Chino Rheem just crushed the competition in the 2025 PokerGO Tour Bounty Blitz PKO event, grabbing the title with four of the final five knockouts. This Las Vegas showdown at ARIA Resort & Casino adds another big win to his stacked resume. But how did he pull it off against tough players, and what does it mean for his season? Stick around for the full story.
Rheem’s Thrilling Path to Victory
Chino Rheem entered the final day of the $5,000 no-limit hold’em progressive knockout tournament with a strong chip stack, tied for the lead with Chris Hunichen among six remaining players. The field started with 36 entries, building a solid prize pool.
Rheem defeated a field of 36 entries to earn $28,100 from the main prize pool and another $37,000 in bounties. His total payday hit $65,100, pushing his lifetime tournament earnings to nearly $16.9 million.
Action kicked off fast. Short stack Alex Condon shoved his last chips with king-eight suited, ahead of Rheem’s jack-eight. The board ran out with a flush draw for Condon, but a jack on the river gave Rheem the knockout. Condon finished sixth for $8,600.
The pace didn’t slow. A wild three-way all-in followed, with Jeremy Becker’s pocket jacks against Hunichen’s pocket fives and Mike Zulker’s ace-jack. Becker tripled up when the river brought another jack, knocking Hunichen out in fifth for $10,800 plus $3,000 in bounties.
Rheem kept the pressure on, picking up key pots and building his stack.
Key Hands That Sealed the Deal
As the table shrank, Rheem’s aggressive style shone through. He targeted bounties smartly in this PKO format, where each knockout adds cash directly to your pocket.
One standout moment came when Rheem clashed with Zulker. After the three-way drama, Zulker had chips but couldn’t hold against Rheem’s momentum.
Rheem’s run included back-to-back eliminations that shifted the game. He sent players packing with timely bluffs and strong holdings, showing why he’s a veteran with three World Poker Tour titles.
By heads-up, Rheem held a massive lead. His opponent couldn’t recover, and Rheem closed it out with a final knockout.
This win marks Rheem’s third PGT victory of 2025, building on his earlier successes in the PLO series back in March.
Impact on PGT Standings and Career
This triumph awarded Rheem 54 PGT points, boosting his season total to 1,401. He now sits in seventh place in the tour’s year-long standings, closing in on the leaders.
Rheem’s 2025 has been hot. He won Event #4 of the PGT PLO Series in March for $295,000, his fifth overall PGT title at that point. That victory came after a dramatic heads-up against Ben Tollerene.
Data from PokerGO shows Rheem with 17 cashes this season, highlighting his consistency in high-stakes events.
His career highlights include the 2019 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event win for over $1.5 million. Rheem also holds two PGT Mixed Games series championships.
For fans, this means Rheem is a force in both hold’em and mixed games, inspiring new players to study his adaptable style.
Inside the Bounty Blitz Series
The Bounty Blitz series ran from September 1 to 6 at the PokerGO Studio in ARIA, Las Vegas. It featured six $5,300 buy-in events, each with $2,000 per player going to the bounty pool.
This PKO format adds excitement, as bounties grow with each knockout. Rheem’s event drew 36 players, but the series overall attracted top pros selling action packages.
PokerStake reported players like those from their community preparing packages for the events, showing the buzz around this debut series.
Rheem’s win in Event 4 stands out, but the series has seen other big names shine. For example, Daniel Negreanu grabbed his 11th PGT title earlier in the year.
Here’s a quick look at Rheem’s 2025 PGT highlights:
- March: Won PGT PLO Event #4 for $295,000
- April: Added another PLO cash, leading the series midpoint
- September: Bounty Blitz PKO title with $65,100 total
This structure keeps events fast-paced, perfect for TV and streaming on PokerGO.
Broader Poker Scene Buzz
Poker in 2025 keeps evolving, with tours like PGT blending traditional play with innovative twists like bounties.
Rheem’s success boosts his profile, potentially drawing more viewers to streams. Fans on social media are raving, with posts highlighting his knockouts and veteran skill.
Industry stats from Card Player show high-roller events up 15% in entries this year compared to 2024, based on their tournament database updated through August 2025.
For everyday players, Rheem’s story shows how experience pays off. It might encourage you to join local tournaments or study PKO strategies online.
His journey from early WPT wins to current dominance offers hope for long-term grinders.
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