Vladyslav Shovkovyi Wins PGT Texas Poker Open Main Event

Vladyslav Shovkovyi won the PGT Texas Poker Open Main Event in 2026, earning $180,000 and surpassing $1 million in career earnings. The event took place at Champions Club Texas in Houston from May 7-11, 2026, with a total of 435 entries across the six starting flights. Shovkovyi's previous largest payday was $299,715 at the 2023 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown.

The event featured a $1 million guaranteed prize pool, split amongst the top 56 finishers. The final day began with six remaining players, including Phu Vo well out in front and Shovkovyi in the middle of the pack. Bradley Rich was the first to fall, with pocket kings cracked by the pocket sixes of Brant Jolly. Randall Brooks got all-in with J♥J♦ leading the A♠10♠ of Vo.

Shovkovyi won a massive pot during early four-handed action, with A♠A♥ besting Q♥J♥ for Vo. Adrian Curry’s last stand pitted 10♣9♦ against A♦K♠ for Shovkovyi. Shovkovyi found pocket aces again to score his next knockout against Brant Jolly. The final two hashed out a deal to redistribute the prize money, making it $160,000 for second place and $180,000 to the champion. In the final hand, Shovkovyi raised to 400,000 from the button with J♠8♠ and Vo three-bet to 900,000 in the big blind holding K♦J♣.