Latest Poker Masters Events See Mateos Reach the Summit

Three more events concluded in the 2026 Poker Masters this week, with Spanish poker legend Adrian Mateos topping the lot after six events. PokerStake players such as Cherish Andrews, Brandon Wilson and Victoria Livschitz all performed brilliantly, winning profit for their investors on the site.

The Spanish poker legend Adrian Mateos won his first Poker Master event of the series to move into top spot at the halfway stage of the 10-event series in Las Vegas. Carving out a priceless victory in Event #5, Mateos then went on to bubble his fourth event of the six he’s played as he proved that poker is as chaotic as it ever had been inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA.

Vitalijs Zavorotnijs and Adrian Mateos both won events at the 2026 Poker Masters in Las Vegas as they outlasted some of the best players in the world in Las Vegas. The PokerGO Studio at ARIA was the place to be. With Events #4 and #5 in the can, the race to become this year’s Poker Masters champion is well and truly on.

Zavorotnijs on the Rise

The Latvian player Vitalijs Zavorotnijs conquered Event #4, where Nick Palma continued to make strides towards what would be his first PGT Series win. While his nearest rival, Adrian Mateos was losing out on the stone bubble of Event #4, Palma got close to his second win in four events, eventually finishing third for $104,000.

At an entertaining final table, Erik Seidel came out of his self-imposed semi-retirement in poker to finish sixth for $40,000. He was followed from the felt by Andrew Lichtenberger, who won $56,000. Jamie Dwan’s sensational 2026 continued with another fine result, as the British WSOP bracelet winner from the summer claimed another $76,000 in fourth place.

Following Palma’s exit just before the heads-up, Latvian player Zavorotnijs had a marginal lead heads-up when a flop of Q-J4 landed and his two-pair of queens and fours beat Clemen Deng’s jacks and fours. All the chips went in and Zavorotnijs won his second PGT title, denying Deng a sixth such crown in the process.

“It’s good to be at the final table at all. Even better to win,” the Latvian said afterwards. “The cards went my way. I think I played pretty good, got lucky at some point and won it. It’s usually what happens when you win the tournament.”

Asked about his travelling support group, the Latvian

“We have quite a big group of Latvians and Lithuanians. We’re all trying to work together. We’re friends and hang out together, especially in the summers here. I think our group made us much better than we could have been without it.”

PokerGO Tour Poker Masters $10,000 NLHE Event #4 Final Table Results:
Place	Player	Country	Prize
1^st	Vitalijs Zavorotnijs	Latvia	$224,000
2^nd	Clemen Deng	United States	$144,000
3^rd	Nicholas Palma	United States	$104,000
4^th	Jamie Dwan	United Kingdom	$76,000
5^th	Andrew Lichtenberger	United States	$56,000
6^th	Erik Seidel	United States	$40,000
7^th	Sam Laskowitz	United States	$32,000

Mateos Cleans Up in Fifth Event

In the fifth Poker Masters event, Spanish star Mateos continued to battle on and finally got his reward. After three bubbles and a runner-up finish in the first four events, Mateos’ win in the fifth and latest event to conclude meant he made it to the halfway stage of the series with the overall lead in the race to wear the Purple Jacket.

After players such as mixed game specialist Keith Lehr (6^th for $42,500) and Martin Zamani (5^th for $59,500) won big money at the final table, Robert French’s elimination in fourth place for $76,500 sent the remaining players into the podium places. Jeremy Becker busted in third place when tens and eights were no good against Mateos’ trip tens made on the turn, and cashed for $106,250.

Heads-up, the Spanish legend had a 4:1 chip lead and it took just one hand for Mateos to see off Nick Schulman and grab the latest Poker Masters trophy, formed to represent a miniature version of the Purple Jacket awarded to the eventual leaderboard winner. On a board showing [J], Mateos set Schulman all-in and the American called it off with for the flush draw with a gutshot straight draw. Mateos turned over and survived the river to become the latest champion.

