Kid Poker Dominates PGT Mixed Games Event for First Win of 2025

Summary:

• Daniel Negreanu defeated a tough field in the $15,200 Dealer’s Choice PokerGO Tour event, bagging a $292,500 victory.
• After trailing 30-1 in chips, Schulman mounted an impressive rally before falling short in a dramatic PLO hand.
• With this win, Negreanu surpasses $54 million in live tournament earnings.

Daniel Negreanu kicked off the 2025 poker tournament season in dominant fashion on Tuesday when he steamrolled the final table in the $15,200 Dealer’s Choice PokerGO Tour event. 

The six-time WSOP bracelet winner controlled the action from six-handed play onward, securing the victory and a $292,500 payday after overcoming a late-game surge from Nick Schulman in heads-up play.

A Heated Final Table Battle

The Poker Hall of Famer faced a stacked final table, including 2025 Hall of Fame candidate Nick Schulman, Maxx Coleman, Yuri Dzivielevski, and several other accomplished mixed-game specialists. 

However, Negreanu, a GGPoker ambassador, once again proved why he’s one of the best in the business.

The tournament was the sixth installment of PokerGO’s seven-event Mixed Game Series. While the $25,300 10-Game Championship was also underway at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, many fans tuned in to see Negreanu’s run in the Dealer’s Choice event. 

Entering the final table fourth in chips, at half the stack of leader Maxx Coleman, “Kid Poker” wasted no time climbing the leaderboard.

His momentum was undeniable. At one point, he was running so hot that he even found himself apologizing to his opponents after scooping big pots.

Negreanu started his elimination spree by knocking out Ryan Miller in seventh place. As the final table progressed, he amassed nearly 80% of the chips in play while the remaining players struggled to keep up. 

Coleman managed to send Philip Sternheimer to the rail in sixth, then eliminated Dylan Smith in fifth before Negreanu took him out in fourth.

After dispatching Dzivielevski in third, the heads-up battle with Schulman began. Negreanu had a massive 30-1 chip advantage.

Despite Schulman’s near-miraculous comeback, where he narrowed the gap to 3-1 in chips, the Canadian sealed the deal in a dramatic PLO hand. 

Holding pocket aces against Schulman’s suited A-Q combo, Negreanu’s hand held firm on a low runout, securing the title.

With this victory, the 50-year-old adds another notch to his storied career, now boasting over $54 million in live tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob. 

It was also his first tournament win since October, reinforcing that the poker legend remains as dangerous as ever at the felt despite admitting not having fun at the WSOP Paradise Super ME.