Thomas Gilva Claims the Leaderboard Championship Title

Event 8 of the Spring Champion’s Series delivered high-energy action, big moments, and a memorable performance from start to finish. With 203 total entries creating a $50,350 prize pool, the $300 Leaderboard Championship lived up to its billing as one of the must-play events on the schedule.

At the end of the night, it was Thomas Gilva who stood alone at the top of the leaderboard. Gilva battled through a tough field to secure the outright victory, earning $13,091 for his first-place finish and cementing his name among the event’s elite winners.
Gilva made his presence known early by becoming the first player to knock out a bounty—a notable one at that. His initial bounty came at the expense of Stephen Nelson, a five-time monthly leaderboard winner, setting the tone for what would be a dominant and confident run throughout the tournament.

No stranger to success at Daytona Beach and Orange City Poker, Gilva once again proved his comfort and consistency on familiar turf. This victory not only adds another title to his résumé but also brings his total live tournament earnings to $99,441, a testament to his continued presence and performance in the local poker scene.

Event 8 showcased everything players love about the Leaderboard Championship format: strong turnout, meaningful payouts, and high-level competition. Congratulations to Thomas Gilva on a well-earned victory and to all of the players who cashed and helped make Event 8 another standout tournament in the series.