2024 PGT Last Chance: Nick Schulman Kicks of the Year With a BANG; Grabs Career 2nd PGT Title in Event #1: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em ($283,050)

The 2024 PGT Last Chance series lit up the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from January 2 to 9, serving as a six-event thriller that will wrap up this season’s PokerGO Tour. Beyond merely deciding the final stretch of the PGT leaderboard, it also offered players one last shot at punching their ticket to poker’s grand championship. For rising stars hoping to shine in the 2024 PGT season, this was the moment to step up.

Turning the pressure up a notch, the top 40 players on the Last Chance Series leaderboard scored an entry into a million-dollar freeroll, heating up the final race for PGT points. On top of that, three “Dream Seat” entries were handed out to standout competitors who didn’t crack the top 40 but still played their hearts out. Meanwhile, those who placed fourth to eighth in the series standings earned a “Dream Pass,” locking in their spot for the PGT Championship Dream Seat Invitational on January 9.

Event #1: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em brought plenty of fireworks, culminating in nearly two hours of intense heads-up action. When the dust settled, Nick Schulman (cover image) emerged triumphant, taking home the trophy and a sweet $283,050 payday. His performance was a masterclass in grit and razor-sharp instincts at the final table, pushing him into the top 10 of the 2024 PGT leaderboard.

Congratulations to @NickSchulman, winner of Event #1: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em at PGT Last Chance.

Schulman wins his sixth PGT title after topping the 111-entrant field to collect the $283,050 first-place prize.

He now sits ninth on the PGT leaderboard with 1,686 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/c0zMz802E6

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 4, 2025

This isn’t Schulman’s only big win lately—he just scored his sixth WSOP bracelet in the 2024 WSOP Paradise Event #15: $5,000 The Closer No-Limit Hold ’em Bounty Turbo a few weeks ago. Now, he’s added yet another PGT triumph to his résumé, building on his Event #6: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em victory from last year’s PGT Last Chance series.

Schulman’s chops aren’t limited to just one format, either. Back in October, he cashed in Event #1 of the PGT PLO Series II and made two final tables (Event #6 and Event #7). With this latest achievement, his total live earnings have soared to $2.17 Million.

In the final stretch, Joao Simao battled hard for the crown but settled for second place and a well-earned $177,600.

The $10,100 buy-in event drew 111 entries, building a $1.11 Million prize pool. The top 16 finishers claimed at least $16,650, including Nick Petrangelo (16th), David Coleman (15th), Brian Kim (14th), and Joseph Cheong (13th) for $22,200 each. Christopher Brewer (12th) and Byron Kaverman (11th) each took home $27,750, while Samuel Laskowitz (10th) and Martin Carnero (9th) collected $33,300 apiece. Unfortunately, they all missed out on the final table action.

Dan Shak bowed out in eighth place for $44,400, setting the stage for a seven-handed showdown that capped off a sensational start to the 2024 PGT Last Chance series.

Dan Shak eliminated in eighth place by Joao Simao.@daniel_shak was all-in holding king-ten suited against the ace-queen suited of @joaosimaobh. An ace on the flop ended Shak's run on the final table bubble.

Shak earns $44,400 and 44 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/af8mIQzzDY

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 3, 2025

You can watch the complete final table livestream right here.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Nick Schulman – 4,025,000
2. Joao Simao – 2,295,000
3. Victoria Livschitz – 2,170,000
4. Bryce Yockey – 1,670,000
5. Nguyen Le – 1,530,000
6. Matthew McEwan – 1,260,000
7. Aram Zobian – 930,000

Final Table Recap

The final table kicked off with a bang as Joao Simao, who came in as the chip leader, made quick work of Aram Zobian and sent him packing in seventh place.

Aram Zobian eliminated in seventh place by Joao Simao.@AramZobian was all-in holding pocket fives against the king-queen suited of @joaosimaobh. Simao turned top pair, and rivered his straight to eliminate Zobian.

