The 2026 PokerGO Tour season kicked off in style with the PGT Kickoff series, and Andrew Lichtenberger wasted no time asserting his dominance. The $5,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event drew 135 entries, and after two days of intense play, the Las Vegas pro successfully defended his 2025 title, earning $162,000 and his eighth career PGT championship.
Lichtenberger, now approaching $25 million in career tournament earnings, boasts 47 six-figure scores, including five for over $1 million. This latest victory also awarded him 528 Card Player Player of the Year points and 324 PGT points, putting him firmly in contention at the top of both races.
Final Table Action
The event’s 135-entry field marked the second-largest turnout for a $5,000 PGT event, with a total prize pool of $675,000 spread across the top 21 finishers. Day 1 saw notable players like Cherish Andrews, Brock Wilson, David ‘ODB’ Baker, John Riordan, and 2025 PGT Player of the Year Alex Foxen cashing but falling short of Day 2.
On Day 2, seven players returned, with Lichtenberger leading the pack. Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau doubled early but was eliminated in fifth after his pocket aces fell to Lichtenberger’s kings, earning $40,500. Cary Katz (4th – $54,000) and Shannon Shorr (3rd – $70,875) soon followed, leaving Lichtenberger to battle Jeremy Eyer heads-up. The Mississippi bracelet winner earned $97,875 for second place, while Lichtenberger secured the title and top prize.
Final Table Results
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Andrew Lichtenberger – $162,000, 528 POY points, 324 PGT points
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Jeremy Eyer – $97,875, 440 POY points, 196 PGT points
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Shannon Shorr – $70,875, 352 POY points, 142 PGT points
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Cary Katz – $54,000, 264 POY points, 108 PGT points
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Ethan Yau – $40,500, 220 POY points, 81 PGT points
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Peter Mugar – $33,750, 176 POY points, 68 PGT points
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Spencer Champlin – $27,000, 132 POY points, 54 PGT points
With the season officially underway, Lichtenberger has set the tone for 2026, proving once again why he’s a perennial force on the PokerGO Tour.
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