The Poker Go Tour‘s 2025 U.S. Poker Open has been nothing short of spectacular, with intense action and high drama unfolding across the series. As the event progresses, poker’s finest have been battling it out for PGT points, massive payouts, and the prestigious titles that come with success. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the standout performances that have captured the spotlight.
Brandon Wilson Claims Third PGT Title at 2025 U.S. Poker Open
Brandon Wilson, a high-stakes tournament regular hailing from Chicago, United States, added another major title to his growing resume by winning Event #6: $15,100 No-Limit Hold’em at the 2025 U.S. Poker Open. His performance earned him $382,200, 306 PGT points, and his third career PGT title.
This victory pushes Wilson’s total live earnings above $5,200,000, with a career-best cash of $602,900. He now sits 396th on poker’s All-Time Money List.
His run through the final table included a key double-up through Sean Winter and a dominant heads-up performance against Matthew Wantman, capped off by a runner-runner flush that sealed the title. With this win, Wilson also made his first cash of the 2025 U.S. Poker Open and now sits 4th on the series leaderboard.
Event Recap
- Event: U.S. Poker Open Event #6: $15,100 No-Limit Hold’em
- Location: PokerGO Studio, Las Vegas
- Entries: 98 – a new record for a $15K buy-in on the PGT
- Prize Pool: Over $1.4 million
- Dates: April 2025
- Places Paid: Top 14
The record-setting field brought in some of the game’s best, all vying for U.S. Poker Open points, prestige, and a large payout. A fiercely competitive final table showcased rising stars and seasoned pros alike, and in the end, it was Wilson who navigated the minefield with precision.
Final Day
Brandon Wilson started the final day second in chips, just behind Martin Zamani. Zamani set the tone early, eliminating short stack Darren Elias in 7th place with quad kings over pocket queens. He followed up by busting David Coleman in 6th with pocket fours holding against AQ. Zamani surged into the chip lead.
Soon after, Alex Foxen and Matthew Wantman clashed in a classic cooler. Foxen made two pair by the turn with queen-jack, but Wantman had Broadway with ace-king. Foxen didn’t improve on the river and exited in 5th place for $102,900.
Zamani’s momentum stalled when Sean Winter doubled through him and then picked off a big bluff. Zamani’s attempt to pressure Winter with ace-queen backfired against Winter’s top pair. Zamani bowed out in 4th place, taking home $132,300.
Three-handed play kicked off with Winter holding over 55% of the chips in play. But a momentum shift came quickly. Wantman flushed over flush against Winter, then won a sizable pot off Wilson. The lead swapped hands multiple times over two hours.
Eventually, Wilson and Winter clashed in a massive preflop confrontation:
- Wilson: Ace-Eight
- Winter: Ace-Five
Wilson’s kicker held on a jack-high board, reducing Winter to a single chip. He was eliminated the very next hand, finishing 3rd for $176,400.
Heads-Up: Wilson vs. Wantman
Wantman entered heads-up with the lead, but Wilson rapidly closed the gap. The match turned on a pivotal cooler:
- Wantman shoved with ace-four
- Wilson called with ace-king
- The board ran out jack-high. Wilson’s ace-king held, giving him a commanding chip advantage.
In the final hand, Wantman moved all-in with jack-nine, and Wilson called with five-four of diamonds. A five on the flop, followed by runner-runner diamonds, sealed the deal with a flush. Wantman finished 2nd, earning $242,550 and 194 PGT points.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | PGT Points | Prize |
| 1st | Brandon Wilson | 306 | $382,200 |
| 2nd | Matthew Wantman | 194 | $242,550 |
| 3rd | Sean Winter | 141 | $176,400 |
| 4th | Martin Zamani | 106 | $132,300 |
| 5th | Alex Foxen | 82 | $102,900 |
| 6th | David Coleman | 59 | $73,500 |
| 7th | Darren Elias | 47 | $58,800 |
Shannon Shorr Captures $220,400 in U.S. Poker Open Event #5 Victory
Shannon Shorr is a seasoned professional poker player who has long been respected for his consistency, deep tournament runs, and calm under pressure. In Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em at the 2025 U.S. Poker Open, the player demonstrated all of those qualities as he navigated the final table to claim first place and $220,400.
Shorr made a critical fold four-handed with trips and a weak kicker against Yifu He, correctly laying it down after using four time extension chips. That laydown proved to be the momentum swing that carried him to the winner’s circle.
This marked Shorr’s first cash of the series, earning him 220 PGT points and a place in the Golden Eagle leaderboard conversation. With this win, Shorr brings his total live tournament earnings to more than $15,000,000, including a career-best single cash of $960,690. He currently sits 88th on poker’s All-Time Money List.
Tournament Recap
The pivotal moment in Shorr’s path to victory came four-handed. Facing a massive river bet from Yifu He with trip eights but a weak kicker, Shorr burned four time extensions before making a world-class fold, a decision that turned the tide in his favor.
Soon after, Shorr picked up pocket kings under the gun and got into a five-bet shove with then-chip leader Isaac Haxton, who held queens. The board ran out clean for Shorr, giving him a massive double into the lead. Haxton never recovered and was eliminated shortly after in 4th place for $72,200 and 72 PGT points, as Eric Blair rivered a nut flush against his flopped two pair.
With Haxton out, Shorr, Blair, and He were the final three, with Shorr in front. Blair became chip leader for the first time after Shorr lost a trio of early Level 21 pots. He soon tumbled to the short stack after an aggressive bluff with seven-deuce was picked off by Blair’s turned top pair. He’s final move, a shove with king-nine into Blair’s ace-eight, ended his run in 3rd place for $102,600 and 103 points.
Heads-Up: Shorr vs. Blair
- Blair landed the first few punches and dropped Shorr to under two million chips.
- Shorr caught two lucky river chops to stay alive.
- Then came the big moment. All in with A♣6♣ vs. Blair’s K♦T♦, and the board ran out T, T, 9 with two of the cards being clubs, giving Shorr a flush on the river to double into the lead.
- Blair retook the lead immediately with A♠J♠ against A♦8♦, but Shorr bounced back in the very next hand with A♦7♦ vs. A♠6♠, making top pair and diamonds on the flop to regain control.
In the final hand, Shorr shoved with Q, 9 offsuit, and Blair called with A, 2 offsuit. The flop gave Blair a pair and a nut flush draw, but the Q♦ on the river sent Shorr into celebration mode and Blair to the rail in 2nd place for $144,400 and 144 PGT points.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | PGT Points | Prize |
| 1st | Shannon Shorr | 220 | $220,400 |
| 2nd | Eric Blair | 144 | $144,400 |
| 3rd | Yifu He | 103 | $102,600 |
| 4th | Isaac Haxton | 72 | $72,200 |
| 5th | Brock Wilson | 53 | $53,200 |
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Source: PGT Blog
