PGT Kickoff Series Starts With Two Stellar Wins
The 2025 PokerGO Tour (PGT) Kickoff series is already making waves, showcasing the very best from poker’s finest. As of now, among the highlights are two standout victories: Masato Yokosawa securing his first-ever PGT title in Event #3 and Patrick Leonard continuing his hot streak with a win in Event #2. We’re breaking it down below!
Masato Yokosawa Wins First PGT Title
The 2025 PokerGO Tour (PGT) Kickoff series delivered another memorable moment as Masato Yokosawa clinched his first PGT title in Event #3: $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em. The event drew 112 entries, thus generating a prize pool of $560,000, with $142,800 reserved for the winner.
The final table started with Justin Saliba’s short stack coming under pressure. He moved all-in with 6♦ 6♣ after Yokosawa opened the action. Yokosawa quickly called with A♠ A♣, and the board ran out Q♥ 9♠ 3♣ 8♦ 2♣, leaving Saliba’s pair in seventh place.
Michael Vanier soon followed, pushing his remaining chips with K♦ 10♦ from the small blind, only to be called by Neil Warren’s A♥ 8♣ in the big blind. The flop of Q♦ J♣ 2♦ gave Vanier a flush draw and straight outs, but the turn 3♠ and river 4♣ blanked, ending his run in sixth place.
Erik Seidel saw his stack dwindle before a blind-versus-blind showdown. He shoved with 5♦ 5♣, but Warren called with K♠ 10♠. A K♣ 7♥ 2♥ flop gave Warren top pair, and Seidel found no help on the turn 8♦ or river 4♠, finishing in fifth.
Blake Vodges attempted to double up with J♥ 10♥ from the button but ran into Warren’s pocket 4♠ 4♣ in the big blind. The board came 9♠ 7♦ 2♦ 6♣ 8♣, and Vodges could not connect, leaving him in fourth place.
Nick Seward moved all-in with Q♠ J♠ on a flop of J♦ 9♠ 7♣, believing his top pair was good. Yokosawa, however, had slow-played pocket A♦ A♠ and snap-called. The turn and river, 4♣ and 8♥, confirmed Seward’s elimination in third.
In the final hand, Neil Warren shoved with Q♦ 10♦ from the button, hoping to outflop Yokosawa’s pocket 7♥ 7♠. The board ran out 7♣ 4♥ 2♣ 5♣ 7♦, giving Yokosawa quads to seal the victory.
| Place | Player | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masato Yokosawa | $142,800 |
| 2 | Neil Warren | $89,600 |
| 3 | Nick Seward | $64,400 |
| 4 | Blake Vodges | $50,400 |
| 5 | Erik Seidel | $36,400 |
| 6 | Michael Vanier | $28,000 |
| 7 | Justin Saliba | $22,400 |
Patrick Leonard Tackles Event #2
Patrick Leonard wasted no time making an impact at the PGT Kickoff series, capturing the Event #2 title in the $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em event. The tournament attracted 96 entries, building a $480,000 prize pool and awarding $124,800 to the winner. This marked Leonard’s second consecutive final table appearance at the PokerGO Studio.
Natalie Ferguson’s tournament life ended after a valiant effort. She tripled up with Q♣ 9♣ against Joey Weissman’s K♠ K♦ and Chino Rheem’s A♦ 7♦, thanks to a 9♠ 6♦ 3♣ flop. However, her final hand saw K♣ 9♥ fall to Weissman’s K♦ Q♠ on a K♥ 10♦ 6♣ flop when Weissman’s hand improved to two pair.
A pivotal hand saw Leonard wake up with pocket A♣ A♥ in a three-way pot against Rheem’s 10♦ 10♠ and Sam Laskowitz’s A♠ K♠. The board came down clean, securing Leonard a massive chip lead and sending Rheem out in seventh and Laskowitz in fifth shortly after.
Joey Weissman, frustrated by a dwindling stack, moved all-in with J♥ 9♠ but couldn’t outrun Leonard’s A♦ K♦ on a K♣ 7♥ 3♠ 2♣ 6♠ board. Joseph Cheong followed in third, shoving with K♠ J♠ only to run into Leonard’s dominant A♠ K♣, which held on a low board.
In the heads-up battle, Aram Zobian made a brave call with Q♠ 6♠ on a Q♥ 8♦ 3♣ 7♦ 4♠ board, only to see Leonard table A♥ Q♦ for top pair. The call ended Zobian’s run, and Leonard claimed his first PGT title.
.
| Place | Player | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Leonard | $124,800 |
| 2 | Aram Zobian | $79,200 |
| 3 | Joseph Cheong | $57,600 |
| 4 | Joey Weissman | $43,200 |
| 5 | Sam Laskowitz | $33,600 |
| 6 | Natalie Ferguson | $24,000 |
| 7 | Chino Rheem | $19,200 |
Photo Credit: PGT
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