Nguyen Le Wins His First PGT Title and $301,000 in Poker Masters Event #8: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em

The heater of a lifetime continues for Nguyen Le, who added to his recent high roller success with another victory in Poker Masters Event #8: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em. Since the start of 2025, Le has captured four titles, including wins at the BetMGM Championship, the Borgata Poker Open, and the $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller at the World Series of Poker. This victory marks another important milestone with his first PGT Major title. Le earned $301,000 and 241 PGT points, giving him a shot at making a run for the Purple Jacket.

Le will have to chase down the man he defeated heads-up, as Alex Foxen now holds the pole position on both the 2025 Poker Masters Leaderboard and the 2025 PGT season-long leaderboard. Le’s road to victory in Event #8 went through Foxen, as well as high-stakes regulars like Jeremy Ausmus, Joey Weissman, and Brian Batt.

Ausmus began the day as chip leader, but Le came out strong, scooping pot after pot to take over the lead early. Ausmus dropped several key hands and quickly surrendered the advantage, which Le only gave up briefly during three-handed play. The first elimination didn’t come until midway through the second level of the day, when Brian Batt was knocked out. Batt defended with jack-deuce and flopped top pair, but Le also flopped top pair with a stronger kicker, holding ace-jack. The money went in on the flop, and Le’s hand held to secure the first knockout of the day.

Next to fall was Joey Weissman, who had been nursing a short stack for most of the final table. In his last hand, he flipped for it all against Foxen, but his ace-king failed to improve against Foxen’s pocket tens, sending him out in 4th place.

Foxen, Ausmus, and Le battled three-handed for over an hour before Ausmus slid into the danger zone. He moved all in from the small blind with king-seven and Le called from the big blind with king-jack. Ausmus spiked two pair on a flop, but the on the river gave Le a better two pair and his second elimination of the day.

Heads-up play lasted just one hand. Both Foxen and Le flopped top pair on a king-high board, but Le’s kicker played, sealing the win and his first PGT title. With the victory, Le now sits 8th in the Purple Jacket standings with 261 PGT points, trailing Foxen at the top with 429 points. With just two events remaining, Le has work to do if he hopes to claim the top spot.

Event #8: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Payouts

Alex Foxen Extends His Lead on the 2025 PGT Season-Long Leaderboard and Captures the Top Spot in the Chase for the Purple Jacket

With his runner-up finish, Alex Foxen took the lead in the chase for the Purple Jacket, topping the standings with 429 points from two cashes — a win and a runner-up. With just two events remaining, it will take a strong finish from one of his challengers to snatch the lead away. Nguyen Le moved into the top 10 with his victory, climbing to 8th place with two cashes and 261 total PGT points.

Jeremy Ausmus also entered the top 20 thanks to his third-place finish, his third cash of the series. He now sits in 17th with 168 points. Brian Batt joined the top 20 as well, moving into 11th place with two cashes and 232 points. Joey Weissman earned 80 points for his run and now sits 32nd with 89 points from two cashes.

Foxen also extended his lead on the 2025 PGT season-long leaderboard. His 100th lifetime cash brought him 157 PGT points, pushing his season total to 2,561 points with 19 cashes and three wins. That puts him well ahead of Michael Mizrachi for the top spot. Nguyen Le climbed into the qualifying top 40 for the PGT Championship, now sitting in 18th place with 1,155 points. Weissman also cracked the top 25, securing 25th place and further cementing his position in the top 40. Meanwhile, despite earning valuable points today with his third-place finish, Ausmus still has work to do to qualify. He currently sits in 56th place with 788 points.

2025 Poker Master Leaderboard

2025 PGT Season Leadboard - Top 10

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