Nicky P defeats Adrian Mateos at Poker Masters 2026

Nicolas Palma (Nicky P) won the second event of the Poker Masters 2026, defeating Adrian Mateos heads-up and earning $235,200 and his first PokerGO Tour title.

Nicholas Palma, better known to the poker community as Nicky P, scored an impressive victory in Event #2 of the 2026 Poker Masters series, defeating one of the world’s top tournament players, Adrian Mateos, heads-up. The $10,500 No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) tournament was held at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas and attracted 84 entries. For first place, Palma received $235,200 and his first PokerGO Tour title. Context: Poker Masters series and the PokerGO Studio venue Poker Masters is one of the most prestigious poker series, annually bringing together the world’s top professionals and ambitious players. In 2026, the series once again takes place at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas—a modern venue that regularly hosts major tournaments, including PokerGO Tour stops. Winning a Poker Masters event is considered a significant achievement for any professional, and the player with the best overall results at the festival receives the famous Purple Jacket—a symbol of skill and consistency over the series. The second event of the series—the $10,500 NLH—traditionally attracts a tough field, as the buy-in is high enough to filter out random participants, yet still accessible to most professionals and strong amateurs. In 2026, the tournament drew 84 entries, creating a substantial prize pool and ensuring fierce competition at the final table. Final table: the battle and key hands The final table of Event #2 became a battleground for well-known players, each with significant experience and impressive track records. Among the finalists were Nicholas Palma (Nicky P), Adrian Mateos, Nicholas Seward, David Coleman, and Michael Berk. Early levels and the first big pots The action at the final table started off cautiously: players were in no hurry to take risks, and no one wanted to be the first to bust. However, as the blinds increased, the dynamics changed dramatically. David Coleman was the first to take the initiative, pulling off a bold 4-bet bluff on the flop with 7-high, forcing Michael Berk to fold a strong hand—ace-king (Big Slick). Soon after, Nicholas Seward took the chip lead by doubling up through Palma: his pocket aces (AA) held against Nicky P’s AK. But in the very next hand, Palma picked up aces himself and doubled through Mateos, quickly rebuilding his stack. Michael Berk won an important coin flip against Coleman, and then Mateos regained the lead when his aces held against Seward’s AQ. After an unsuccessful bluff against Berk (who had the second-nut flush), Seward was left short and soon lost his last chips to Coleman. Eliminations and the road to heads-up David Coleman, who was not only Seward’s opponent but also his mentor, was the next to bust: his QT couldn’t beat Berk’s AT in a preflop all-in. In three-handed play, Palma began to dominate, winning a big pot against Berk. In that hand, Berk turned two pair into a bluff, making a big river raise, but Palma had the nuts (the best possible hand) and responded with an all-in, forcing Berk to fold a significant portion of his stack. A few hands later, Berk went all-in with QJ for 17 big blinds but ran into Mateos’s AK. The better hand held, and Berk finished in third place, leaving Mateos and Palma to battle heads-up. Heads-up: clash of titans The final showdown between Palma and Mateos was a lengthy one. Mateos managed to double up with aces against Palma’s sixes, but soon after, Nicky P set a trap with AJ: Mateos shoved with a weaker ace, and Palma won a 9.4 million chip pot. Mateos doubled up twice, staying alive with a short stack, but Palma didn’t let him back into the match and closed out the victory, securing his first PokerGO Tour title. Final table results for Event #2: $10,500 NLH 1st place: Nicholas Palma — $235,200 2nd place: Adrian Mateos — $151,200 3rd place: Michael Berk — $100,800 4th place: David Coleman — $84,000 5th place: Nicholas Seward — $67,200 Nicky P’s personality and ambitions: more than just a win Nicholas Palma is a player who’s hard to miss at the poker table. His style is open, emotional, sometimes provocative—he doesn’t hesitate to celebrate big hands and openly shares his opinions, even with the toughest opponents. At this tournament, Palma wore a T-shirt featuring Tony Montana from the movie “Scarface,” and he admitted that the phrase “I never had a doubt” is his motto on the road to victory. But behind the bravado lies serious work on his