Chance Kornuth is continuing to run hot in 2022 and won his third Stairway to Millions title this week at Venetian Las Vegas in Event #7: $2,740 No-Limit Hold’em for $45,373.
Kornuth, who won his first two titles back-to-back at the inaugural Stairway to Millions in January, becomes just the second player to win three titles in the unique PokerGO series.
He narrowly missed being the first, a distinction that goes to Michael Wang after he went back-to-back earlier this week to win his second and third titles. Wang was looking for a fourth title in Event #8: $5,350 No-Limit Hold’em but ultimately finished third for $22,227.
Read about Michael Wang’s back-to-back titles at Stairway to Millions!
Third Title for Chance
Kornuth won his first Stairway to Millions title in January in Event #2: $2,150 No-Limit Hold’em, which he took down for $51,600. The very next day, he took down Event #3: $4,200 No-Limit Hold’em for $80,640.
After a summer that included winning his first World Poker Tour title in the WPT Choctaw Main Event for $486,600, Kornuth returned to the Stairway to Millions this week and ran deep in the $2,740 buy-in event.
After getting through the field of 92 entrants, Kornuth ended up at a final table that included Victoria Livschitz and Samy Dighlawi, who earlier in the series won his first Stairway to Millions title and $11,330 in Event #4: $900 No-Limit Hold’em.
Event #7: $2,740 No-Limit Hold’em Final Table Results
| PLACE | PLAYER | PRIZE | |
| 1 | Chance Kornuth | $45,373 | |
| 2 | Dave Lin | $28,133 | |
| 3 | Kao Saechao | $19,814 | |
| 4 | Samy Dighlawi | $14,369 | |
| 5 | Victoria Livschitz | $10,588 | |
| 6 | Wu Zhou | $8,168 |
According to PokerGO live updates, Kornuth entered heads-up play against Dave Lin with a significant chip lead before Lin found a double to even things out. Lin managed to push ahead before Kornuth re-took the lead sent Lin out for $28,133.
With the victory, Kornuth continues to add to his $11.5 million in lifetime earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, and becomes the second player to win three Stairway to Millions titles.
Took down my 3rd #StairwayToMillions @PokerGO Event for $55,573 https://t.co/rMJ4PVI2TI
— Chance Kornuth (@ChancesCards)
Wang & Kornuth Come Up Short of Fourth Titles
With both players looking for their fourth titles, Wang and Kornuth ended up deep in the $5,350 buy-in event, which drew a field of 42 players.
With only five places paid, Kornuth fell in seventh place to narrowly miss the money and the five-handed final table. Wang, meanwhile, wound up finishing in third for $22,227. Andre Butler ended up winning the event for his first title and $60,945 after defeating heads-up opponent Stephen Song.
There is still time for Kornuth or Wang to nab fourth titles with a handful of events remaining and Event #12: $52,000 No-Limit Hold’em closing out the series on Sept. 19.
A full list of Stairway to Millions winners so far is available in the table below.
Stairway to Millions Winners so Far
| DATE | EVENT | ENTRANTS | PRIZE POOL | WINNER | PRIZE (IN USD) | |
| Thursday, September 8 | Event #1: $460 NLH $25K GTD | 93 | $37,200 | Francis Anderson | $6,702 | |
| Friday, September 9 | Event #2: $460 NLH $25K GTD | 94 | $37,600 | John Yelaney | $6,417 | |
| Saturday, September 10 | Event #3: $900 NLH $50K GTD | 82 | $65,600 | Arsh Grover | $12,510 | |
| Sunday, September 11 | Event #4: $900 NLH $50K GTD | 74 | $59,200 | Samy Dighlawi | $11,330 | |
| Monday, September 12 | Event #5: $1,640 No-Limit Hold’em | 73 | $109,500 | Michael Wang | $22,986 | |
| Tuesday, September 13 | Event #6: $1,640 No-Limit Hold’em | 75 | $112,500 | Michael Wang | $22,458 | |
| Wednesday, September 14 | Event #7: $2,740 NL Hold’em ($100,000 GTD) | 92 | $230,000 | Chance Kornuth | $45,373 | |
| Thursday, September 15 | Event #8: $5,350 NL Hold’em ($100,000 GTD) | 42 | $210,000 | Andre Butler | $60,945 |
Photos courtesy PokerGO