Chad Eveslage capped a dominant 2025 season by winning the PokerGO Tour $1,000,000 Championship, outlasting a stacked field of 54 high-stakes professionals to claim $500,000 and solidify his place among poker’s elite.
A Season Built for Success
Eveslage’s run to the championship was fueled by a breakout year in mixed games. He won the inaugural $100,000 Super High Roller Bowl Mixed Games event and the $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the WSOP, securing his fourth career bracelet. Those victories propelled him into the top 20 of the PGT points leaderboard, earning him entry into the seven-figure season finale. Over the season, Eveslage amassed more than $3.2 million across eight PGT cashes, including three wins and four final-table appearances.
Key Eliminations on the Road to Victory
The championship featured a series of dramatic knockouts:
- Eric Blair was sent home on the bubble when his A♦Q♣ lost a preflop coin flip to Aaron Kupin’s 9♠9♥.
- John Riordan, two-time bracelet winner, fell in sixth place when his trips couldn’t beat Eveslage’s king kicker in a pivotal all-in.
- Aaron Kupin exited fifth after his A♥8♠ lost to Andrew Lichtenberger’s 10♦9♦, giving Lichtenberger the chip lead heading into the final four.
- Daniel Negreanu, seven-time bracelet winner, was eliminated in fourth place by Eveslage’s J♥J♦, earning $80,000 and pushing his career earnings past $57 million.
- Michael Wang, WPT champion and three-time bracelet winner, ran his 10♥9♥ into Eveslage’s K♥K♦ on the turn, ending in third place.
Heads-Up Domination
Eveslage entered heads-up play with a commanding 8.7 million in chips against Lichtenberger’s 2.025 million. The final hand saw Lichtenberger jam his 8♣6♣, but Eveslage’s J♠J♦ held firm, hitting a set on the river to secure the title and push his career earnings over $24.8 million. Lichtenberger collected $200,000 as the runner-up.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chad Eveslage | $500,000 |
| 2 | Andrew Lichtenberger | $200,000 |
| 3 | Michael Wang | $120,000 |
| 4 | Daniel Negreanu | $80,000 |
| 5 | Aaron Kupin | $60,000 |
| 6 | John Riordan | $40,000 |
Eveslage’s victory capped a career-defining season, showcasing his versatility across mixed games and high-stakes tournaments, and cementing his reputation as one of poker’s most formidable all-around competitors.
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