“I love poker. I’m a big poker fan too, and titles are something that motivates me,” said Mateos after the event. “Right now, I think I’m leading, but there are a lot of tournaments. We’re only halfway through. Five more tournaments and I will try my best to keep cashing and try to win it.”

Having bubbled three times and finished in the top two twice, Mateos discussed the vagaries of the game.

“Poker is like this. Some days you run better. Today, I ran really good, and sometimes you run worse and you get bubbles. It is what it is. I try not to focus too much on the results; I focus only on the process and what I can control. I cannot control when I lose or win.”

Mateos was right to have this attitude… and would get to experience the opposite emotions very soon, as he bubbled Event #6!

PokerGO Tour Poker Masters $10,000 NLHE Event #5 Final Table Results:
Place	Player	Country	Prize
1^st	Adrian Mateos	Spain	$229,500
2^nd	Nick Schulman	United States	$148,750
3^rd	Jeremy Becker	United States	$106,250
4^th	Robert French	United States	$76,500
5^th	Martin Zamani	United States	$59,500
6^th	Keith Lehr	United States	$42,500
7^th	Matthew Wantman	United States	$34,000

Event #6 Won by Justin Vaysman

The sixth event of the PokerGO Poker Masters series saw 64 total entries and 10 players pai, as Adrian Mateos found himself bursting the bubble for the fourth event in six… and somehow still leading the field after the end. Mateos has ace-queen but lost to Justin Vaysman’s pocket sevens, as did Robert Chorlian in 12^th place.

Michael Berk outlasted Mateos to cash in 10^th place for $19,200, before the elimination of Andrew ‘Chewy’ Lichtenberger for the same amount followed. Chewy lost a huge coinflip to give Tony Gregg a big pile of chips. PokerStake seller Cherish Andrews shoved with but ran into Gregg’s pocket kings to lose her place for $25,600.

Sam Laskowitz was the first person to depart the seven-handed final the next day, and in dramatic fashion to PokerStake player Victoria Livschitz, who sold plenty of action to the event. On a board of , Livschitz overbet the pot to set Laskowitz all-in, and he called for his tournament life with . He was doomed, with Livschitz holding and Laskowitz was drawing dead to $25,600 and seventh place.

After Joey Weismann’s earlier win this series, the leaderboard title threat was hoping to be the first player to win two events this series but he was unable to do so, sliding out in sixth place for $35,200. All-in with , he was dominated to defeat by Livschitz’s as ‘Trekker’ continued to head for the summit with some distance behind those following her up the mountain.

Left with just a quarter of a big blind after a confrontation with Sean Winter, Justin Vaysman admitted that he thought he was on his way home. Instead, the American came back remarkably well, and tripled up with ace-nine when dominated to bounce of the canvas.

Tony Gregg, Brandon Wilson and then Livschitz herself all busted as Vaysman came right back and heads-up he took on and beat Winter to claim one of the most incredible comeback wins of the year so far.

“Obviously, you’ve got to do your best to stay level-headed, but when you’re down to that final chip, it really feels like you’re one foot out the door,” Vaysman told reporters about his victory. “It’s got to be up there. Maybe my biggest ever win, honestly, all things considered. I didn’t really have a big outright live win like this. Obviously here, you’re playing against the best of the best.”

With four events to conclude, Justin Vaysman has put himself in contention to be wearing a purple jacket by the weekend. Leading the way is Adrian Mateos, who is followed by Nick Palma and Joey Weissman.

PokerGO Tour Poker Masters $10,000 NLHE Event #6 Final Table Results:
Place	Player	Country	Prize
1^st	Justin Vaysman	United States	$192,000
2^nd	Sean Winter	United States	$124,800
3^rd	Victoria Livschitz	United States	$86,400
4^th	Brandon Wilson	United States	$64,000
5^th	Tony Gregg	United States	$48,000
6^th	Joey Weissman	United States	$35,200
7^th	Sam Laskowitz	United States	$25,600