Adrian Mateos won the Poker Masters 2026 title after three bubbles

Spanish pro Adrian Mateos claimed victory in Event #5 of the Poker Masters 2026 in Las Vegas, overcoming three bubbles on his way to the title.

Adrian Mateos wins Poker Masters title after three bubbles Fifth event of the Poker Masters 2026 series: a brief overview The prestigious Poker Masters 2026 series continues at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, bringing together the elite of the poker world. One of the key events was the Event #5: $10,500 No-Limit Hold'em tournament, which ended with a convincing victory for Spanish pro Adrian Mateos . At the final table, where seven players competed for the title, Mateos not only capitalized on his chip lead but finally claimed the long-awaited trophy, earning $229,500 from a prize pool of $850,000 generated by 85 entries. Second place went to Poker Hall of Fame member Nick Schulman , who added $148,750 to his bankroll. The tournament was the culmination of a tough week for Mateos: prior to this, he had bubbled three times (busting just before the money) in the first four events of the series, with his only cash before the fifth tournament being a runner-up finish in Event #2 . Adrian Mateos’ road to victory: overcoming setbacks and the fight for the purple jacket Despite a string of bubbles, Mateos didn’t let disappointment affect his game. In an interview with PokerNews, he noted that he tries to focus on the process and control only what’s within his power: “I can’t control when I win or lose, so I don’t dwell on the result.” Over his 14-15 year professional career, Mateos has developed a resilient attitude toward the inevitable ups and downs of poker: “I think I handle upswings and downswings well. I just try to play my best.” Winning the fifth event put Mateos at the top of the overall Poker Masters leaderboard, where the prestigious purple jacket is awarded to the best player of the series. Adrian himself emphasizes that titles are a key motivation for him: “I love poker, and competing for titles really inspires me.” Previously, Mateos had played in Poker Masters but had never come close to winning the overall leaderboard. Now, thanks to his consistency at the start of the series, he’s aiming for the main trophy: “I’m leading now, but there are still five tournaments to go. I’ll try to keep making the money and fight for the win.” Detailed breakdown of the Event #5: $10,500 NLH final table The final day of the tournament began with quick eliminations of two short stacks. Matthew Wantman moved all-in with Q-10 against Keith Lehr’s A-10 but didn’t improve and finished in seventh place, securing his second cash of the series. In the very next hand, Lehr himself was knocked out: his K-Q couldn’t beat Mateos’ A-Q, as the Spaniard continued to build his stack. Next to bust was Martin Zamani : his A-Q ran into Jeremy Becker’s A-K—a classic situation where a strong hand is dominated preflop. After that, play slowed down, and it took another hour before the field was down to three. Robert French , who is having his best year in live tournaments, shoved his short stack with A-K, but Nick Schulman with Q-9 hit a nine on the river, leaving French in fourth place. The final three were Becker, Schulman, and Mateos. Becker was the most aggressive player at the final table and clashed with Mateos several times. The Spaniard applied pressure on the young New Yorker from the start of the final day, and in one hand took the initiative, causing Becker to lose a chunk of his stack. Despite attempts to recover, it was Mateos who eliminated Becker from the tournament. In the key hand, Mateos opened from the small blind to 275,000, Becker defended the big blind. On a T-8-3 flop and T,5 turn (a board with no flush draw), Mateos kept betting: 325,000 on the flop, 700,000 on the turn, and the pot grew to 2,700,000. On the river, Mateos shoved, covering Becker’s stack of 1,425,000. After a long tank, Becker called with K-8 (two pair—tens and eights), but Mateos showed T-4 (trip tens), and Becker finished third. In heads-up, Mateos had more than a four-to-one chip lead over Schulman. It took just two hands: Schulman won the first, but in the second, Mateos picked up pocket aces against Schulman’s 10-9 of hearts. All the chips went in on the turn, where Schulman had straight and flush draws, but the river didn’t improve his hand, and Mateos sealed the victory. Final table results for Event #5: $10,500 NLH 1st place: Adrian Mateos — $229,500 2nd place: Nick Schulman — $148,750 3rd place: Jeremy Becker — $106,250 4th place: Robert French — $85,000 5th place: Martin Zamani — $68,000 6th place: Keith Lehr — $51,000 7th place: Matthew Wantman — $42,500 The total prize pool was $850,000, thanks to 85 entries at $10,500 each. Tournament dynamics and players’ future plans After the fifth event, the Poker Masters series continues: Event #6: $10,500 NLH has already started and will determine its final table by the evening. The schedule also includes a rest day for players on Sunday, and on Monday the final of the sixth tournament and the start of Event #7: $15,700 NLH will take place. Daniel Negreanu , one of the most famous modern pros, is also expected to join the action. Interestingly, despite a tough week—Mateos spent 11-12 hours a day at the tables, often bubbling—he doesn’t plan to take a long break. After a short rest, Adrian will immediately return to the fight for the next series titles. The player himself emphasizes that in poker, it’s not always about skill: “Sometimes you just run bad and end up on the bubble, and sometimes everything goes your way—like today. It’s part of the game.” Context: What is Poker Masters and why is this series important? Poker Masters is one of the most prestigious high roller series, held annually on the PokerGO platform. The world’s best pros gather here to compete in a series of tournaments with big buy-ins and hefty prize pools. The main prize is the purple jacket , awarded to the player who earns the most points over the series. For many pros, winning the overall Poker Masters leaderboard is a matter of prestige and professional status. In 2026, the series includes at least seven tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $10,500 to $15,700. Each event attracts the strongest players, and the series is broadcast on PokerGO, drawing the attention of poker fans worldwide. For Adrian Mateos, Winamax ambassador, winning the fifth tournament was a major milestone: despite regularly cashing in the biggest series, the Poker Masters title had long eluded him. Key final table players: brief profiles Adrian Mateos — Spanish pro, Winamax ambassador, known for consistent results in major series and his ability to handle psychological pressure over the long run. Nick Schulman — Poker Hall of Fame member, experienced high roller, and multiple-time major tournament finisher. Jeremy Becker — young player from New York, stood out as the most aggressive participant at the final table. Robert French — Texas player, for whom 2026 has been the most successful year in live tournaments. Martin Zamani , Keith Lehr , Matthew Wantman — experienced pros who regularly cash in major series. What this means for PPPoker club players Adrian Mateos’ victory at Poker Masters is a great example of how even the most experienced pros face streaks of bad luck but stay focused and continue to play at a high level. For PPPoker club members, this is an important lesson: tough sessions and bubbles are part of the poker grind, and it’s crucial to work on your mental game. Paying attention to the process, not just the result, helps players stay motivated and improve their strategy. Even if you regularly play in PPPoker club tournaments, it’s worth analyzing your decisions instead of dwelling on individual losses. Finally, Mateos’ example proves: consistency and discipline in your approach, regular tournament participation, and a willingness to learn from mistakes are the keys to success both in global series and in PPPoker club leagues. Follow the Poker Masters, get inspired by the pros, and apply their approaches to your own games!