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Can Zavorotnijs or Vaysman Win Again and Shake Up the Purple Jacket Race?
The race for the 2026 Poker Masters Purple Jacket could take another turn today, with two previous winners among the final five in Event #8: $15,700 No-Limit Hold'em at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas.
Vitalijs Zavorotnijs is in pole position to claim his second title of the series after bagging the overnight chip lead with 2,980,000. The Latvian, who won Event #4 for $224,000, could put himself right in the Purple Jacket conversation with another victory.
Justin Vaysman also has his eyes on a second title after pulling off an incredible comeback from just a third of a big blind to win Event #6. Meanwhile, 17-time PGT champion Sam Soverel and bracelet winners Keith Lehr and Nicholas Seward will be looking to spoil the party.
Event #8: $15,700 NLH Final Table Seat Draw
| Seat | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitalijs Zavorotnijs | 2,980,000 | 60 |
| 2 | Keith Lehr | 1,315,000 | 26 |
| 3 | Justin Vaysman | 1,565,000 | 31 |
| 4 | Sam Soverel | 1,485,000 | 30 |
| 5 | Nicholas Seward | 1,055,000 | 21 |
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $277,200 |
| 2 | $176,400 |
| 3 | $117,600 |
| 4 | $84,000 |
| 5 | $67,200 |
Cards will be back in the air at 11:45 a.m. Las Vegas time, with play resuming at Level 18 and blinds of 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 big blind ante.
PokerNews live updates will follow the PokerGO livestream from 1 p.m. to avoid spoiling the delayed broadcast.
The action won't stop there, with Event #9: $26,000 NLH also kicking off at noon, so as always, keep it locked in to PokerNews to keep up with all the action.
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