Keith Lehr Wins 2nd PGT Title at 2026 Poker Masters Event#8

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Thu Oct 22, 2026, 2:17 am ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Keith Lehr Wins 2nd PGT Title at 2026 Poker Masters Event#8

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Keith Lehr captured his second PokerGO Tour (PGT) title after winning Event#8 of the 2026 Poker Masters. The veteran poker professional outlasted 56 entries in the $15,000 buy-in tournament to collect $277,200.

Lehr defeated Vitalijs Zavorotnijs in a dramatic heads-up battle, with the championship decided by a river card. The victory marked Lehr's return to the winner's circle after his previous tournament win in 2024.

Lehr Overcomes the Competition at the Final Table

Lehr entered Day 2 fourth in chips, while Zavorotnijs held the overnight lead. However, Lehr navigated the remaining competition before securing his place in the heads-up match.

Justin Vaysman also made another deep run, finishing third for $117,600. The result followed his victory in Event No. 6, where he staged a remarkable comeback from just a quarter of a big blind.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Seward finished fourth for $84,000, while Sam Soverel collected $67,200 for fifth place. Soverel's latest appearance extended his record to 15 Poker Masters final tables.

The tournament generated an $840,000 prize pool, rewarding the top finishers for their performances across the two-day event.

A Dramatic River Card Decides the Championship

The heads-up contest between Lehr and Zavorotnijs produced a memorable final hand. Zavorotnijs held A♠ J♣, while Lehr started with K♣ Q♠.

The flop came Q♣ 10♠ 5♠, giving Lehr top pair with a king kicker. Both players continued, keeping the championship within reach for either competitor.

The K♠ arrived on the turn, improving Lehr to top two pair with kings and queens. However, Zavorotnijs made a Broadway straight and picked up a flush draw with his A♠, putting him in a strong position.

Zavorotnijs moved all-in for 2,220,000, and Lehr called. The tournament appeared poised to end in Zavorotnijs' favor, but the river changed everything.

The Q♥ completed the board, giving Lehr a full house with queens full of kings. The river card secured the title and ended Zavorotnijs' challenge, leaving him with $176,400 for second place.

Final Table Results

The final seven finishers earned the following payouts from the $840,000 prize pool.

Place Player Prize
1st Keith Lehr $277,200
2nd Vitalijs Zavorotnijs $176,400
3rd Justin Vaysman $117,600
4th Nicholas Seward $84,000
5th Sam Soverel $67,200
6th Nicholas Palma $50,400
7th Daniyal Gheba $33,600

Lehr Strengthens His Poker Résumé

The victory added another milestone to Lehr's career, which already includes two World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets. He also earned 222 PGT points, moving into eighth place in the series standings.

His latest title further demonstrated his ability to compete against elite tournament fields. Players following the competitive scene through US online poker sites can also track how established professionals build their résumés across major live events.

Purple Jacket Race Remains Open

Although Lehr secured the Event No. 8 title, the Poker Masters Purple Jacket race remained unresolved. Adrian Mateos retained the overall lead with 451 points, while Zavorotnijs ranked third with 365.

Vaysman sat fifth with 325 points after another strong performance. With two events remaining, the standings still left room for significant movement before the series concluded.

Lehr's victory provided one of the festival's defining moments, thanks to a heads-up battle that ended with a dramatic river card. The remaining events will determine who finishes the 2026 Poker Masters season at the top of the leaderboard.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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