Wrapping up a star-studded freeroll finale on the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas, we watched the ultimate desk motion right here on the VIP Grinders workplace, to see if our predictions got here true.
VIP Grinders Pre-Occasion Predictions
Going into the PokerGO Tour’s season-ending $1,000,000 Championship freeroll, all of us had opinions. This sort of format jogged my memory of the unique WTP Winner’s match that might wrap up a brand new season. After watching an unimaginable slate of dwell outcomes all through 2025, just a few names stood out within the VIP Grinders workplace:
The Regular Hand: Jeremy Ausmus
Ausmus had quietly been essentially the most constant excessive curler within the room all yr. With deep runs from EPT Barcelona to the PokerGO Tour PLO Collection II and strong finishes on the NAPT, there was each cause to count on him to thrive in a freeroll the place aggression and persistence each pay dividends.
The Corridor-of-Fame Vet: Nick Schulman
Schulman’s storied profession, together with a number of WSOP bracelets and seven-figure scores earlier within the season, to not point out him being inducted within the poker Corridor of Fame, made him an apparent contender. Expertise at large remaining tables is value its weight in chips.
Excessive Curler Threats: Alex Foxen & Others
Foxen’s 2025 PGT title and comeback runs advised an enormous end was doable, whereas different match heavyweights like Daniel Negreanu and Michael Wang have been on everybody’s radar too.
The $1M PGT Freeroll Closing 6
By the point play reached the cash, six gamers remained, every with meaty credentials:
Jeremy AusmusNick SchulmanCalvin AndersonDylan WeismanChris HunichenJim Collopy
This wasn’t a smooth desk — gamers right here had deep histories in excessive stakes poker and years of match expertise.
Champion Profile: Jeremy Ausmus
When the ultimate hand fell, it was Jeremy Ausmus standing tall with the $500,000 first-place prize.
Why Ausmus Was a Legit Favorite
Ausmus completed the yr with quite a few deep runs in excessive buy-in occasions, from EPT stops in Europe to PGT excessive rollers and NAPT cashes, underlining his adaptability throughout buildings and area sizes.
With over $28 million in dwell match winnings, Ausmus is among the most profitable dwell professionals of his technology — and his observe report advised an enormous freeroll end was removed from a shock.
The Runner-Up: Nick Schulman
Schulman wasn’t only a footnote — he owned the highlight for a lot of the freeroll. A multi-bracelet winner with a number of excessive curler scores together with a 2025 WSOP bracelet, he performed robust all through and solely slipped on the final hurdle.
His resume — from $10,000 Blended video games to Pot-Restrict Omaha success — makes him one of the versatile match professionals alive right now.
The VIP Grinders Takeaway
We had Ausmus in our high tier from day 1 — and he delivered. However the best way Schulman bulldozed via the sector reminded everybody that intuition nonetheless issues on this GTO-heavy poker period. The freeroll format additionally meant gamers might take photographs they may keep away from in normal buy-ins, resulting in dynamic remaining desk play.
Future Watchlist: Maintain your eyes on gamers like Michael Wang and Chris Hunichen — each showcased the power to combine aggression with strong decision-making.
