Daniel Lee secured victory in the $3,300 PGT Venetian Las Vegas Classic Main Event, overcoming a 418-entry field and defeating Lily Kiletto heads-up to claim the $250,000 first prize in Las Vegas. The event generated a $1,254,000 prize pool, adding another highlight to the PokerGO Tour stop at The Venetian.
Ausmus Starts Strong but Falls Early
Seven-time WSOP bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus began the final table with a dominant chip lead, holding 89 big blinds compared to Kiletto’s 48 and Lee’s 36. His momentum stalled in a pivotal hand where a bluff ran into Lee’s ace-high, which improved to top pair on the river. That reversal shifted the dynamics of the table, and Ausmus eventually finished in seventh place for $35,000.
Lee Builds Momentum at the Final Table
Once ahead, Lee steadily controlled the action. He eliminated Santiago Montes in sixth place, Ryan Leng in fifth, and Daniel Marcus in fourth, building a stack that put him in position for the title.
Kiletto closed the gap by knocking out Doug Lee in third place, good for $120,000. The heads-up match briefly saw the chip lead tighten, but one critical all-in pot decided the outcome. Kiletto moved in on a flush draw against Lee’s top pair and missed her outs, leaving her short-stacked.
Although she doubled twice, her final push with ace-ten lost to Lee’s king-jack when a jack hit the flop. Kiletto collected $170,000 for second place.
Final Table Results – PGT Venetian Las Vegas Classic
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Lee | $250,000 |
| 2 | Lily Kiletto | $170,000 |
| 3 | Doug Lee | $120,000 |
| 4 | Daniel Marcus | $82,000 |
| 5 | Ryan Leng | $63,000 |
| 6 | Santiago Montes | $48,000 |
| 7 | Jeremy Ausmus | $35,000 |
Career Highlight for Lee
The California pro now boasts more than $836,000 in live tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob. His previous best score came last October at the Asian Poker Tour Manila Main Event, where he won $258,645. This Venetian victory marks his second-largest career cash and establishes him as one of the standout performers in the current PGT season.
