Robert Chorlian PGT Title Win Caps Shortstack Comeback
Robert Chorlian won his first PGT title in the PLO Series, topping a 106-entry field for $135,150. Here's how the final table played out.
The Robert Chorlian PGT title run ended in victory on September 26, 2026, when he took down the second PLO Series event at the PokerGO Studio for $135,150. He beat a 106-entry field, including runner-up Lautaro Guerra and third-place finisher Sean Rafael, after starting the final table as the shortest stack.
- Robert Chorlian won $135,150 in PGT PLO Series Event #2.
- The $5,300 buy-in event drew 106 entries for a $530,000 prize pool.
- Chorlian started the final table as the shortest stack of six players.
- Runner-up Lautaro Guerra earned $84,800; third-place Sean Rafael took $60,950.
- Chorlian earned 480 Card Player Player of the Year points and 203 PGT points.
What happened at the PGT PLO Series?
The Robert Chorlian PGT title win came together on September 26, 2026, according to PGT.com. He won the second event of the PokerGO Tour's PLO Series inside the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas.
The $5,300 pot-limit Omaha event drew 106 entries, CardPlayer reports, building a $530,000 prize pool. The victory was worth $135,150 and marked Chorlian's first tournament win after several near-misses.
CardPlayer notes Chorlian had reached two WSOP final tables before this. He finished runner-up in a $600 pot-limit Omaha event at the 2025 WSOP, and third in a 2023 U.S. Poker Open no-limit hold'em event worth $10,500 to enter.
How did Chorlian win the final table?
Chorlian began the six-handed final table as the shortest stack on Saturday, September 26. He doubled up early against Lautaro Guerra, the overnight chip leader, and then took control, per CardPlayer's hand-by-hand account.
His first big double came when his pair of fives held against Guerra's straight draw, and he followed it by hitting a runner-runner heart flush to eliminate Taylor Paur in sixth place. Paur's pocket aces were no match for the river card.
Chorlian later chopped down Guerra's second-nut flush with his own nut heart flush to widen his lead. Meanwhile Sean Rafael doubled twice through Ky Nguyen to fight back into contention, while Guerra eliminated Nguyen in fourth place with a nine-high straight.
How did the final two hands play out?
Chorlian closed out the tournament with two quick knockouts. Against Rafael, he built a big pot from preflop through the river, and Rafael eventually called all in on a queen-and-four board with a straight draw that missed.
Chorlian's pocket aces held to send Rafael out in third place for $60,950. CardPlayer notes Rafael's career earnings now sit near $6.6 million, almost entirely from pot-limit Omaha results.
The final hand against Guerra saw Chorlian limp the button and build the pot through a flop of ace, ten and nine. Guerra check-raised all in on the turn holding two pair, but couldn't find one of his two remaining outs, and Chorlian's top two pair took the title.
Who else made the money?
The top 16 players cashed, with Martin Zamani bubbling the money in 16th place for $7,950. Jeremy Ausmus, Chino Rheem, Joao Simao, and Bryce Yockey also cashed, according to CardPlayer.
Guerra's runner-up finish for $84,800 pushed his lifetime PLO cashes past $11.6 million. That leaves him second only to Eelis Parssinen's $12.1 million among career pot-limit Omaha earners, per CardPlayer.
Spadepoker and pokertube.com both framed the win around Chorlian's rise from shortstack to champion, highlighting how the swing at the final table flipped in his favor within a couple of hours.
What does this mean for the PGT standings?
Chorlian's win added 203 PGT points to his season total, along with 480 Card Player Player of the Year points, his first qualifying result of 2026. Rafael's third-place finish lifted his POY total to 3,256 points, good for 57th in the yearlong race.
The PGT season leaderboard determines who reaches the $1 million PGT Championship in January. CardPlayer reports the current cutoff for 40th place sits at 900 points, though some players near that mark still need more PGT cashes and event requirements to qualify.
This event followed Sam Soverel's record 16th career PGT title in the series opener. CardPlayer notes turnout grew for the second event at the $5,000 price point, with 106 entries compared to the opener.
What it means for players
For anyone following high-stakes tournament poker, Chorlian's PGT title run shows how quickly a short stack can flip a final table in pot-limit Omaha. The hand sequences described by CardPlayer, from runner-runner flushes to full-house eliminations, are a reminder of how variance shapes PLO more than hold'em. Players working on their own Omaha game can study these spots using the equity calculator or brush up on hand rankings before their next session.
More on Lifes a Gambol: the 2026 U.S. Poker Open.
Frequently asked
How much did Robert Chorlian win?
Chorlian won $135,150 for first place in PGT PLO Series Event #2. The win was his first PGT title after two prior WSOP final tables.
Who did Chorlian beat at the final table?
He beat runner-up Lautaro Guerra heads-up and eliminated third-place finisher Sean Rafael along the way. Both Guerra and Rafael rank among the top career earners in pot-limit Omaha tournaments.
How many players entered the event?
The $5,300 buy-in tournament drew 106 entries, creating a $530,000 prize pool, according to CardPlayer. The top 16 finishers made the money.
What does the win mean for the PGT Championship race?
Chorlian's win added 203 PGT points to his season total. The top 40 players in points, plus other qualifiers, reach the $1 million PGT Championship in January.