Brandon Wilson Wins Back-to-Back PGT Last Chance Events

Just one day after taking down event no. 3 at the PokerGO Tour Last Chance series for a $297,500 payday, Brandon Wilson emerged victorious in event no. 4 with another $285,000 score.

The Illinois native topped 119 and 114 entries in the two consecutive $10,100 buy-in events held inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas to grow his career tournament earnings to more than $3.9 million. He now has six high-stakes titles won since August of 2023.

Wilson secured a total of 1,200 Card Player Player of the Year points for his back-to-back wins, enough to put him in first place in the early 2025 POY standings presented by Global Poker. His $582,500 in POY earnings are also the most of any player so far.

The 285 PGT points that came with the trophy moved Wilson into 57th place on the season-long leaderboard for that high-stakes-centric points race. He is also now the clear leading in the series rankings.

The 114-entry turnout for event no. 4 built a $1,140,000 that was paid out among the top 17 finishers. Only the final seven advanced to day 2 action, with Wilson out in front.

The first knockout of the second day saw 2020 World Series of Poker Online main event champion Stoyan Madanzhiev (7th – $45,600) get all-in with pocket fives racing against the A-6 suited of Sam Laskowitz, who turned the nut flush to lock up the pot.

The next elimination was the result of a preflop cooler with Laskowitz running pocket jacks into the pocket aces of bracelet winner Byron Kaverman. The majority of Kristina Holst’s stack had been committed in this hand after she wagered all but a single 25,000 chip, only to fold when Laskowitz shoved and Kaverman called before it got back around to her. The larger pair held up and Laskowitz was eliminated in sixth place ($57,000).

Holst soon followed. She managed to win her first two all-ins, but was soon at risk again with A-10 facing K-7 for Kaverman. A king-high runout ended Holst’s run in fifth place ($74,100).

WPT champion and two-time bracelet winner Dylan Linde committed the majority of his stack preflop with Q-10 and then checked it down with Wilson, who had called with A-6 preflop. Neither player connected with the board and Linde was left on fumes. His attempt to spin it back up from a single chip was shorter-lived than Holst’s. He picked up the same hand again on the next deal and was forced all-in in the big blind. He was called in two spots and was eventually beaten by a flopped pair of aces for Wilson. Linde earned $96,900 as the fourth-place finisher.

Six-time bracelet winner and current PGT points leader Jeremy Ausmus managed to double up twice early in three-handed action. He then won another all-in with 55 beating the A9 of Kaverman, who he had covered. With that, Ausmus entered heads-up with the chip lead while Kaverman settled for $125,400 as the third-place finisher.

The final showdown hinged on a massive hand that began with Wilson raising to 425,000 on the button with 1010 with blinds of 100,000-200,000 and a big blind ante of 200,000. Ausmus called from the big blind with Q5 and the flop came down K84. Ausmus checked and Wilson continuation bet 250,000. Ausmus check-raised to 750,000 as a bluff and Wilson hung around. The 7 turn drew a 1,500,000 barrel from Ausmus, who had picked up a gutshot straight draw. Wilson called and the 4 river paired the board. Ausmus moved all-in and Wilson, who was covered by 900,000, went into the tank for a bit. He eventually made the call with his pocket tens to pick off the bluff and take more than a 14:1 chip lead.

The final hand began with a button shove by Wilson with 53. Ausmus called with a dominating 63, but the A4287 runout gave Wilson the wheel for the win. Ausmus was awarded $176,700 as the runner-up. This was his 26th qualified score of the PGT season.

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Photo credits: PokerGO / Antonio Abgrego.