Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Bala Kumar
PGT Poker Masters at a glance
The PGT Poker Masters is one of the high-stakes tournament series on the PokerGO Tour, famous for awarding a purple velvet jacket to the player who tops the series leaderboard. Poker Masters 2026 returns to Las Vegas from October 12 to 23 with ten No-Limit Hold’em events.
| Detail | Poker Masters 2026 |
| Dates | October 12 – 23, 2026 |
| Venue | PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino, Las Vegas |
| Number of events | 10 |
| Game | No-Limit Hold’em (all events) |
| Buy-ins | $10,000, $15,000, $25,000 and 50,000,plusafee(10,100 – $50,200 on time; $10,500 – $51,000 late or re-entry) |
| Cost to play every event once | $166,200 with on-time entry; $171,400 if entering late |
| Start time | 12 p.m. PT (Event #10 at 1 p.m. PT) |
| Re-entries | Up to two per event |
| Starting stack | 125,000 chips (150,000 for the finale) |
| Series prize | Purple Jacket for the overall leaderboard winner |
| Tour | PokerGO Tour (PGT) |
| Series prize package | Purple Jacket + $25,000 PGT Passport |
| Previous champion | David Coleman (2025 Purple Jacket) |
| Series history | Established in 2017, with two online editions held in 2020 |
Today and next
Update this box daily once the series starts. All times Pacific Time (PT).
| Event | Date | |
| Today (Oct 5) | Super High Roller Bowl PLO IV ($103,000), a separate PGT event at the PokerGO Studio | October 5 |
| Coming up | Super High Roller Bowl XI ($103,000 NLH), separate PGT event | October 8 |
| Poker Masters opens | Event #1: $10K No-Limit Hold’em, 12 p.m. PT | October 12 |
| Day off | No Poker Masters play; Event #6 final table moves to Oct 19 | October 18 |
| Series finale | Event #10: $50K NLH Series Finale, 1 p.m. PT | October 22 – 23 |
What is the PGT Poker Masters?
The PGT Poker Masters began in September 2017 as a week-long high-roller series in Las Vegas. Its signature idea was borrowed from golf: just as the Masters gives its champion a green jacket, the Poker Masters gives its series champion a purple one.
Today it’s one of the marquee stops on the PokerGO Tour, alongside the U.S. Poker Open and the Super High Roller Bowl. Almost every edition has been played inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA, a purpose-built tournament and TV studio. The exceptions were 2020, when the pandemic moved two editions online.
The 2026 schedule is a short, focused run of ten No-Limit Hold’em events, every one with a five-figure buy-in. That format regularly draws well-known high-stakes tournament professionals.
Poker Masters 2026 schedule at a glance
| Buy-in | Events | Dates |
| $10,000 | #1 – #6 | Oct 12 – 19 |
| $15,000 | #7 – #8 | Oct 19 – 21 |
| $25,000 | #9 | Oct 21 – 22 |
| $50,000 | #10 (finale) | Oct 22 – 23 |
Poker Masters 2026 schedule
Here is the full Poker Masters schedule from the official 2026 structure sheet. Every event is a two-day tournament: Day 1 plays down to the final table, and Day 2 plays to a winner. All times are Pacific Time.
| Event | Day 1 | Start | Late reg. ends | Buy-in | Cost on time | Cost late / re-entry | Starting stack | Status (Oct 5) |
| #1: $10K NLH | Mon, Oct 12 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $10,000 | $10,100 | $10,500 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #2: $10K NLH | Tue, Oct 13 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $10,000 | $10,100 | $10,500 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #3: $10K NLH | Wed, Oct 14 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $10,000 | $10,100 | $10,500 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #4: $10K NLH | Thu, Oct 15 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $10,000 | $10,100 | $10,500 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #5: $10K NLH | Fri, Oct 16 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $10,000 | $10,100 | $10,500 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #6: $10K NLH | Sat, Oct 17 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $10,000 | $10,100 | $10,500 | 125,000 | Upcoming (final table Mon, Oct 19) |
| — | Sun, Oct 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Day off |
| #7: $15K NLH | Mon, Oct 19 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $15,000 | $15,100 | $15,700 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #8: $15K NLH | Tue, Oct 20 | 12 p.m. | ~4:30 p.m. | $15,000 | $15,100 | $15,700 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #9: $25K NLH | Wed, Oct 21 | 12 p.m. | ~6 p.m. | $25,000 | $25,200 | $26,000 | 125,000 | Upcoming |
| #10: $50K NLH Series Finale | Thu, Oct 22 | 1 p.m. | ~6:15 p.m. | $50,000 | $50,200 | $51,000 | 150,000 | Upcoming |
Date note: some tournament calendars list the PGT series running from late September into early October. That window is actually the PGT PLO Series and the Super High Roller Bowl events. The Poker Masters itself runs October 12 – 23. PGT and ARIA reserve the right to modify the schedule.
