Daniel Negreanu Leads Poker Masters $25K Final Seven as Adrian Mateos Bubbles Again
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Daniel Negreanu is just seven players away from another big title. The Poker Hall of Famer finished Day 1 of Event #9 ($25,000 No-Limit Hold’em) at the 2026 Poker Masters with the chip lead, while Adrian Mateos suffered yet another painful exit right on the money bubble.
Seven players will return to the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Las Vegas to play for the $412,500 first prize.
Event #9 by the Numbers
The $25K event drew 33 players, and 17 re-entries pushed the total to 50 entries. That built a $1,250,000 prize pool, with the top eight finishers getting paid.
Mateos Bubbles for the Fifth Time
You have to feel for Adrian Mateos. The Spaniard leads the race for the Purple Jacket, but the money bubble has haunted him all series long.
It happened again in Level 15. Short on chips, Mateos moved all in and got called by Daniyal Gheba. The board gave Gheba two pair, and Mateos was out in ninth place with nothing to show for it.
That’s the fifth time Mateos has been the bubble boy at this year’s Poker Masters. He’s still won a title this series and remains on top of the leaderboard, but it’s hard to imagine a stranger season-long story.
Coleman Falls in Eighth
Not long after the bubble burst, David Coleman was knocked out in eighth place. He ran into Brandon Wilson’s pocket sevens and couldn’t catch up, leaving with $50,000.
That was the last elimination of the night, and play wrapped up with seven players left.
Negreanu Holds the Lead
GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu bagged 2,205,000 chips, giving him a healthy lead over the rest of the table. Nicholas Seward, who finished fourth in Event #8 just a day earlier, is his closest challenger with 1,700,000.
It’s been a busy year for Negreanu. He won his eighth WSOP bracelet this summer, and a win here would add another high roller trophy to his collection.
Final Table Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chips | Big Blinds |
| 1 | Daniel Negreanu | 2,205,000 | 73 |
| 2 | Nicholas Seward | 1,700,000 | 57 |
| 3 | Daniyal Gheba | 1,120,000 | 37 |
| 4 | Brandon Wilson | 755,000 | 25 |
| 5 | Sean Perry | 570,000 | 19 |
| 6 | Matthew Wantman | 530,000 | 18 |
| 7 | Jesse Lonis | 525,000 | 18 |
Blinds will resume at 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 big blind ante.
A Stacked Final Table
Negreanu may have the chips, but this is a tough group. Brandon Wilson won last year’s $25,000 Poker Masters finale for $464,000 and took down the Super High Roller Bowl earlier this month. Jesse Lonis recently picked up his third WSOP bracelet, and Matthew Wantman won a Triton title in Jeju in September.
With four players sitting on fewer than 20 big blinds, expect the action to move quickly once the cards are back in the air.
Event #9 Payouts
| Place | Player | Prize |
| 1st | TBD | $412,500 |
| 2nd | TBD | $262,500 |
| 3rd | TBD | $175,000 |
| 4th | TBD | $125,000 |
| 5th | TBD | $100,000 |
| 6th | TBD | $75,000 |
| 7th | TBD | $50,000 |
| 8th | David Coleman | $50,000 |
What’s Next
The final table plays out today, October 22, and will stream on PokerGO. At the same time, the $51,000 series finale (Event #10) gets underway, with the Purple Jacket still to be decided on October 23.
Poker Masters 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Dates | October 12–23, 2026 |
| Venue | PokerGO Studio at ARIA Las Vegas |
| Events | 10 |
| Buy-ins | $10,000 to $50,000 |
Event #9 Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Buy-in | $25,000 |
| Entries | 50 |
| Prize pool | $1,250,000 |
| Places paid | 8 |
FAQs
1. Who leads Poker Masters 2026 Event #9?
Daniel Negreanu leads the final seven players in the $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em event with 2,205,000 chips.
2. What is the first-place prize for Poker Masters Event #9?
The winner will receive $412,500 from the event’s $1.25 million prize pool.
3. How many entries did Poker Masters Event #9 attract?
The event recorded 50 total entries, including 33 players and 17 re-entries. The top eight finishers are scheduled to receive payouts.
4. Why did Adrian Mateos finish outside the money?
Adrian Mateos was eliminated in ninth place after moving all in and losing to Daniyal Gheba. He became the bubble finisher for the fifth time during the 2026 Poker Masters series.
5. Who are the final seven players in Poker Masters Event #9?
The remaining players are Daniel Negreanu, Nicholas Seward, Daniyal Gheba, Brandon Wilson, Sean Perry, Matthew Wantman and Jesse Lonis. They return to the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Las Vegas to compete for the title.
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