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Event #5: $10,500 NLH
Day 1 Completed
2026 Poker Masters
Event #5: $10,500 NLH
Day: 1
Event Info
2026 Poker Masters
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
Buy-in
$10,500
Total Entries
85
Places Paid
13
Level
21
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
7
Players Left
7
Players Left 1 / 85
Filter
Level 18
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Day 1 of Event #5: $10,500 No-Limit Hold’em at the 2026 Poker Masters has come to a close inside the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas.
The event attracted a total of 85 entries, with the top 13 players earning a share of the $850,000 prize pool. After a long day of action, just seven players remain and will return tomorrow to battle it out at the final table for the title and the $229,500 top prize.
Final Table Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | 3,020,000 | 60 |
| 2 | Nick Schulman | United States | 2,195,000 | 44 |
| 3 | Jeremy Becker | United States | 1,715,000 | 34 |
| 4 | Martin Zamani | United States | 1,540,000 | 31 |
| 5 | Robert French | United States | 1,140,000 | 23 |
| 6 | Keith Lehr | United States | 775,000 | 16 |
| 7 | Matthew Wantman | United States | 280,000 | 6 |
Day 1 Action
Adrian Mateos leads the final seven players into Day 2. It has been an up-and-down series for the Spaniard, who has bubbled three of the first four events but also recorded a runner-up finish in Event #2. Now, Mateos finds himself in prime position to capture his first title of the series and make a run at the Purple Jacket for the player of the series.
Right behind Mateos in second place is Poker Hall of Famer Nick Schulman, who will be looking to add another title to his impressive resume. Jeremy Becker rounds out the top three in the chip counts as he looks to capture his second Poker Masters title.
Also advancing to the Final table is Martin Zamani, Robert French, Keith Lehr, and the short stack Matthew Wantman.
The star-studded field featured plenty of familiar faces, but not everyone was able to make it into the money. Dan Smith, Chris Brewer, Chris Moorman, Erik Seidel, and Jeremy Ausmus were among the notable players who fell short of a payday.
McKeehen Falls on the Money Bubble
After an extended money bubble that lasted more than two levels and saw several short stacks find crucial double-ups, it was ultimately Joe McKeehen who fell just short of the money.
McKeehen found himself on the wrong side of a brutal cooler, running his pocket kings into the pocket aces of Jeremy Becker. An ace on the turn left McKeehen drawing dead, bringing the lengthy bubble to an end and guaranteeing the remaining 13 players a minimum cash of $21,250.
With the money bubble finally burst, eliminations began to follow as the field continued to narrow. Daniyal Gheba Sean Perry, Sam Soverel, Justin Zaki, Brandon Wilson and the final elimination of the night Victoria Livschitz were among those who secured a payday but fell short of advancing to the final day.
The final seven players will return tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. local time, with action resuming in Level 18 with 16 minutes remaining and blinds at 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 big blind ante.
The final table will be streamed on PokerGO and its YouTube channel beginning at 1 p.m. local time.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of the 2026 Poker Masters.
Level 18
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Level 18
: Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Action folded to Victoria Livschitz in the small blind, and she moved all in for her stack of 730,000. Jeremy Becker in the big blind took his time before making the call to put her at risk.
Victoria Livschitz: A♦K♣ 
Jeremy Becker: K♦10♥
Becker was dominated, but when the board ran out 4♠Q♠9♦J♥J♣ Becker turned a straight to knock out Livschitz in eighth place, to bring the night to an end.
Level: 18
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 50,000
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Action folded to Brandon Wilson in the small blind, who moved all in for his stack of roughly 600,000, which Adrian Mateos in the big blind quickly called.
Brandon Wilson: J♣8♣
Adrian Mateos: A♠J♦
Wilson was dominated, and left drawing dead on the turn after the board ran out 7♥6♠J♥A♣10♠ to give another pot to Mateos, and send Wilson to the rail in ninth place.
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Action was picked up on the flop after Brandon Wilson and Adrian Mateos each committing 1,000,000 preflop, and Mateos was left with just 70,000 behind.
Both players checked to the river on the 5♣Q♦3♦4♠8♦ board, and Wilson checked a third time, but Mateos moved all in for his last 70,000. Wilson flicked in the called, as Mateos tabled A♦9♦ for a flush, and Wilson tossed 10♥10♣ into the muck, giving the massive pot to Mateos.
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
With Sam Soverel forced all in from the big blind, Justin Zaki raised to 100,000 from under the gun, leaving just 10,000 behind. It then folded to Brandon Wilson on the button, who three-bet to 200,000. It folded back to Zaki who made the call.
Sam Soverel: 7♦6♣
Justin Zaki: K♣4♥
Brandon Wilson: A♥8♥
Wilson was in front, looking to score the double knockout. He would do just that once the board ran out J♠9♦9♥Q♦3♠ and his ace high remained best, to take the pot and eliminate both Soverel and Zaki.
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Action was picked up with Keith Lehr all in, Sam Soverel with slightly more also all in, and Justin Zaki putting both players at risk.
Keith Lehr: A♥K♦
Sam Soverel: K♠K♥
Justin Zaki: K♣Q♣
Soverel was in great shape with his pocket kings, but the 5♥2♥A♠3♠2♦ gave Lehr the best hand with his pair of aces, to triple up. Soverel just had Lehr covered and was left with 40,000 taking a side pot from Zaki.
Level 17
: Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Martin Zamani raised to 100,000 from the hijack, and when it folded to Sean Perry in the big blind, he three-bet all in for 235,000, which Zamani snap-called.
Sean Perry: K♥J♦
Martin Zamani: A♠Q♠
It was a fair fight, but the board ran out Q♥9♠5♠7♥Q♦ to give Zamani trips, knocking out Perry.