game. In his post-win interview, Palma emphasized that his confidence is backed by hard work: “I just play poker, sleep, play again, and sleep again. This doesn’t happen by itself—you have to put in the effort, and I intend to keep working.” Palma noted that he wants to break into the top 10 of the Player of the Year rankings for 2026 and reach the top 20 of the Global Poker Index. According to him, he plans to remain among the world’s best players for another 10–15 years and is ready to do whatever it takes to achieve that. Palma’s background and personal story are especially meaningful to him: he grew up in New York and has endured significant family losses. “I just want my last name to live forever. I’ll work as hard as I possibly can,” he shared. Palma also thanked his mother Rosemary and his nephew Bobby, noting that he strives to be an example for everyone who believes in the power of hard work and perseverance. The road to the Purple Jacket: plans for the series Winning Event #2 was not only a major personal achievement for Palma but also a great start in the race for the series’ main prize—the Poker Masters Purple Jacket. This symbol is awarded to the player with the best results across all events in the series. Right after his victory, Nicky P declared that he had no intention of stopping. Event #3 with the same $10,500 buy-in had already begun, and Palma was determined to make another deep run and get closer to the coveted jacket. “I’ve had my eye on that jacket for a long time. I plan to win another tournament, finish in the top 2 or top 3, and definitely try it on,” he said. If he succeeds, Palma even has a celebration planned: “I’ll go to the bar in that jacket—but only once!” Palma sees his first PokerGO Tour title not only as confirmation of his ambitions but also as a starting point for new victories. He made it clear that he expects to celebrate more successes at PokerGO Studio this week. Adrian Mateos: a worthy opponent in the final In heads-up, Palma faced Adrian Mateos—one of the most decorated tournament players of our time. Mateos is known for his victories in the biggest series and consistent results in high buy-in events. In this tournament, he once again proved his class, reaching the final showdown and giving Palma a tough battle. Despite the loss, Mateos played excellently, won several key all-ins, and fought for the title until the very end. After his victory, Palma specifically praised his opponent’s strength and skill, calling Mateos a “legend” and emphasizing that it was especially important for him to beat such a formidable rival in the final. Analysis of key final table hands David Coleman’s 7-high bluff against Berk’s AK: This hand set the tone for the final table, showing that players were ready for unconventional moves and putting pressure on opponents. Seward’s double-up with AA against Palma’s AK: A key moment when Seward took the lead, but couldn’t hold onto it. Palma’s double-up with AA against Mateos: Allowed Palma to get back in the hunt for the title after losing part of his stack. Big pot between Palma and Berk: Berk tried to bluff with two pair but ran into Palma’s nuts, which became a turning point for both players. Berk’s all-in with QJ against Mateos’s AK: A classic three-handed showdown where the best hand held up. Heads-up: Palma’s trap with AJ against Mateos’s weaker ace: This hand essentially decided the tournament, giving Palma a commanding chip lead. What this means for PPPoker club players Nicholas Palma’s victory in one of the most prestigious Poker Masters tournaments is a great example of how perseverance, discipline, and constant work on your game can lead to success even at the highest level. For PPPoker club players, this story can be an inspiration: regardless of your starting point, anyone can achieve significant results by systematically analyzing their play and learning from the best. The key takeaway is the importance of mental resilience and self-confidence. As Nicky P showed, even against the most decorated opponents, it’s crucial to stay focused on winning and not let setbacks throw you off your game. This is especially relevant in PPPoker club tournaments: regular practice, learning from mistakes, and believing in yourself will help you reach the money more often and win final tables. Finally, Palma’s example highlights that poker is not just about cards and math, but also about personal motivation, setting goals, and working towards them step by step. Use this experience in your club games, participate in PPPoker series, develop your skills, and never stop improving—maybe your story will be the next inspiring news for the whole community!