Marius Gierse Leads Final Seven in $50K Poker Masters Championship
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The 2026 Poker Masters has saved its biggest event for last. Seven players remain in the $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Las Vegas, and Marius Gierse will start the final day with the chip lead.
Only five of the seven will cash. With $620,000 for the winner and $124,000 for fifth, the opening hour of the final day will be all about the money bubble.
Live Update: Final Day Status
• Status: Final day not yet started
• Players remaining: 7
• Places paid: 5
• Chip leader: Marius Gierse (1,185,000)
• Short stack: Chris Brewer (535,000)
• Resuming blinds: 10,000/20,000, 20,000 big blind ante
• Champion: To be updated after the final hand
This section will be updated with eliminations, payouts and the winner as the final day plays out.
$50K Poker Masters Championship: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
| Event | Event #10 – $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship |
| Series | 2026 Poker Masters (PokerGO Tour) |
| Venue | PokerGO Studio, ARIA Las Vegas |
| Entries | 31 (22 players + 9 re-entries) |
| Prize pool | $1,550,000 |
| Places paid | 5 |
| First prize | $620,000 |
| Minimum cash | $124,000 |
How Day 1 Played Out
The $50,000 Championship is the 10th and final event of the series. It drew 22 players, and nine re-entries brought the field to 31 entries and a $1,550,000 prize pool.
Big Names Eliminated
Plenty of high-stakes regulars failed to survive Day 1. Nick Schulman, Sam Soverel, Jesse Lonis, Alex Foxen and David Coleman all fell before the end of the night. Adrian Mateos, who came into the event leading the series points race, was also eliminated well short of the money.
Gierse’s Late Surge
Gierse did his best work in the final level of the day. He eliminated Joao Simao, Brandon Wilson and Chino Rheem in that level alone, finishing with 1,185,000 chips. That’s about 59 big blinds and the only stack above one million.
Final Day Chip Counts and Seat Draw
| Seat | Player | Chips | Big Blinds |
| 1 | Igor Yaroshevskyy | 725,000 | 36 |
| 2 | Chris Brewer | 535,000 | 27 |
| 3 | Sean Winter | 900,000 | 45 |
| 4 | Dan Smith | 895,000 | 45 |
| 5 | Marius Gierse | 1,185,000 | 59 |
| 6 | Jeremy Ausmus | 945,000 | 47 |
| 7 | Sam Laskowitz | 995,000 | 50 |
The average stack is about 883,000 chips, or roughly 44 big blinds.
What the Chip Counts Tell Us
This is a very flat final table. Gierse leads, but only by about 190,000 chips over Sam Laskowitz in second. Even Chris Brewer, the short stack, has 27 big blinds, which is enough to wait for a good spot. Expect a careful start, with nobody wanting to be the player who bursts the bubble.
$50K Poker Masters Championship Payouts
| Place | Prize | Return on Buy-In |
| 1st | $620,000 | 12.4x |
| 2nd | $387,500 | 7.75x |
| 3rd | $248,000 | 4.96x |
| 4th | $170,500 | 3.41x |
| 5th | $124,000 | 2.48x |
| 6th–7th | No payout | — |
The winner will take 40% of the prize pool. The jump from sixth (nothing) to fifth ($124,000) is the most valuable single step at this table, which is why bubble play matters more than chip position right now.
Players to Watch on the Final Day
Marius Gierse
The chip leader arrives with momentum after three late eliminations. He has the stack to pressure the medium stacks around the bubble.
Jeremy Ausmus
Ausmus has already won a title at this series, taking Event #7 for $278,400, his 10th PGT title. He’s third in chips and one of the most experienced players at the table.
Sean Winter and Dan Smith
Two of the most accomplished high-roller players in the game. Both sit just above average with about 45 big blinds.
Chris Brewer
The short stack, but far from desperate. With 27 big blinds he can pick his spots and use re-shoves against players who don’t want to bust in sixth or seventh.
Purple Jacket Race: Who Wins the 2026 Poker Masters?
The Poker Masters crowns an overall series champion, who receives the Purple Jacket and a $25,000 PGT Passport. Before this final event, PGT’s leaderboard showed:
| Rank | Player | Points |
| 1 | Adrian Mateos | 451 |
| 2 | Nick Palma | 407 |
| 3 | Nick Seward | 397 |
None of the top three reached the final seven of the $50K. That puts Mateos in a strong position to keep the top spot, though the result is only official once PGT confirms the final standings.
How the Leaders Got Here
Mateos won Event #5 ($10,500) for $229,500, after bubbling three of the first four events. Seward won Event #9, a $25,000 event, beating Daniel Negreanu heads-up for $412,500 and his first PGT title.
2026 Poker Masters at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Dates | October 12–23, 2026 |
| Venue | PokerGO Studio, ARIA Las Vegas |
| Events | 10 |
| Buy-ins | $10,000 to $50,000 |
| Final event | Event #10 – $50,000 NLH Championship |
| Overall prize | Purple Jacket + $25,000 PGT Passport |
FAQs
Who leads the $50K Poker Masters Championship?
Marius Gierse leads the final seven with 1,185,000 chips, about 59 big blinds.
How much does the winner of the $50K Championship receive?
$620,000 from a $1,550,000 prize pool.
How many players entered the $50K Poker Masters Championship?
22 players made 31 entries, including 9 re-entries.
How many places are paid?
Five. Fifth place pays $124,000, so two of the remaining seven players will leave with nothing.
Who is leading the 2026 Purple Jacket race?
Adrian Mateos led PGT’s series leaderboard with 451 points before the final event. The final standings will be confirmed after the $50K Championship ends.
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