Daniel Lee emerged victorious at the PGT Venetian Las Vegas Classic, securing a $250,000 prize and a important boost to his poker career. The California native defeated Lily Kiletto in a hard-fought heads-up battle to claim the title.
The PGT Venetian Las vegas Classic, a high-stakes tournament on the PokerGO Tour, drew a competitive field.Lee’s win marks his second-largest live tournament score,trailing only his $258,645 victory in the $5,000 Asian poker Tour Manila Main Event last October. He entered the final table as chip leader and navigated a series of eliminations to reach the final two. Kiletto, a formidable opponent, nearly seized the lead before ultimately falling short.
The final table saw early drama as Jeremy Ausmus, a Poker Hall of Fame candidate, was eliminated in seventh place for $35,000 after losing a significant portion of his stack to Lee. Lee continued his momentum, subsequently eliminating Santiago Montes (sixth place, $48,000), Ryan Leng (fifth place, $63,000), and Daniel Marcus (fourth place, $82,000).
Kiletto then eliminated Lee, briefly taking the chip lead before a crucial hand swung the advantage back to Lee. Holding top pair against kiletto’s flush draw,Lee extended his lead to a commanding 13:1 chip advantage. Kiletto battled back with two double-ups, but ultimately fell when her Ace-Ten suited lost to Lee’s King-Jack suited on a Jack-high flop. Kiletto finished as runner-up, earning $170,000.
Prior to his win, Lee had accumulated $586,000 in career cashes, according to The Hendon Mob. With this latest victory, Lee’s total live earnings now exceed $836,000. The PGT venetian Las Vegas Classic continues to be a pivotal event on the poker calendar, offering considerable prize pools and attracting top talent from around the world.
