Nick Palma Wins First PGT Title in Poker Masters Event #2
Palma beat Adrian Mateos for $235,200 after an 84-entry $10,500 no-limit hold’em event in Las Vegas.
- Palma topped an 84-entry field for $235,200 and his first PokerGO Tour title.
- Adrian Mateos earned $151,200 as runner-up after Palma made a seven-high straight on the final hand.
- Palma moved into second place in the Poker Masters Purple Jacket race behind Myles Mullaly.
- The Poker Masters continues through Oct. 23, with the series champion receiving a Purple Jacket and $25,000 PGT Passport.
Nick Palma captured his first PokerGO Tour title by beating Adrian Mateos heads-up in Event #2 of the 2026 Poker Masters, a $10,500 no-limit hold’em tournament at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. Palma earned $235,200 from an 84-entry field that produced an $840,000 prize pool.
Twelve players were paid, with Mateos collecting $151,200 for second. Michael Berk finished third for $109,200, David Coleman took fourth for $79,800 and Nick Seward earned $58,600 in fifth.
Mateos started the final day with 3.23 million chips, ahead of Palma’s 2.48 million. Berk began with 2 million, while Coleman had 1.61 million and Seward 1.19 million. Seward, Coleman and Berk were eliminated before the final two players began heads-up play.
Palma held the early heads-up advantage, but Mateos briefly moved in front before Palma regained control. The deciding hand saw Mateos move all-in with ace-nine and Palma call with ace-six. Both players paired an ace on the flop, but the board ran out A-7-5-4-3 to give Palma a seven-high straight.
The win brought Palma 235 PGT points, while Mateos received 151. PGT’s series leaderboard listed Palma second with 236 points, behind Event #1 champion Myles Mullaly. Mullaly remained in front after winning the Poker Masters opener, as we reported Oct. 14.
Palma had already compiled several of the biggest cashes of his career this year, including a fourth-place finish in the $3,500 BetMGM Championship worth $431,180 and third in a $5,000 live bracelet event for $326,136. His Poker Masters victory was his first win of 2026 and his 11th final table of the year, lifting his recorded career tournament earnings above $5.1 million.
After the final hand, Palma told PokerNews that he had never doubted he would beat Mateos. He also set out his longer-term ambition, saying he planned to be a top-10 player for the next 10 to 15 years. Palma said he wants another Poker Masters win and another top-two or top-three finish as he chases the Purple Jacket.
The 10-event Poker Masters runs at PokerGO Studio through Oct. 23, with buy-ins ranging from $10,500 to $51,000. The overall series winner receives the Purple Jacket and a $25,000 PGT Passport.
