Nicholas Palma Wins First PGT Title at Poker Masters

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Thu Oct 15, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 5 minutes

Nicholas Palma Wins First PGT Title at Poker Masters

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Nicholas Palma captured his first PokerGO Tour (PGT) title after defeating Adrian Mateos in Event #2 of the 2026 Poker Masters. Palma earned $235,200 for winning the $10,500 No-Limit Hold'em tournament at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas.

The event attracted 84 entries and generated an $840,000 prize pool. However, "Nicky P" had to overcome several challenging moments before securing the title, including a tense heads-up battle against one of poker's most accomplished professionals.

Palma entered the final day second in chips, behind Mateos. Despite the Spaniard's experience and repeated comebacks, Palma maintained his confidence throughout their showdown.

"They weren't going to take it from me this time," he said. "In poker, you take bad beats and everything, but this time I wasn't going to allow them to take it from me. I was going to do whatever I had to do, and there was never a doubt in my mind that I was going to beat him."

Nicky P Overcomes a Competitive Final Table

The tournament featured several established players competing for the title and a substantial share of the prize pool. Twelve players ultimately finished in the money, while the final table began with eight players on Day 1.

Sam Laskowitz finished seventh, followed by Jesse Lonis in eighth, before the tournament resumed with five players on Day 2 inside the PokerGO Studio.

Palma faced setbacks along the way, including a significant pot lost against Nicholas Seward's pocket aces. Nevertheless, he recovered and continued building his stack through key confrontations.

Michael Berk also became a pivotal opponent during three-handed play. Palma won a major pot after calling Berk's river bet with a strong hand against the latter's bluff attempt. That confrontation helped Palma strengthen his position heading into the final stages.

Mateos, meanwhile, entered heads-up play determined to add another major victory to his résumé. The six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner repeatedly challenged Palma and briefly reclaimed the chip lead.

Palma Survives Mateos' Comeback to Claim the Title

Palma began heads-up play with more than a 3:2 chip advantage over Adrian Mateos. However, the Spaniard battled back, briefly taking the lead with two pair against Palma's top pair of kings.

Palma soon regained control with A♥ J♠ after limping the button. Mateos shoved for 22.5 big blinds with A♣ 7♥, and Palma quickly called. A jack on the turn gave Palma the winning pair and a massive double-up, leaving Mateos with only a handful of blinds.

Mateos refused to go quietly. He moved all-in with A♠ 8♠ against Palma's J♣ 5♥, then made a full house by the river to double to eight big blinds.

He soon risked his remaining stack again, this time with Q♥ 7♠ against Palma's A♥ 2♥. The board ran J♠ 10♠ 7♠ 2♦ 4♦, giving Mateos a pair of sevens to take down the pot and climb back to 17 big blinds. Mateos survived and climbed back to 17 big blinds.

However, Palma finally closed the match in their next major confrontation. He called Mateos' button shove for just over 12 big blinds with A♥ 6♥, while Mateos held A♦ 9♣.

The A♣ 7♥ 5♦ flop gave both players top pair, but Mateos held the stronger kicker. Palma remained confident, saying, "I actually feel like I'm gonna win this."

The 4♣ turn gave Palma an open-ended straight draw. Then, the 3♥ river completed his seven-high straight, securing the title and the $235,200 first prize.

Mateos collected $151,200 for finishing second. The result added another major payday to his career, taking his lifetime tournament earnings above $72.7 million and placing him fifth on poker's all-time money list.

Poker Masters Event #2 Final Table Results

Palma topped the field to claim the $235,200 first-place prize. The final table also included several familiar names from the high-stakes tournament circuit.

Place Player Prize
1 Nicholas Palma $235,200
2 Adrian Mateos $151,200
3 Michael Berk $109,200
4 David Coleman $79,800
5 Nicholas Seward $58,600
6 Christopher Par $42,000
7 Sam Laskowitz $33,600
8 Jesse Lonis $33,600

Palma Targets Long-Term Success

The Poker Masters victory represents another important milestone in Palma's growing tournament career. His recent results include a fourth-place finish in the $3,500 BetMGM Championship for $431,180 and other deep runs during 2026.

Palma also won his first World Series of Poker bracelet in 2025, taking down an online $2,000 progressive knockout event. His latest victory further strengthens his résumé as he pursues more success against elite competition.

Rather than treating the PGT title as a final destination, Palma sees it as another step toward his long-term ambitions.

"I plan on being a top 10 player in this game for the next 10 to 15 years," he said. "And I'm not just saying that. I'm going to put the work in to do it."

That commitment extends beyond tournament days, as Palma described the routine required to compete at the highest level.

"I just play poker, sleep, play poker and sleep. You don't just wake up and do that. You have to put the work in, and I'm just going to keep working."

Palma Moves Up the Poker Masters Standings

Palma collected 235 PGT points for winning Event #2, moving into second place in the 2026 Poker Masters Purple Jacket race. Myles Mullaly, who won Event #1, remained ahead of him in the standings.

With more tournaments remaining in the series, Palma now has an opportunity to build on his breakthrough performance. His victory also reinforces the depth of competition covered by outlets tracking live tournaments and US online poker sites.

For now, Palma has secured his first PGT title and demonstrated that his confidence can hold up against the game's biggest names. His next challenge will be turning that breakthrough into sustained success across the remainder of the Poker Masters and beyond.

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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