Strong showings at the poker felt have already catapulted Leonard to the top
Patrick Leonard, widely known as “Pads” in the poker world, appears to be setting his sights on a significant run in the live High Rollers circuit. The renowned online player has kicked off 2025 with a strong performance in the PokerGO Tour (PGT) Kickoff Series, raising expectations for his live tournament career.
The PokerGO Kickoff Series, a weeklong poker festival, features a lineup of $5,000 buy-in events and concludes with a $10,000 Main Event. It also serves as the first ranking series for the 2025 PGT Leaderboard. Leonard’s performance in this series has been nothing short of impressive, securing a final table finish in the opening event and winning the second event for a prize of $124,800.
These achievements have placed Leonard at the top of the 2025 PGT Leaderboard with 292 points, signaling a strong start to the year. While it’s early in the season, his back-to-back deep runs suggest that he could be a serious contender for a top spot on the leaderboard.
Leonard has reportedly shown interest in the PGT leaderboard and its events, fueling speculation that he plans to focus on live tournaments in the coming months. If he maintains this momentum, a top-40 finish in the standings seems highly achievable.
While Leonard has long been celebrated for his dominance in online poker, a breakthrough in live High Roller events would fill a notable gap in his resume. His recent success raises the possibility of 2025 being a defining year for him in live poker, as he transitions his online mastery into the competitive High Roller arena.

Editor at the Big Blind, is a rising star in gambling journalism with a decade of experience, focusing on clear and accessible communication for a diverse audience.