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Andrew Lichtenberger and Brian Battistone Claim Early PGT Titles
- Andrew Lichtenberger defends title in Event 1, secures $162,000.
- Brian Battistone wins first PGT title, earning $173,600 in Event 2.
- 2026 PGT Kickoff Series continues with 4 high-stakes events left.
Image Credit: PGT
Andrew Lichtenberger and Brian Battistone won the first two events of the 2026 PGT Kickoff Series in Las Vegas. Lichtenberger defended his opener title for $162,000, while Battistone secured his first PGT trophy and a $173,600 top prize.
The 2026 PGT Kickoff Series is currently underway at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, featuring six scheduled high-stakes tournaments.
This series officially launches the new season and offers players a chance to earn double PGT leaderboard points. With two events now complete, two champions have emerged to lead the 2026 rankings.
Lichtenberger Defends Title in Event 1
Andrew Lichtenberger secured the victory in the $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em opener on Tuesday. He outlasted a field of 135 entries to earn $162,000 and 324 PGT points. This win marks his eighth career title on the tour, moving him into a tie for fourth on the all-time wins list.
Lichtenberger entered the season as the defending champion of this event and maintained his momentum after a recent second-place finish in the PGT Championship freeroll. He defeated Jeremy Eyer during heads-up play to take the top spot.
Event 1 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | PGT Points |
| 1st | Andrew Lichtenberger | $162,000 | 324 |
| 2nd | Jeremy Eyer | $97,875 | 196 |
| 3rd | Shannon Shorr | $70,875 | 142 |
| 4th | Cary Katz | $54,000 | 108 |
| 5th | Ethan Yau | $40,500 | 81 |
| 6th | Peter Mugar | $33,750 | 68 |
| 7th | Spencer Champlin | $27,000 | 54 |
Battistone Wins First Career PGT Trophy
In Event 2, Brian Battistone captured his first career PGT title. The $5,100 buy-in tournament attracted 151 entries, creating a prize pool of $755,000. Battistone earned $173,600 and 347 points for his performance.
He faced Dan Smith in a final heads-up battle, denying Smith a sixth career title. This victory follows Battistone’s strong 2025 season, which included a deep run in the WPT World Championship.
Event 2 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | PGT Points |
| 1st | Brian Battistone | $173,600 | 347 |
| 2nd | Dan Smith | $109,475 | 219 |
| 3rd | Maksim Pisarenko | $75,500 | 151 |
| 4th | Mike Zulker | $56,625 | 113 |
| 5th | Yifu He | $45,300 | 91 |
| 6th | Sam Laskowitz | $37,750 | 76 |
| 7th | Nick Schulman | $30,200 | 60 |
Series Continues Through January 31
The 2026 PGT Kickoff Series remains active with four tournaments left on the schedule. The events conclude on January 31, with buy-ins increasing to $10,100 for the final two competitions.
Early leaders like Lichtenberger and Battistone have established a significant advantage in the race for the season-long championship due to the double-point format.
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