Jesse Lonis wasted no time making his presence felt at the 2025 PGT PLO Series II, storming through the final table of Event #1: $5,100 Pot-Limit Omaha in just over an hour to claim the $175,000 top prize and 175 PGT points at PokerGO Studio.
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Jesse Lonis entered the final table second in chips, but the opening minutes were anything but smooth. Early on, his aggression backfired, doubling up both Artem Maksimov and Josh Arieh. Short-stacked Isaac Haxton also found a double, and for a moment, it looked like Lonis might be out and about.
The first elimination came after the early fireworks. Anthony Hu, left short after the doubles, moved all in from the big blind holding single-suited pocket jacks. Haxton, on the button, called with single-suited aces. The flop brought an ace, sealing Hu’s fate. He exited in sixth place, earning $36,500 and 37 PGT points.
Haxton, now with chips, looked poised to challenge for the lead. But the momentum shifted in a pivotal three-bet pot. With nearly three million in the middle, Haxton moved all in for his last million on the 9♣️8♥️3♥️ flop that gave him the nut flush draw. Lonis snap-called, having flopped a set of threes. The turn brought the last three in the deck, giving Lonis quads and leaving Haxton drawing dead. Haxton departed in fifth for $43,800 and 44 points.
A few hands later, Maksimov was all in for his tournament life on a flop of 8♥️7♥️5♦️, holding just a pair of sevens. Lonis tabled six-four for a straight, leaving Maksimov needing runner-runner to survive. The turn was a blank, and Maksimov was eliminated in fourth place for $58,400 and 58 points.
By the end of the first level, Lonis had more than half the chips in play. With a commanding stack, Lonis kept the pressure on as Chino Rheem and Josh Arieh tried to mount a comeback.
Arieh was the first to take a stand, getting his two million chips in the middle with A♣️7♣️4♥️5♥️ on a flop of 8♥️2♥️4♠️. Against Lonis’s A♦️K♥️T♠️8♠️, Arieh had 67% equity. But the turn brought the K♦️, giving Lonis 2 pair and leaving Arieh drawing to a straight or flush. The river bricked, and Arieh was out in third for $76,700 and 77 points.
Heads-up, Lonis and Rheem traded pots before a crucial hand swung the match. Lonis made a hero call on the river with pocket aces, correctly catching Rheem bluffing and leaving him with just over 20 big blinds.
The final hand began with Rheem raising to 450,000 on the button. Lonis called, and the flop came A♣️7♣️6♣️. Lonis checked, Rheem bet 300,000, and Lonis check-raised to 775,000. Rheem called, and the turn brought the T♥️. Lonis potted, and Rheem called all in for just over two million, tabling A♥️J♣️9♣️2♣️ for a jack-high flush. Lonis revealed K♣️3♣️T♦️9♠️ for the nut flush. The river was the 2♥️, and Rheem was eliminated in second place for $106,000 and 106 points.
Final Table Payouts – Event #1: $5,100 Pot-Limit Omaha
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As a PLO enthusiast with nearly 12 years of experience, I’m passionate about breaking down the complexities of Pot Limit Omaha, helping you sharpen your strategy and grow your bankroll – no matter your current level. I also share exclusive bonus and rakeback deals, along with discounts on poker courses and tools, so you can get an extra edge. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me online, playing PLO cash games and turbo MTTs.