Zobian earns $44,400 and 44 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/x6hXOzpM0q

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 3, 2025

Nick Schulman was a bit quiet at the start, but it didn’t take long for things to heat up. In an early clash, Schulman’s crashed into Simao’s , knocking Schulman to the short stack. Undeterred, Schulman roared back on the very next hand by doubling up through Matthew McEwan, setting the stage for his comeback. He then bolstered his position even further by taking out PGT newcomer Nguyen Le in sixth place—just a preview of what was to come.

Nguyen Le eliminated in sixth place by Nick Schulman.

Le was all-in holding king-queen against the pocket sixes of @NickSchulman and lost the race.

Le earns $55,500 and 56 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/Xi498rw2XH

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 3, 2025

As the battle raged on, Schulman and Simao watched Bryce Yockey step into the spotlight by knocking out Matthew McEwan in fifth. McEwan’s fell short against Yockey’s on a double-paired board of .

https://twitter.com/PokerGOTour/status/1875305297541320720Bryce Yockey’s own run came to a halt soon afterward when his lost to Simao’s , sending him out in fourth.

Bryce Yockey eliminated in fourth place by Joao Simao.

On a ten-high flop, @SuddenlyBryce was all-in with top-top against the pocket kings of @joaosimaobh. The board bricked out, and Yockey exited in fourth.

Yockey takes home $99,900 and 100 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/kbmpoHo2Tp

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 3, 2025

Victoria Livschitz, the Octopi Poker Co-founder, navigated the final table with poise, notching two key double-ups. Ultimately, her couldn’t outrun Simao’s after the flop went Simao’s way. Livschitz exited in third, and Simao headed into heads-up play with a healthy chip lead.

Victoria Livschitz eliminated in third place by Joao Simao.@VictoriaL_64 was all-in with ace-three against the king-five suited of @joaosimaobh. Simao flopped two pair and improved to a full house on the river.

Livschitz takes home $127,650 and 128 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/Fv51uiV5pz

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 3, 2025

The Nick Schulman-Joao Simao heads-up showdown turned into a marathon of grit and wits. Simao built a 5:1 chip advantage and came within one card of victory. But fate intervened when Schulman spiked a king on the river to make Broadway for his first in a series of crucial double-ups. After more back-and-forth swings, Schulman drew level when his overcame Simao’s .

Event #1: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em at PGT Last Chance is down to the final two players.@joaosimaobh – 9,800,000 (65 bbs)@NickSchulman – 4,075,000 (27 bbs)

Both players are guaranteed $177,600 but are playing for the $283,050 first-place prize, 283 PGT points, and the PGT Gold… pic.twitter.com/yLqTZSkLJB

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 3, 2025

The two continued trading the chip lead until an especially wild hand saw Schulman shove with fours full, only to lose to Simao’s eights full. Even then, Schulman kept his composure, rallying again when his turned pair topped Simao’s pocket deuces. With blinds sky-high, the final hand arrived when Simao moved all-in holding , only to run into Schulman’s . A fateful seven on the river locked up Schulman’s win and sent Simao home in second place.

Joao Simao eliminated in second place by Nick Schulman.@joaosimaobh was all-in holding jack-deuce against the jack-seven suited of @NickSchulman, and when a seven landed on the river, Event #1 came to a conclusion.

Simao collects $177,600 and 178 PGT points. pic.twitter.com/U81kbXLIpu

— PokerGO Tour (@PokerGOTour) January 4, 2025

This victory marked Schulman’s second title of the 2024 PGT season and his eighteenth cash overall, propelling him to 1,686 points for the year. With the 2024 PGT Championship on the horizon, Schulman continues to prove why he’s one of the fiercest contenders in the game.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Nick Schulman – $283,050
2. Joao Simao – $177,600
3. Victoria Livschitz – $127,650
4. Bryce Yockey – $99,900
5. Matthew McEwan – $72,150
6. Nguyen Le – $55,500
7. Aram Zobian – $44,400

Content & Images Courtesy: PokerGO

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