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Event #7: $15,700 NLH
Day 1 Completed
2026 Poker Masters
Event #7: $15,700 NLH
Day: 1
Players Left 5 / 58
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Aram Oganyan left it until the last possible moment to register for Event #7: $15,700 NLH at the 2026 Poker Masters, but the late entry paid off as he finished Day 1 with the chip lead inside the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas.
The event attracted 58 entries, generating an $870,000 prize pool, with nine players making the money. Just five remain heading into Tuesday's finale, where $278,400 awaits the champion.
Making his first appearance of the series, Oganyan bagged 2,595,000 (87 big blinds) after enjoying his fair share of good fortune. He nearly exited before the money but found a two-outer to survive, before winning a pot worth almost two million chips when his ace-king got there against Dan Smith's pocket tens on the soft bubble.
Close behind is Adrian Mateos, who returns with 2,325,000 (78 big blinds). The Spaniard has reached his third final table of the series and is chasing his second title, having already finished runner-up in Event #2 and won Event #5.
Final Table Seat Draw & Chip Counts
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Ausmus | United States | 1,550,000 | 52 |
| 2 | Cherish Andrews | United States | 1,275,000 | 43 |
| 3 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | 2,325,000 | 78 |
| 4 | Aram Oganyan | United States | 2,595,000 | 87 |
| 5 | Joe McKeehen | United States | 940,000 | 31 |
Day 1 Action
After stone-bubbling three events earlier in the series, Mateos found himself on the other side of the money bubble this time. He made Broadway to eliminate short stack Brock Wilson in tenth place, guaranteeing the remaining nine players at least $26,100.
Jeremy Ausmus also enjoyed a productive day and briefly held the chip lead. A fortunate clash with Sean Perry, who ran pocket tens into Ausmus' pocket queens, helped propel his stack towards two million. Ausmus eventually bagged 1,550,000, good for third place.
Cherish Andrews secured her first cash of the series after several frustrating near misses. Andrews has regularly built stacks on a single bullet but struggled to convert those runs into paydays. This time, she broke through and will return with 1,275,000.
Rounding out the final five is 2015 WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehen, who also recorded his first cash and final table appearance of the series. He returns as the short stack with 940,000 (31 big blinds).
Another notable arrival was Daniel Negreanu, who made his first appearance of the Poker Masters. The GGPoker ambassador needed two bullets to reach the money before finishing seventh when his ace-eight ran into Andrews' flopped set of deuces.
Negreanu remains undecided about returning for Event #8, with the golf course calling. He has been spending much of his time golfing while awaiting the birth of his first child.
Mateos Extends Purple Jacket Lead
Mateos began the day leading the Poker Masters Purple Jacket standings with 381 PGT points, and his third final table appearance has strengthened his position.
His closest challengers all fell short of the final five, with Myles Mullaly finishing ninth, Nicholas Palma eighth, and Joey Weissman sixth. All three added points to their totals, but Mateos is guaranteed a larger return after reaching the final day.
With another $15,700 event and the $26,000 and $51,000 tournaments still to come, the race remains open, although Mateos has given himself some breathing room at the top.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $278,400 |
| 2 | $174,000 |
| 3 | $121,800 |
| 4 | $87,000 |
| 5 | $65,250 |
The final five return on Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. local time, with play resuming in Level 16 at blinds of 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 big blind ante. There will be 22 minutes remaining on the clock.
The final table will be streamed on PokerGO and its YouTube channel from 1 p.m. local time, with PokerNews providing coverage in line with the delayed broadcast to avoid spoilers.
As always, keep it locked into PokerNews.
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Day 1 has come to an end with five players remaining. They will return for Day 2 at 11:45 a.m., and it will be livestreamed from 1 p.m. local time.
Play will resume on Level 16 (15,000/30,000/30,000) with 22 minutes on the clock.
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Aram Oganyan raised to 75,000 from the cutoff and called when Joey Weissman made it 270,000 from the big blind.
Weissman had 5,000 behind, and the 8♥4♠2♦ flop checked through to the K♥ turn. Weissman check-called for his last chip.
Joey Weissman: A♥10♠
Aram Oganyan: K♣10♣
Oganyan found his three-outer and brought play to a close on the J♦ river.
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Jeremy Ausmus A♠10♠ raised to 65,000 from under the gun and Adrian Mateos Q♦9♦ called from the button.
Ausmus check-called for 150,000 andon the flop before the turn checked through for the board to read J♣10♥2♥10♣2♦.
Ausmus checked his full house, and Mateos took the bait, firing out 330,000 into a pot of 505,000. Ausmus raised to 810,000 and Mateos quickly folded.
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Adrian Mateos limped in from the small blind and Aram Oganyan checked his option in the big blind.
The A♠J♥4♥ flop checked through to the A♣ turn. Mateos bet 50,000 and Oganyan called.
The K♣ completed the board, and Mateos checked. Oganyan bet 95,000 and then Mateos made it 365,000 and folded out Oganyan.
Mateos had 9♦5♠, while Oganyan had 9♥2♥.
Level 16
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Joe McKeehen A♥10♠ raised to 75,000 from the hijack. Cherish Andrews K♥J♦ and Adrian Mateos 7♠6♠ called from the blinds.
The A♣K♠Q♣ flop checked to McKeehen, and he continued for 65,000. Only Andrews called.
The 9♦ turn checked through to the 7♣ river, where McKeehen had the checkmark. It checked through to showdown and McKeehen won with a pair of aces.
Level: 16
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 30,000
Level 15
: Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Joey Weissman A♣J♣ raised to 50,000 from under the gun. Adrian Mateos 10♥9♥ called from the cutoff.
Weissman missed the 9♦8♠4♣ flop and checked. Mateos bet 50,000 and Weismman called with his two overs and backdoor draws.
The 7♥ turn gave Weissman a gutshot, with Mateos also picking up outs to the straight. Weissman check-folded to a bet of 135,000.
Level 15
: Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
