The 2026 PokerGO Tour (PGT) season officially kicked off in spectacular fashion, as Andrew Lichtenberger claimed victory in the opening event of the PGT Kickoff series, successfully defending the same title he won in 2025.
The $5,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament attracted 135 entries, making it one of the largest fields ever for a PGT event at this price point. This win marked Lichtenberger’s eighth career PokerGO Tour title, establishing him as the first champion of the 2026 season and the early leader in the PGT points race.
Andrew Lichtenberger Continues Elite Run on the PokerGO Tour
Now based in Las Vegas, the 38-year-old poker pro is closing in on a major career milestone. With this victory, Andrew Lichtenberger’s lifetime tournament earnings are approaching $25 million.
The WSOP bracelet winner has now recorded:
- 47 six-figure tournament cashes
- Five seven-figure scores
- Eight PokerGO Tour titles
The win not only added another trophy to his resume but also positioned him near the top of both the 2026 POY standings and the PokerGO Tour leaderboard.
One of the Biggest $5K PGT Fields Ever
The 135-entry field was the second-largest ever for a $5,000 buy-in PokerGO Tour event, trailing only the 177-player field from a 2025 PokerGO Cup tournament.
The total $675,000 prize pool paid the top 21 finishers, with numerous accomplished professionals making deep runs.
Notable players who cashed but fell late on Day 1 included:
- Cherish Andrews (20th)
- Brock Wilson (19th)
- David “ODB” Baker (16th)
- John Riordan (12th)
- Alex Foxen (10th), the reigning 2025 PGT Player of the Year
Day 2 Action and Key Eliminations
Day 2 began with seven players remaining, with Lichtenberger holding the chip lead.
Bracelet winner and poker content creator Ethan “Rampage” Yau found an early double-up to reach the final five, but his run ended in dramatic fashion. Yau got all-in holding pocket aces, only to be cracked by Andrew Lichtenberger’s pocket kings, finishing fifth for $40,500.
Shortly after, the remaining eliminations followed:
- Cary Katz, PokerGO founder and bracelet winner, finished fourth ($54,000)
- Shannon Shorr, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner, placed third ($70,875)
Heads-Up: Lichtenberger vs. Jeremy Eyer
The tournament concluded with Andrew Lichtenberger heads-up against Jeremy Eyer, a WSOP bracelet winner from Gulfport, Mississippi.
Despite a strong performance, Eyer was unable to stop Lichtenberger’s momentum and finished as the runner-up, earning $97,875, the fourth-largest cash of his career.
Lichtenberger sealed the victory, once again lifting the PGT trophy and proving his dominance on the PokerGO Tour stage.
Final Table Results – 2026 PGT Kickoff Event #1
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points | PGT Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Lichtenberger | $162,000 | 528 | 324 |
| 2 | Jeremy Eyer | $97,875 | 440 | 196 |
| 3 | Shannon Shorr | $70,875 | 352 | 142 |
| 4 | Cary Katz | $54,000 | 264 | 108 |
| 5 | Ethan Yau | $40,500 | 220 | 81 |
| 6 | Peter Mugar | $33,750 | 176 | 68 |
| 7 | Spencer Champlin | $27,000 | 132 | 54 |
Andrew Lichtenberger Starts 2026 as the Man to Beat
By defending his title and capturing the first win of the 2026 PokerGO Tour season, Andrew Lichtenberger has once again proven why he remains one of the most consistent and dangerous players in high-stakes tournament poker.
With the PGT points lead, strong positioning in the Player of the Year race, and momentum firmly on his side, Lichtenberger has set the tone for what could be another historic season.
