The ultimate $5,100 No-Restrict Maintain’em Excessive Curler occasion of the 2025 PGT Venetian Las Vegas Traditional drew a aggressive subject of 49 entries, producing a prize pool of $245,000. Craig Mason captured his first-ever stay event victory, regardless of already having over $2.7 million in profession poker earnings, based on HendonMob. Mason navigated a troublesome subject and mount an unimaginable come again in heads-up play, to defeat Andrew Lichtenberger and declare the $85,750 first-place prize and 86 PGT factors.
Full $5,100 No-Restrict Maintain’em Excessive Curler Payouts
Livschitz Burst the Bubble
With solely seven gamers making the cash, and eight remaining, Victoria Livschitz shoved her brief stack of 235,000 all-in from the button with J♦9♦, and Lichtenberger referred to as from the small blind holding 6♠6♥. Discovering herself in a flip, the board ran out 7♥4♦10♠Ok♣Ok♠, and Livschitz was eradicated, bursting the bubble.
High Professionals Fall Brief
As soon as within the cash, it was the 2 gamers who would meet heads-up, Mason and Lichtenberger, doing the heavy lifting. The eventual champion despatched out high-stakes common Jim Collopy in seventh when his pocket tens couldn’t maintain towards Mason’s A♣Q♦.
Lichtenberger then completed off poker professional Shannon Shorr, who accurately referred to as off a three-bet for his stack of 460,000 with A♣8♠ on a 8♦2♥3♠ flop towards Lichtenberger’s A♥Q♠. A protected 5♥ on the flip saved Shorr in entrance, however the Q♠ on the river gave Lichtenberger the perfect hand, sending Shorr to the rail in sixth.
Mason continued his run good, taking out Bob Buckenmayer in fifth when his Ok♠Ok♥ held towards Buckenmayer’s 7♥7♠, after which Landon Tice in fourth after Mason’s A♣J♦ additionally held after dominating Tice’s J♥9♥.
Then Lichtenberger arrange the heads-up match with Mason, when on the river of a 9♠5♥9♣10♣2♦ board, Lichtenberger wager 80,000 from the small blind, and Joao Simao raised to 315,000 from the large blind. Lichtenberger rapidly three-bet all in, and Simao took a second to think about earlier than calling all in for about 555,000. Lichtenberger tabled 9♥5♠ for a flopped full home, and Simao’s playing cards went into the muck as he was eradicated in third place.
Mason Makes Unimaginable Comeback
The knockout of Joao Simao in third gave Lichtenberger a slight chip lead, which he prolonged early in heads-up play. Mason referred to as Lichtenberger’s river elevate on a J♥4♠4♥3♥9♠ board after checking to the river in a limped pot. Lichtenberger tabled A♦9♣ which was good, giving him the pot and additional constructing his benefit.
After Lichtenberger prolonged his lead even additional, Mason discovered himself practically on the point of elimination, calling an all-in with 9♦6♣ towards Lichtenberger’s Q♠6♦, a dominating hand. Nevertheless, when the board ran out 4♦A♦5♣8♠7♦, Mason hit a straight on the river, staying alive and maintaining the heads-up match going.
Miraculously, Mason then rapidly discovered two extra double-ups earlier than holding with pocket sixes towards Lichtenberger’s Ace-King to take the lead. As soon as Mason prolonged his benefit even additional, he and Lichtenberger discovered themselves all-in once more, however this time it was “Chewy” in danger. Mason’s pocket sevens held up towards Lichtenberger’s sixes, securing the victory and the $85,750 first-place prize, together with 86 PGT factors, marking his first-ever stay event title.
