Record Field and an Outsider’s Triumph
The opening event with a buy-in of $3,300 was designed to attract fresh faces, and it exceeded expectations spectacularly. With a total of 215 entries, it became the largest tournament ever held in PokerGO Studio’s history. Stephens entered the final table with the least experience, having only secured four cash finishes worth just under $13,000 according to The Hendon Mob database.
Winning this tournament meant he more than decupled his lifetime earnings. But the path to the title wasn’t easy. In the final heads-up, he faced Myles Mullaly, who began with a commanding lead of 22.6 million to 4.2 million chips.
Stephens made an incredible comeback, first doubling his stack and later reading his opponent’s bluff, shifting the lead to his side. In the decisive hand, his pair of 3 h 3 d held firm against Mullaly’s 9 d 8 s, clinching his first PGT title.
Final Table Results of Event #1: PokerGO Cup Showcase
|
Place |
Player |
Country |
Prize |
|
1. |
Kent Stephens |
USA |
$130,000 |
|
2. |
Myles Mullaly |
USA |
$85,000 |
|
3. |
Daniyal Gheba |
USA |
$61,000 |
|
4. |
Sandeep Koralla |
USA |
$48,000 |
|
5. |
Natalie Ferguson |
USA |
$38,000 |
|
6. |
Jim Collopy |
Canada |
$31,000 |
|
7. |
Aaron Messmer |
USA |
$25,000 |
What’s in Store for the PokerGO Cup 2026?
This year’s series marks a significant change compared to the previous five editions. The schedule has expanded from the traditional eight to ten events (No-Limit Hold'em), running from March 1st to 15th.
Following the opening Showcase tournament, the agenda includes:
-
Three one-day events with a $5,100 buy-in.
-
Five two-day events with an increased buy-in of $10,100.
-
The Grand Finale (Event #10) with a $15,100 buy-in.
The player who collects the most PGT points throughout the series will win not only the main trophy but also a PGT Passport worth $25,000.
The PokerGO Cup 2026 has just begun, and we’ll be right there for it!
Sources: PGT, YouTube, X
