Nicky Palma Among First Three Poker Masters Winners in Vegas

The opening three events of the 2026 PGT Poker Masters series saw victories for Myles Mullaly, Nick Palma and Joey Weissman in Las Vegas. As Sin City came to life in the PokerGO Studio at ARIA, players such as Adrian Mateos, Erik Seidel and Sam Soverel all enjoyed dramatic days at the felt. There were aces cracked on the bubble, a comeback heads-up and domination across each event by different players. Here’s how the opening events of this year’s Poker Masters series played out.

Myles Mullaly Takes First Title in Opening Event

The first event of the 2026 Poker Masters series featured 78 total entries including the 1988 WSOP Main Event runner-up and 10-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel. The New Yorker, who last week took part in a backgammon tournament, returned to poker to play the $10,000-entry event where a dozen players cashed.

Seidel wasn’t among them, but other luminaries reached the money after Adrian Mateos saw his pocket aces cracked to bust for nothing. Americans Jesse Lonis (12^th for $19,500), Michael Berk (9^th for $23,400) and Justin Vaysman (6^th for $39,000) all booked profit before Michael Rossitto busted in fourth place for $74,100. His jack-ten lost to Sam Laskowitz’s ace-queen and when Laskowitz himself then lost when short-stacked with ace-king against Justin Zaki’s queen-seven, the heads-up match was set.

The final duel for the title came down to a draw that came in for Mullaly, as his ten-nine of hearts might have been drawing dead to Zaki’s superior jack-three of the same suit for a flush, but from a board showing 8-5-3-7, the ten was a winning card on the river. Mullaly claimed $218,400 up top, with Zaki winning $140,000 as runner-up.

“A lot of things just went my way today, and it feels good – this is a cool place to win it. A lot of tough players, I’m just happy I got it done today, said the winner Mullaly after he won his first PGT crown. “It’s awesome to have people rooting for you. Everyone’s super friendly, everyone’s always super talkative. It’s very easy to make friends here, and it’s nice having that support when you’re in a big spot.”

Nicky P Takes Down Event #2 for Maiden PGT Win

The second event of the Poker Masters series saw Nick Palma, a.k.a. ‘Nicky P’, beat Adrian Mateos heads-up to claim the most prominent win of his poker career so far. Rising to the top in the event, Palma took home a whopping $235,200 after outlasting a final table packed with stars in Las Vegas.

PokerGO regular Sam Soverel (12^th for $21,000), Victoria ‘Trekker’ Livschitz (11^th for $25,200) and Event #1 winner Myles Mullaly (10^th for $25,200) all made the money places, before Jesse Lonis (8^th for $33,600) booked his second cash in two events but bubbled the final table.

Sam Laskowitz also scored his second consecutive cash in seventh place, winning $33,600 before Nick Seward (5^th for $58,600) and David Coleman (4^th for $79,800) busted outside the podium places. Michael Berk missed out on the heads-up battle for the title when his queen-jack lost to Adrian Mateos’ ace-king.

In the final battle, Palma led his more decorated opponent, but not by much and the stacks soon drew level. Mateos’ shipped his chips with ace-seven but ran into Palma’s ace-jack, and a clean board paired the New Yorker’s jack to leave the American with a big lead. Soon, Palma had all the chips, as his ace-six overtook Mateos’ ace-nine, the board handing the champion a seven-high straight.

“I want to be the best ever, or try to be,” Palma said after the match. “There [are] many great and talented people, but I know if I put the work in, and I just turned 37, I’m still young. If I keep doing this for 10 or 15 years, I don’t know if I’ll be the best, but I’m going to work my best to be the best.”

Palma is shooting for the series win and, standing next to the Purple Jacket, told reporters he felt good about his chances and described how he explained poker to his nephew.

“If you work really hard, you could literally do anything in this life,” he said. “I know it’s a cliché saying, but it’s actually true. I’ve had my eyes on this jacket for the last few months. I’ve been looking forward to this series, and I plan on winning another tournament, getting another top two or three, and wearing the jacket.”

Event #3 Won by WEISSMAN

The third event of the 2026 Poker Masters was taken down by Joey Weissman after a topsy-turvy final table provided plenty of thrills. With 78 entries, a dozen players made the money again and this time, the bubble boy was Adrian Mateos. The Spaniard may have come second in Event #2, but bubbled both of the other events, first with pocket aces in Event #3, then with ace-king in Event #3.

Darren Rabinowitz min-cashed for $19,500 in 12^th place, before Nick Seward cashed again, this time in 11^th place for $23,400. Exits for both Jesse Lonis (10^th for $23,400) and Myles Mullaly (8^th for $31,200) followed, as Jeremy Ausmus took control of the final table, which paused with six left before the final day. Once there, the opening elimination saw the PokerStake hero go from leader to zero, as a nightmare runout saw Ausmus run short to bust with nine-ten against ace-queen.

Dylan Linde’s departure in fifth place for $54,600 was followed by that of Brock Wilson in fourth or $74,100 before Shannon Shorr left the podium places in third for a score of $101,400. The Las Vegas resident Daniyal Gheba’s rapid rise through the ranks has been impressive in the last few years and he added another $140,400 to his tournament earnings in second, as Weissman won the title and $218,400 up top.