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Star-Studded Final Five to Take Center Stage at 11:45 A.M.
The second title of the 2026 Poker Masters is up for grabs today as five players return to the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas to battle it out for the Event #2: $10,500 No-Limit Hold'em trophy and the $235,200 first-place prize.
Leading the way is Adrian Mateos, who bagged 3,230,000 chips after a 12-hour opening day. The Spaniard's series got off to a painful start when his pocket aces were cracked on the money bubble of Event #1, but he's now in an excellent position to make amends.
It won't be easy, though, with four accomplished players still standing in his way. Nicholas Palma (2,475,000) is his closest challenger, while Michael Berk (2,000,000), David Coleman (1,610,000), and Nicholas Seward (1,185,000) all have enough chips to make a serious run at the title.
Mateos and Palma are the only two finalists who made it through Day 1 without reentering, while Berk, Coleman, and Seward each needed a second bullet to reach the final five.
Event #2: $10,500 NLH Final Day Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | 3,230,000 |
| 2 | Nicholas Palma | United States | 2,475,000 |
| 3 | Michael Berk | United States | 2,000,000 |
| 4 | David Coleman | United States | 1,610,000 |
| 5 | Nicholas Seward | United States | 1,185,000 |
The tournament drew 84 entries, generating an $840,000 prize pool shared among the top 12 finishers.
All five returning players are guaranteed at least $58,600, but there's a significant jump to the $235,200 top prize. There's also the matter of the Poker Masters leaderboard, with each player looking to collect valuable points in the race for the Purple Jacket, awarded to the overall series champion.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $235,200 | ||
| 2 | $151,200 | ||
| 3 | $109,200 | ||
| 4 | $79,800 | ||
| 5 | $58,600 | ||
| 6 | Christopher Par | United States | $42,000 |
| 7 | Sam Laskowitz | United States | $33,600 |
Event #3 Begins at Noon
The final five return on Wednesday, October 14, at 11:45 a.m. local time, with 18 minutes and 30 seconds remaining in Level 17. Blinds will be 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 big blind ante.
Meanwhile, Event #3: $10,500 NLH gets underway at noon, meaning the action won't stop for anyone eliminated from today's finale. Those who fall short can head straight into the next event and take another shot at a Poker Masters title.
PokerNews will be reporting from the final table in line with the PokerGO livestream that starts at 1 p.m., ensuring that updates don't spoil the delayed broadcast. Stay tuned as the final five play down to a winner.
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