Justin Vaysman Turns a Quarter of a Big Blind into a $192,000 Poker Masters Win

Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by Bala Kumar

In tournament poker, having a quarter of a big blind usually means you’re about to leave the table. Justin Vaysman used it as the starting point for one of the year’s best comebacks.

With five players left at the Event #6 final table at the 2026 Poker Masters in Las Vegas, Vaysman had only 20,000 chips. The big blind was 80,000, so he couldn’t even cover one full blind. A few hours later, the three-time bracelet winner had won the tournament, $192,000 and his first high-roller tour title.

This article breaks down the comeback by the numbers: how short he really was, how quickly he rebuilt his stack, and what happened when he returned to the tables the same night.

Event #6 Snapshot: Buy-In, Field Size and Prize Pool

Event #6 was a $10,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament played from October 17 to 19, 2026. It was the last of the series’ six $10,500 events.

The event drew 64 entries, creating a $640,000 prize pool. The top 10 players were paid. It had the smallest field of the $10,500 events so far: Event #1 and Event #3 each had 78 entries, while Event #4 had 80.

A smaller field at this level usually means fewer recreational players and a tougher lineup. Vaysman’s final table included Sean Winter, who has nearly $42 million in career tournament earnings, along with Event #3 winner Joey Weissman and bracelet winner Anthony Gregg.

The Numbers Behind a Quarter of a Big Blind

To understand how unlikely this comeback was, look at the numbers.

The final seven players started the day with about 7.8 million chips. By the time five players remained, the average stack was roughly 1.56 million. Vaysman had 20,000, about 1/78th of the average and just 0.25 big blinds.

Here’s how his stack changed during the comeback:

• Start of final day: 1,205,000 chips (third of seven players)
• After losing a big pot to Winter: 20,000 chips (0.25 big blinds)
• After winning three straight all-ins: about 400,000 chips (5 big blinds), roughly 20 times larger
• After a three-way all-in: 2,050,000 chips, more than 100 times his lowest point

The money at stake was just as important. Fifth place paid $48,000, while first place paid $192,000. By staying in the tournament, Vaysman earned an extra $144,000, almost 14 times his buy-in.

How the Comeback Unfolded

The Hand That Left Him With 20,000 Chips

With five players left, everyone folded to Winter in the small blind. He raised to 660,000 with 8♦7♥.

Vaysman was in the big blind with A♥9♦ and 680,000 chips. He called, leaving himself only 20,000. Both players checked through a Q♥ 10♣ 6♠ 5♥ 7♦ board, and Winter’s seven on the river won the pot.

Three Straight All-Ins

With so few chips left, Vaysman had to go all in almost every time he got a reasonable hand. He won three all-ins in a row.

The big blind ante helped here. Because every pot already had chips in it before the cards were dealt, each win multiplied his tiny stack instead of just doubling it. Three hands later, he was back to about five big blinds.

The Triple-Up That Changed Everything

Gregg was the next player eliminated, finishing fifth for $48,000. His set of jacks lost when Winter’s Q♣J♣ hit a runner-runner flush.

Soon after, Winter raised from the button. The two short stacks in the blinds, Brandon Wilson and Vaysman, both moved all in:

• Vaysman: A♣9♣
• Wilson: A♥K♠
• Winter: K♣3♥

The board ran 8♦ 6♣ 5♦ 7♣ 7♦, giving Vaysman a nine-high straight. He won all three stacks and jumped to 2,050,000 chips.

Wilson and Livschitz Exit

Wilson finished fourth for $64,000. His A♥2♦ was ahead until the 9♦ 8♣ 4♦ 9♣ 10♦ board gave Vaysman’s J♦7♠ a jack-high straight. It was Wilson’s 22nd final table of 2026.

Victoria Livschitz finished third for $86,400 when her K♥J♦ ran into Winter’s pocket kings. Earlier, she had led the final table after knocking out Sam Laskowitz with a set and then eliminating Weissman with ace-king.

Heads-Up: From 3-to-1 Down to Champion

Vaysman started heads-up play facing roughly a 3-to-1 chip deficit, and he fell further behind at first. He stayed alive by doubling up with ace-seven against Winter’s suited queen-six.