Poker Masters 2026 tournament structure
| Detail | Events #1 – #6 ($10K) | Events #7 – #8 ($15K) | Event #9 ($25K) | Event #10 ($50K finale) |
| Starting stack | 125,000 | 125,000 | 125,000 | 150,000 |
| Level length | 30 min through Level 12, then 40 min | 30 min through Level 8, then 40 min | 40 min throughout | 45 min throughout |
| Breaks | Every 4 levels through L12, then every 3 | Every 4 levels through L8, then every 3 | Every 3 levels and after L8 | Every 2 levels |
| Registration closes | Start of Level 9 | Start of Level 9 | Start of Level 9 | Start of Level 7 |
| Re-entries | Up to 2 | Up to 2 | Up to 2 | Up to 2 |
| Shot clock time extensions (on time / late) | 6 / 4 | 8 / 6 | 10 / 8 | 10 / 8 |
Blind levels (all events): Level 1 starts at 500/1,000 with a 1,000 big blind ante, so the 10K–25K events begin with 125 big blinds and the finale with 150. Blinds rise to 1,500/3,000 by Level 5, 5,000/10,000 by Level 11 and 20,000/40,000 by Level 17. The big blind ante is posted after the big blind.
Other key rules:
• Tables start 8-handed and move to 7-handed as soon as practical, with a single-table redraw at seven players.
• Day 1 normally plays until six players remain; the final table plays on Day 2.
• The PGT shot clock gives 20 seconds preflop and 30 seconds postflop. Players in the money get extra time extensions in larger fields (over 71 or 85 entrants), and the final seven each get six more.
• Feature-table players place hole cards on an RFID reader, and phones and tablets must be surrendered at the final table.
• Events pay roughly one in seven entries. Payouts are posted after registration closes.
• Players still at a final table when registration for the next event closes get one extra level to register.
Practical insight: late registration costs more. Entering a $10K event after the start time costs $10,500 instead of $10,100, and every re-entry also pays the full $500 fee. A player who registers on time in all ten events saves $5,200 compared with registering late in every one.
Poker Masters buy-ins
| Buy-in | Fee on time | Fee late / re-entry | Events | Share of schedule |
| $10,000 | $100 | $500 | #1 – #6 | 6 of 10 |
| $15,000 | $100 | $700 | #7, #8 | 2 of 10 |
| $25,000 | $200 | $1,000 | #9 | 1 of 10 |
| $50,000 | $200 | $1,000 | #10 (finale) | 1 of 10 |
To get the on-time price, players must be in the registration line by the scheduled start time.
What changed from 2025? The core Poker Masters buy-in of $10,000 (plus a $100 on-time fee) is the same as last year’s $10,100 events. The big changes are at both ends of the schedule. The 2025 series opened with a $1 million Showcase and a $5,100 event, which are gone in 2026. And while 2025 ended with a $25,000 finale, 2026 adds a $25K Event #9 and doubles the finale to $50,000.
What it means for players and fans: without the lower-cost opening events, the 2026 field sizes and prize pools will be worth tracking as the series progresses. Because the Purple Jacket uses a points system that rewards results in every event, a player can take the jacket without winning the finale.
The Poker Masters finale
The 2026 schedule doesn’t include an event titled “Main Event.” The final event, Event #10: $50K NLH Series Finale, is the Poker Masters finale and carries the series’ highest buy-in. It starts at 1 p.m. PT on October 22 with 150,000 chips and 45-minute levels. It’s also where the Purple Jacket race is most often decided.
Recent finales show how close that race can be:
• 2025: Brandon Wilson won the $25,000 finale, but runner-up David Coleman did enough to take the Purple Jacket.
• 2023: Jonathan Jaffe won the $50,000 finale, while runner-up Stephen Chidwick clinched the jacket.
• 2021: Michael Addamo won the last two events, including the $50,000 finale, to take both the title and the jacket.
The Poker Masters Purple Jacket explained
The Poker Masters Purple Jacket goes to the player who earns the most points across the whole series, not just the winner of the biggest event.
• 2017: the jacket was awarded on total series winnings.
• 2018 onwards: a points system was introduced, based on the High Roller of the Year scoring system.
• 2021 onwards: the PokerGO Tour points system is used.
