Robert Chorlian Slays PLO Giants En Route To First PGT Title

Prior to stepping into the PokerGO Studio for event no. 2 of the 2026 PGT PLO Series, Robert Chorlian had knocked on the door and narrowly missed out on major wins a few times. Chorlian made two World Series of Poker final tables, including a runner-up finish in a $600 pot-limit Omaha event at the 2025 WSOP. In 2023, he finished third in a $10,500 no-limit hold’em event during the U.S. Poker Open.

Saturday, Sept. 26 was finally Chorlian’s day for a breakthrough tournament victory. Chorlian outlasted a field of 106 entrants in this $5,300 pot-limit Omaha event to claim the trophy, and a $135,150 first-place prize. Along the way, he defeated some of the giants of PLO tournament poker, including runner-up Lautaro Guerra, and third-place finisher Sean Rafael, two of the more decorated performers in the format.

It was a sprint to the finish on day 2 of the tournament, with six-handed final table action kicking off just before noon inside the PokerGO Studio, and wrapping up before 2 p.m. local time in Las Vegas. Chorlian started the day as the shortest stack, but doubled up early and then charged towards the trophy.

Chorlian was awarded 480 points in the Card Player Player of the Year race, his first qualifying result of 2026. Rafael, who banked 320 POY points for third place, increased his total for the year to 3,256 points, good for 57th in the yearlong race presented by CoinPoker.

Chorlian also received 203 PGT points for his win, counting towards the high-stakes-centric tour’s season-long leaderboard. The top 40 players at the end of the season in January, plus other qualifiers, can enter the $1 million PGT Championship. The current cutoff for 40th place lies at 900 points, though several players at or around that threshold have not hit other requirements to qualify, including four PGT cashes and one result in a PGT owned-and-operated event.

PLO Back In The PGT Studio

Following Sam Soverel’s record 16th career PGT title in the opening event, players turned out in even greater numbers for the second and final tournament at the $5,000 price point. By the close of registration, there were a total of 106 entries, creating a total prize pool of $530,000.

Lautaro Guerra

The top 16 players reached the money. Martin Zamani (16th – $7,950) just made it past the bubble, followed to the door by Jeremy Ausmus (15th – $10,600), Chino Rheem (11th – $13,250), Joao Simao (10th – $15,900), and Bryce Yockey (8th – $21,200).

Guerra held the overnight chip lead when the bags came out at the end of day 1. The WSOP bracelet winner, Triton champion, and one of the winningest pot-limit Omaha tournament players of all time held a solid chip advantage over Rafael, Ky Nguyen, and Taylor Paur. Cesar Garcia and Chorlian sat at the bottom of the chip counts at the start of day 2.

The balance almost immediately flipped upon the return of the final six. Almost all of Chorlian’s chips were in preflop with A♣K♠5♠5♣ against Guerra’s 9♦7♦6♥5♥, and the pair of fives held through a Q♦4♣2♥J♠J♦ runout. Chorlian hit a runner-runner heart flush to eliminate Paur in sixth place ($26,500), besting the two-time bracelet winner’s pocket pair of aces.

In a battle of short stacks, Rafael eliminated Garcia in fifth place ($34,450) with a full house, queens full of kings.

Chorlian Charges To Victory

Chorlian extended his lead when his nut heart flush chopped down Guerra’s second-nut flush. Rafael then doubled through Nguyen twice in short succession to pull himself into title consideration, and then Guerra finished the job. On a 5♣4♥2♠9♣6♠ runout, Guerra made a nine-high straight to beat Nguyen’s A♠J♥8♥8♣, and send the 2023 World Poker Tour Gardens Championship winner out in fourth place ($47,700).

Chorlian brought the tournament to a swift end by knocking out his two remaining opponents in rapid succession. After Chorlian potted preflop, Rafael called in the big blind to see a 10♣7♣4♦ flop. Chorlian made another pot-sized bet, Rafael called, and the Q♠ landed on the turn. Chorlian bet the pot once more, essentially putting Rafael all in. After a deep tank, Rafael called, and then put his last 75,000 in on a 4♥ river.

Chorlian’s A♠A♣8♥6♣ was good, as Rafael’s pair and wrap straight draw with Q♥8♠6♦5♥ missed all of its key outs. Rafael settled for third place ($60,950). Rafael now has nearly $6.6 million in career cashes, with essentially all of that coming from PLO results.

Guerra was the last player standing in Chorlian’s way, and that wouldn’t last long. On the final hand, Chorlian limped the button, Guerra checked, and the flop came down A♠10♦9♥. Chorlian bet the pot when checked to and Guerra called. The 5♠ hit the turn and Guerra checked again. Chorlian potted it, and Guerra check-raised all in. Chorlian called, tabling A♥J♦10♠9♣ for top two pair. Guerra’s hand, A♦9♠5♥3♣, was in deep trouble, as his two pair, aces and nines, had no back-up outs. Guerra couldn’t find one of the two remaining nines in the deck, and finished in second place for $84,800.

Guerra’s career earnings in PLO alone now sit at more than $11.6 million, making him second to only Eelis Parssinen ($12.1 million) in lifetime cashes in the game.

Final Table Results

Photo credit: PokerGO Tour / Antonio Abrego.