Andrew Lichtenberger Leads First Final Table of 2026 PGT Season

Andrew Lichtenberger is picking up right where he left off last season. A season ago, Lichtenberger entered the very first event of the PGT season – PGT Kickoff Event #1: $5,300 NL Hold'em – and went on to both finish Day 1 as the chip leader before playing his way to the winner's circle. In this season's opener, Lichtenberger is once again the final table chip leader and looking to go back-to-back.

Lichtenberger holds one-third of the chips in play with seven players remaining from the field of 135 entries. Everyone has locked up $27,000, with a first-place prize of $162,000 up top. Joining Lichtenberger for Tuesday's final table are Cary Katz, Shannon Shorr, Spencer Champlin, Ethan "Rampage" Yau, Jeremy Eyer, and Peter Mugar.

2026 PGT Kickoff Event #1 Final Table

PGT Kickoff Event #1: $5,300 NL Hold'em drew a field of 135 entries to the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. The top 20 spots made the money, and it was a double bubble that got them to a cash when both Michael Rossitto and Cherish Andrews busted with 21 players left. As a result, Rossitto and Andrews chopped the first payout ($10,125) and basically broke even on the initial buy-in.

Others to finish in the money but fall short of the final table were John Riordan (12th - $16,875), David "ODB" Baker (16th - $10,125), and Brock Wilson (19th - $10,125). Alex Foxen, the reigning PGT Player of the Year, also secured a deep run in his first event of the season, placing 10th for $20,250.

The final seven players in PGT Kickoff Event #1: $5,300 NL Hold'em will return to action on Tuesday, January 27, at 12:30 p.m. PT. The blinds will be 50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 big blind ante to start.

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