Adrian Mateos Wins at Poker Masters to Take Series Lead

Adrian Mateos won Event #5 of the 2026 Poker Masters, taking home $229,500 after defeating Nick Schulman heads-up in the $10,500 No-Limit Hold'em event. The Spaniard topped an 85-entry field to claim his first title of the series and move to the top of the Poker Masters leaderboard with 381 points.

The result marked a high point in the Adrian Mateos Poker Masters campaign, following his runner-up finish to Nick Palma in Event #2. Later that day, however, he returned to the tables for Event #6 and finished just outside the money. You can watch the full final-table replay on PokerGO's YouTube channel to see how Adrian Mateos won the title.

Adrian Mateos Poker Masters Victory in Event #5

Mateos entered the final day as the chip leader among the seven remaining players and maintained his advantage as the field narrowed. Matthew Wantman was the first to go, getting his remaining chips in with Q♣10♥ against Keith Lehr's A♣10♣. The board ran out A♦J♠2♦2♣3♦, and Wantman failed to improve, finishing seventh for $34,000.

Keith Lehr followed on the next hand. He moved all-in with K♣Q♣, only for Mateos to reshove with A♠Q♥. The board came down 2♦7♠8♠9♠10♠, giving Mateos an ace-high flush and sending Lehr out in sixth place for $42,500.

Martin Zamani was next to leave. He moved all-in preflop with A♥Q♠, but Jeremy Becker called with A♦K♦. The board ran out 2♦8♣7♠9♥6♣, and Zamani was eliminated in fifth place for $59,500.

The action slowed down with four players remaining, but Nick Schulman eventually sent Robert French to the rail. French moved all-in for his remaining 525,000 chips with A♣K♥, and Schulman called with Q♣9♣. French remained ahead on the 8♥6♠3♣ flop, but the 7♣ turn gave Schulman a flush draw. The 9♦ river paired Schulman's nine, ending French's run in fourth place for $76,500.

Three-handed play continued for some time before Mateos took out Jeremy Becker. Mateos raised from the small blind with 10♥4♥, and Becker defended his big blind with K♠8♠. The board ran out 10♦8♥3♦10♣5♣. Becker called Mateos' river shove with two pair, tens and eights, but Mateos had made three tens to secure the knockout. Becker collected $106,250 for third place.

Mateos Wins the Heads-Up in Just Two Hands

Mateos began heads-up play against Nick Schulman with a chip lead of more than four to one. Schulman won the first hand, but the match ended on the very next deal when Mateos picked up pocket aces against Schulman's T♥9♥.

The chips went in on the turn of a K♥J♠7♣3♥ board, with Schulman holding both a flush draw and straight draws. The 9♦ river gave him a pair of nines, but it wasn't enough to beat Mateos' aces. Mateos took the title and the $229,500 first-place prize, while Schulman took home $148,750 for second place.

The Poker Masters victory pushed Mateos' live tournament earnings past $70 million, not counting his online poker results, which include multiple titles in the WCOOP and SCOOP series.

Poker Masters Event #5 Results

Adrian Mateos topped the 85-entry field to win Event #5 of the 2026 Poker Masters, Nick Schulman finished runner-up, and Jeremy Becker completed the podium in third place.

Mateos Takes the Lead in the Poker Masters Race

Mateos' Event #5 victory moved him to the top of the 2026 Poker Masters leaderboard with 381 points. He earned 230 points for the win, adding to the 151 he collected for finishing runner-up to Nick Palma in Event #2. Palma sits second with 339 points, followed by Myles Mullaly with 274.

However, Mateos' strong run took another turn later that day when he returned for Event #6 and bubbled again, finishing 14th when only 13 players were paid. He was involved in a three-way all-in with A-Q against Robert Chorlian's A-6 and Justin Vaysman's pocket sevens. Vaysman's pair held, eliminating both opponents and leaving Mateos just outside the money.

It was Mateos' fourth bubble in the first six events. Despite those frustrating finishes, his victory and runner-up result have put him in a strong position in the race for the Poker Masters Purple Jacket.

Mateos Takes the Lead in the Poker Masters Race

Adrian Mateos moved to the top of the 2026 Poker Masters leaderboard after winning Event #5. With five events remaining, Nick Palma, Myles Mullaly, Joey Weissman, and Vitalijs Zavorotnijs round out the top five.

What's Next at the 2026 Poker Masters?

Four events remain in the 2026 Poker Masters, with the $51,000 Poker Masters Championship scheduled for October 22. Adrian Mateos currently leads the leaderboard, but the remaining tournaments will determine who claims the Purple Jacket and the $25,000 PGT Passport.