Joao Simao Leads PGT Kickoff Event #3 Final Table

Joao Simao, winner of Super High Roller Bowl X last PGT season, takes the chip lead into the PGT Kickoff Event #3 final table. Simao's lead is narrow, though, as he's only a single big blind ahead of David Coleman in second place.

Joining Simao and Coleman among the final seven are Jim Collopy, Andrew Moreno, Jared Jaffee, Brandon Wilson, and Stephen Song. They're all guaranteed a payout of $31,800, but it's the $182,800 first-place prize they're truly going for.

2026 PGT Kickoff Event #3 Final Table

It was another impressive turnout at the PokerGO Studio for the PGT Kickoff series. This event, Event #3: $5,300 NL Hold'em, attracted the biggest field of the series so far, with 159 entries creating a prize pool of $795,000.

The top 22 spots paid, with Justin Saliba busting on the bubble. He lost a flip with ace-jack against Paulina Loeliger's pocket nines.

Cashing in the event but falling short of the final table were Erik Seidel (8th - $31,800), John Riordan (15th - $11,925), Dan Shak (18th - $11,925), and Daniel Sepiol (21st - $9,950).

The final seven players in PGT Kickoff Event #3: $5,300 NL Hold'em will be back in action on Thursday, January 28, 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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