The key moment came on the river. Winter moved all in with only ten-high, and Vaysman called with second pair. It was a difficult call with his tournament on the line, but it was correct. For the first time all day, Vaysman had the chip lead.

On the final hand, Vaysman limped from the button with 10♠9♥, and Winter checked with J♦3♦. The 10♦ 9♦ 7♣ flop gave Vaysman top two pair and gave Winter both straight and flush draws. Winter check-raised to 700,000, and Vaysman called. After the K♥ turn, Winter moved all in for 2,975,000. Vaysman called, and the 10♥ river gave him a full house.

Poker Masters 2026 Event #6 Final Results

On Day 1, Vaysman also burst the bubble. His pocket sevens beat Adrian Mateos’ ace-queen and Robert Chorlian’s ace-six in the same pot. It was Mateos’ fourth bubble finish in six events.

Who Is Justin Vaysman?

Vaysman is from Horsham, Pennsylvania, and has won three bracelets. He’s known as a solid all-round tournament player rather than a full-time high-roller regular.

Before this win, his biggest scores were $350,000 for finishing 25th in the 2024 Main Event and $257,400 for winning a $5,300 online six-max bracelet event. His $192,000 Event #6 prize is now the third-largest cash of his career, pushing his lifetime tournament earnings past $2 million. It was also his sixth final table of 2026.

Earlier in the series, he finished sixth in Event #1 for $39,000, after starting that final table as the shortest stack.

Live Update: Vaysman Returns to the Tables in Event #7

Vaysman went straight into Event #7, the $15,700 No-Limit Hold’em tournament that started on October 19, the same day he won Event #6. This time, his run was short.

During Level 9, Myles Mullaly opened the betting and Weissman called. Vaysman moved all in from the big blind for 61,000 with pocket sixes. Mullaly re-shoved with A♥Q♠, forcing Weissman to fold. An ace on the flop paired Mullaly, and Vaysman was eliminated.

Here’s the latest Event #7 data, taken during Level 10 of Day 1 on the evening of October 19 in Las Vegas:

• Entries: 58 (registration closed)
• Prize pool: $870,000
• Places paid: 9 (minimum cash: $26,100)
• First prize: $278,400
• Players remaining: 27
• Blinds: 4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 big blind ante

Event #7 Top Chip Counts (Live)

Event #7 Payouts

Mateos, the current Purple Jacket leader, now leads Event #7 as well. Winter, Livschitz and Gregg, who all made the Event #6 final table, were also still in the field at the last break.

Purple Jacket Race: Where the Standings Stand

The Poker Masters awards points in every event toward the Purple Jacket, which goes to the series’ best overall player.

Vaysman’s win earned him 192 points, bringing him to 231 total and fifth place. Mateos leads after winning Event #5 and finishing second in Event #2. Weissman is third with 300 points and $301,000 in series winnings.

Remaining 2026 Poker Masters Schedule

Higher buy-ins mean bigger point awards, and the $51,000 finale could completely change the Purple Jacket race. Follow our poker news section for results as the series continues.

Three Lessons From a Quarter-Blind Comeback

1. Bad Beats Don’t Decide Tournaments. Your Next Decisions Do.

Vaysman lost a huge pot with ace-high to a hand that only won on the river. Many players would mentally give up after a hand like that. He kept focusing on the next hand, and that made his comeback possible.

2. Pay Jumps Make Survival Valuable

Each elimination at this final table increased the payout by between $13,000 and $56,000. If you’re very short in your own tournaments, remember that winning even one all-in can be worth real money. Don’t throw away your chips in hopeless spots, but don’t wait too long when you have a reasonable all-in.

3. Read the Situation, Not Just Your Cards

Vaysman’s turning point came with ace-nine suited in a three-way all-in, not pocket aces. His title-winning call came with second pair. Good tournament decisions depend on stack sizes, position and your opponent’s likely hands, not only your cards. Our poker blog covers these concepts in more detail.

The Bottom Line

Most players will never sit in a $10,500 Las Vegas event with a quarter of a big blind and a six-figure first prize at stake. But the lesson applies to every tournament: as long as you have chips, you still have a chance. Vaysman turned 20,000 chips into $192,000 by staying calm, picking his spots and making a brave call when it mattered.

Want to play tournaments online? Read our GGPoker review 2026, or visit PokerClubGames for more news, reviews and strategy.

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