• 2026 prize package: the Purple Jacket plus a $25,000 PGT Passport. The Passport can only be used for PGT-owned and operated events, can’t be transferred and can’t be exchanged for cash. Earlier champions received $50,000 bonuses (2021–2023) and $25,000 in 2024.
• Eligibility: players must cash in at least two Poker Masters events to win the jacket.
• Beyond the series: points also count towards the PGT leaderboard, and the top 40 eligible players at season’s end may qualify for the PGT Championship.
Practical insight: because points come from every cash, consistency matters as much as big wins. In 2024 James Collopy won the jacket without winning a single event, thanks to four final tables.
How the 2026 Purple Jacket race works
• Every cash in all ten events earns PokerGO Tour points, with more points for deeper finishes and bigger buy-ins.
• The player with the most points after Event #10 wins the Poker Masters Purple Jacket.
• The finale has the series’ highest buy-in, so it can carry a large share of the available points.
• To be eligible, a player needs at least two cashes in the series.
We’ll update the standings below after every event.
Purple Jacket standings 2026
| Rank | Player | Cashes | Wins | Earnings | PGT points |
| 1 | To be updated | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | To be updated | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | To be updated | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | To be updated | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | To be updated | — | — | — | — |
Poker Masters 2026 results
We update this table as each event finishes, starting from October 13. For the bigger events, list the full final table in the “Final table” column.
| Event | Buy-in | Entries | Prize pool | Winner | 1st prize | Runner-up | Final table | Status |
| #1: $10K NLH | $10,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #2: $10K NLH | $10,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #3: $10K NLH | $10,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #4: $10K NLH | $10,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #5: $10K NLH | $10,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #6: $10K NLH | $10,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #7: $15K NLH | $15,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #8: $15K NLH | $15,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #9: $25K NLH | $25,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
| #10: $50K NLH Series Finale | $50,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Upcoming |
2025 Poker Masters results
Last year’s Poker Masters results give a useful benchmark for 2026. Editor check: verify every figure in this table against the official PGT results page before publishing.
| Event | Entries | Prize pool | Winner | Country | 1st prize |
| $1,000,000 Showcase | 239 | $1,195,000 | David Coleman | USA | $270,000 |
| #2 $5,100 NLH | 130 | $650,000 | Mike Zulker | USA | $157,000 |
| #3 $10,100 NLH | 101 | $1,010,000 | Andrew Moreno | USA | $252,000 |
| #4 $10,100 NLH | 112 | $1,120,000 | Darren Elias | USA | $280,000 |
| #5 $10,100 NLH | 112 | $1,120,000 | Chino Rheem | USA | $280,000 |
| #6 $10,100 NLH | 109 | $1,090,000 | Alex Foxen | USA | $272,000 |
| #7 $10,100 NLH | 77 | $770,000 | Cary Katz | USA | $223,000 |
| #8 $15,100 NLH | 67 | $1,005,000 | Nguyen Le | Vietnam | $301,000 |
| #9 $15,100 NLH | 67 | $1,005,000 | Justin Saliba | USA | $301,000 |
| #10 $25,000 NLH (finale) | 63 | $1,575,000 | Brandon Wilson | USA | $464,000 |
| Total | 1,077 | $10,540,000 |
What the 2025 numbers tell us: the 2025 $10,100 events drew between 77 and 112 entries. The 2026 events have higher buy-ins, so actual field sizes and prize pools will be worth tracking as the series progresses.
Past Poker Masters winners
Editor check: verify the historical earnings and prize figures against official PGT/PokerGO records before publishing.
