Dramatic hand with full houses decides the outcome of Poker Masters 2026

Vitaliy Zavorotniysh won $224,000 and his second PGT title at Poker Masters 2026 after an incredible hand with full houses against Klemen Deng.

The fourth event of the prestigious Poker Masters 2026 series — Event #4: $10,500 NLH — has wrapped up in Las Vegas. The standout player of the night was Latvian pro Vitalijs Zavorotnijs, who combined a strong run of cards with excellent play to claim victory, earning $224,000 and his second PokerGO Tour (PGT) title. The tournament finale featured a dramatic hand between Zavorotnijs and Clemen Deng, where both players made full houses, but the Latvian held the superior hand and clinched the title. Final Table Results — Event #4: $10,500 NLH Poker Masters 2026 The tournament drew 80 entries, creating a prize pool of $800,000. The final day took place at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas and lasted about two hours. Some of the world’s top poker players battled for the title and the big payouts. 1st place: Vitalijs Zavorotnijs — $224,000 2nd place: Clemen Deng — $144,000 3rd place: Nicholas Palma — $104,000 4th place: Jamie Dwan — $76,000 5th place: Andrew Lichtenberger — $56,000 In the final hand, both players made full houses, but Zavorotnijs had the stronger holding. With a slightly bigger stack, he was able to cover his opponent and secure the win. Vitalijs Zavorotnijs’s Path to Victory: The Role of Luck and the Latvian Community After his win, Zavorotnijs spoke with PokerNews, noting that while luck played a significant role, his own play was also up to par: “It’s great just to make the final table, and winning is even better. The cards were going my way, I played confidently, got lucky in some spots, and ended up winning. That’s usually how it goes when you take down a tournament,” he shared. Vitalijs also highlighted the contribution of the Latvian and Lithuanian poker communities to his success. According to him, a group of players from these countries regularly work together to improve their game, especially when everyone gathers in Las Vegas during the summer. “We have quite a big group of Latvians and Lithuanians, we all try to help each other, we’re friends and often spend time together, especially here in the summer,” Zavorotnijs said. He’s convinced that this support has helped them reach a new level in poker. Interestingly, poker was not Vitalijs’s first professional pursuit. Before this, he played volleyball professionally for several years, but had to end his sports career due to injury. Later, he took up hockey, and then found himself in poker. Zavorotnijs also used to stream, but admitted that he stopped creating content due to burnout. As for his choice of venue, Vitalijs especially praised the organization at PokerGO Studio: “I really enjoy playing here. It’s one of the best places I’ve ever been. I love coming here and competing,” the champion admitted. Final Day: Fast Start and Decisive Hands The final day of the tournament began fairly calmly, but after the first all-in and call, the action quickly ramped up. Andrew Lichtenberger started with the shortest stack — just 12 big blinds — but managed to double up against Deng early on. However, in the very next hand, with 27 big blinds, Lichtenberger three-bet all-in with queen-jack, only to run into Deng’s pocket aces. With no outs on the board, Andrew exited the tournament in fifth place, earning $56,000. About 20 minutes later, Jamie Dwan joined him, cashing for the first time at PokerGO Studio. After losing a key hand in a blind-versus-blind battle against Nicholas Palma, Dwan was left short-stacked. In his final hand, he moved all-in with ace-six against Deng’s seven-three, but a seven hit the river, and Jamie finished in fourth place for $76,000. This result was another highlight in his busy 2026, where he already captured a WSOP bracelet. Race for the Purple Jacket: Palma Leads the Standings When play was down to three, Clemen Deng began to build a lead, aiming for his sixth PokerGO Tour victory. However, Zavorotnijs managed to close the gap by knocking out Nicholas Palma. The New York pro was hoping for a second series title after winning Event #2, but his run ended in third place. In the decisive hand, Zavorotnijs made a full house with a set of sevens and sent Palma to the payout desk for $104,000. Palma’s total winnings for the two tournaments amounted to $339,200. Despite the disappointment of missing out on heads-up, Palma can be pleased with his performance: after four tournaments, he leads the overall Poker Masters standings and is the main contender for the purple jacket — the symbol of the series’ best player. Heads-Up: Dramatic Finish with Two Full Houses After Palma’s elimination, the battle for the title and the $80,000 difference between first and second place came down to Zavorotnijs and Deng. On paper, Deng was the more decorated player, with five PGT wins to the Latvian’s one. However, their heads-up records were similar: Zavorotnijs had won 8 out of 12, and Deng 7 out of 11 final duels. The opening hands of the final showdown saw neither player gain a clear advantage. Everything was decided by a classic cooler — a situation where both players are dealt such strong hands that folding is nearly impossible. On a Q-J-4 flop, both made two pair: Zavorotnijs held queen-four, Deng had jack-four. The turn brought another four, giving both players full houses. All the chips went in on the river. Zavorotnijs had a slightly bigger stack, which allowed him to clinch the title. Deng finished second for $144,000, while Zavorotnijs became champion, taking home $224,000 and his second PGT title. The Poker Masters series continues at PokerGO Studio, and the race for the purple jacket is heating up. Event #4 Standings: $10,500 NLH Poker Masters 2026 1st place: Vitalijs Zavorotnijs — $224,000 2nd place: Clemen Deng — $144,000 3rd place: Nicholas Palma — $104,000 4th place: Jamie Dwan — $76,000 5th place: Andrew Lichtenberger — $56,000 Quick Overview: Key Players and the Poker Masters Series The Poker Masters is one of the most prestigious poker series, held at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. It’s part of the PokerGO Tour (PGT) calendar and attracts the world’s top players. The main prize is the purple jacket, awarded to the best player of the series based on overall results. The Event #4 final table featured: Vitalijs Zavorotnijs — Latvian pro, WPT Barcelona Main Event 2019 champion, and now a two-time PGT winner. Clemen Deng — experienced player with five PGT titles, regularly posting strong results at major series. Nicholas Palma — New York professional, already a series event winner and current leader of the Poker Masters 2026 standings. Jamie Dwan — British player, WSOP bracelet winner, earning his first cash at PokerGO Studio. Andrew Lichtenberger — well-known American regular, multiple-time finalist at major tournaments. Other notable participants in the series included stars like Aleksejs Ponakovs, Erik Seidel, and Sam Laskowitz. Poker Formats and Terms: Explanations for Readers NLH (No-Limit Hold'em) — the most popular form of poker, where players can bet any amount of chips at any point in the hand. Buy-in ($10,500) — the amount a player pays to enter the tournament. Full House — a hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two of another (for example, three sevens and two fours). Cooler — a situation where two or more players are dealt such strong hands that it’s almost impossible to avoid losing a big pot. All-in — betting all of your remaining chips. Blinds — mandatory bets posted by two players before the cards are dealt to stimulate action. Stack — the number of chips a player has. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, news from major series like Poker Masters isn’t just interesting — it’s also a valuable source of practical lessons. First, analyzing key hands and strategies from top players like Zavorotnijs and Deng offers insight into decision-making at the highest level. By studying coolers and final hands like these, you can learn to assess your hand strength and recognize when a loss is unavoidable — and when there might be a way out. Second, the success story of the Latvian community is a great example of how teamwork and sharing experience can help you grow, even in an individual game. Within PPPoker clubs, you too can form groups, discuss hands you’ve played, share strategies, and support each other to progress faster and achieve better results. Finally, playing in regular tournaments, even online, is a great way to hone your skills and prepare for more serious live events. Follow the successes of the pros, apply their approaches to your own game, and don’t miss your chance to become the next poker news headline!