the flop. Ausmus had a worse pair and a flush draw but while the did give Ausmus the chance of an escape via quads on the river again, he couldn’t find it for a second time in the event, a ending his hopes and strengthening Chen’s chances.

Early elimination aside, the opening exchanges were best for the eventual winner, Ky Nguyen as every pot seemed to be slid in his direction after the action of the hand had concluded. It was no surprise at all when Nguyen, by this point a big chip leader, took out former table captain Bryce Yockey in fifth place for $49,200. Yockey flopped a bottom pair and a flush draw but missed his draws as Nguyen’s pocket aces in his hand held to reduce the field to four.

Triple Threat Ending Leaves Two on Canvas

With four players remaining, Matthew McEwan doubled up through Ky Nugyen in a move that proved pivotal to the finishing positions of the players. With Nguyen leading on 7.5 million, McEwan’s resurgence saw him on 6.2m, while John Riordan (3.8m) and James Chen (2.8,) were battling to stay alive.

It was Riordan who cashed next, leaving in fourth place for $61,500. All-in with , Riordan was unable to hold against Nguyen, who made a wheel straight on the river to usurp his rival and knock him out in the process. Nguyen suddenly had over 11 million, more than both of his opponents’ stacks put together.

In what transpired to be the final hand of a dramatic final table, All three players were committed for their stacks pre-flop as McEwan’s pocket kings pre-flop were ahead. He was hoping to double into the lead but while he stayed ahead of James Chen’s hand, Nguyen flopped the nut straight, however, and after an ace on the turn, couldn’t be beaten. Chen being the shortest at the time of his tournament demise meant he finished third for $82,000, while McEwan earlier efforts rewarded with the runn-up spot worth $118,900. For Nguyen, however, it was the ideal end to the perfect day of poker as he took home $180,400 and the first PGT trophy of the PLO Series.

Subscribers to PokerGO can watch the final table play out in all its glory by heading here. If you want to back a PokerStake favorite in events to come in the series in Las Vegas, head to the designated PGT PLO Series staking page now!

PokerGO Tour 2025 PLO Series $5,100 Event #1 Final Table Results:
Place	Player	Country	Prize
1st	Ky Nguyen	United States	$180,400
2nd	Matthew McEwan	United States	$118,900
3rd	James Chen	United States	$82,000
4th	John Riordan	United States	$61,500
5th	Bryce Yockey	United States	$49,200
6th	Jeremy Ausmus	United States	$41,000