Purple Jacket winners
| Year | Series | Events | Purple Jacket winner | Country | Series earnings |
| 2025 | Poker Masters | 10 | David Coleman | USA | $657,700 |
| 2024 | Poker Masters | 8 | James Collopy | USA | $521,600 |
| 2023 | Poker Masters | 10 | Stephen Chidwick | UK | $1,109,000 |
| 2022 | Poker Masters | 10 | Sean Winter | USA | $777,000 |
| 2021 | Poker Masters | 12 | Michael Addamo | Australia | $1,840,000 |
| 2020 | Online PLO Series | 16 | Eelis Pärssinen | Finland | $735,359 |
| 2020 | Online | 30 | Alexandros Kolonias | Greece | $1,266,296 |
| 2019 | Poker Masters | 10 | Sam Soverel | USA | $1,396,800 |
| 2018 | Poker Masters | 7 | Ali Imsirovic | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $1,288,600 |
| 2017 | Poker Masters | 5 | Steffen Sontheimer | Germany | $2,733,000 |
Poker Masters finale winners
| Year | Entries | Winner | Country | Prize |
| 2025 | 63 | Brandon Wilson | USA | $464,000 |
| 2024 | 68 | Ben Tollerene | USA | $510,000 |
| 2023 | 42 | Jonathan Jaffe | USA | $756,000 |
| 2022 | 37 | Jason Koon | USA | $666,000 |
| 2021 | 29 | Michael Addamo | Australia | $1,160,000 |
| 2019 | 34 | Sam Soverel | USA | $1,512,000 |
| 2018 | 25 | David Peters | USA | $1,150,000 |
| 2017 | 36 | Steffen Sontheimer | Germany | $1,512,000 |
Trend worth noting: finale fields have grown (25–37 players in 2017–2022, 63–68 in 2024–2025) as the finale buy-in came down from $100,000 in 2017–2018 to $25,000 in 2024–2025. The 2026 finale moves back up to a $50,000 buy-in, so it’ll be interesting to see whether field size holds. These tables are where the Poker Masters winners history lives, so add each new champion here.
How to watch the Poker Masters
Poker Masters final tables have traditionally been streamed on PokerGO, the official streaming platform for PokerGO Tour events. That’s the main Poker Masters live stream option. Live updates, chip counts and results are also published during the series.
For viewers outside the US, check local availability of the streaming service, and remember that Las Vegas is on Pacific Time. Final tables that start in the afternoon in Las Vegas fall late at night or early morning in Europe and Asia.
Who can play the Poker Masters?
• Age and ID: the official rules require all players to be at least 21, and players must meet the casino’s identification and registration requirements.
• Who typically plays: high-stakes tournament players, including professionals and recreational players who can afford the buy-ins. Entry isn’t limited to professionals.
• Staking: many players buy pieces of others or sell their own action to manage the cost of a five-figure schedule.
• International players: residents of countries without a U.S. tax treaty are subject to tax withholding, and payouts must be claimed within 60 days of an event ending. Check current guidance before travelling.
How to play in the Poker Masters
• Registration: be in the registration line by the scheduled start time to get the on-time fee. Late registration and re-entries pay the full late fee.
• Bankroll reality: playing all ten events once costs $166,200 on time, or $171,400 if you enter late every time, before any re-entries.
• Hotel: the official structure sheet says players can contact the ARIA Poker Host for discounted room rates during PGT events.
• Check the official sheet: PGT and ARIA can change the schedule, so confirm times and rules on the official structure sheet before playing.
Poker Masters vs other PokerGO Tour majors
| Poker Masters | Super High Roller Bowl | U.S. Poker Open | |
| 2026 dates | Oct 12 – 23 | Oct 8 (Bowl XI, NLH); Oct 5 (Bowl PLO IV) | April 10 – 22 (completed) |
| Format | 10-event series | Single super high roller event | Multi-event series |
| Buy-ins | $10,000 – $50,000 (plus fees) | $103,000 | Varied |
| Trophy | Purple Jacket | Bowl title | Golden Eagle trophy |
| Best for | Following a full series and leaderboard race | One big, high-drama event | Spring PGT action |
Why the Poker Masters matters
• The Purple Jacket: a distinctive series trophy awarded every year since 2017.
• High-stakes fields: recent winners include well-known professionals such as Alex Foxen, Darren Elias and Stephen Chidwick.
• Big prize pools in a short time: 2025’s ten events generated $10.54 million in combined prize pools (our total of the published event figures).
• Great viewing: televised final tables at the PokerGO Studio.
• PokerGO Tour points: results feed directly into the season-long PGT leaderboard.
FAQs
When is the PGT Poker Masters 2026?
Poker Masters 2026 runs from October 12 to 23, 2026, at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
How many events are in the Poker Masters 2026?
There are ten No-Limit Hold’em events, with buy-ins of $10,000, $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 plus a fee.
What is the Poker Masters Purple Jacket?
It’s the trophy awarded to the player who earns the most points across the whole Poker Masters series. It’s inspired by the green jacket given at golf’s Masters.
Who won the 2025 Poker Masters?
David Coleman won the 2025 Purple Jacket. Brandon Wilson won the $25,000 finale for $464,000.
How much does it cost to play every Poker Masters event?
Entering each of the ten 2026 events once costs $166,200 with on-time registration, or $171,400 if you enter every event late.
Where can I watch the Poker Masters?
Final tables have traditionally been streamed on PokerGO, the official streaming platform for PokerGO Tour events. Check local availability if you’re outside the US.
