Young pro defeated Daniel Negreanu at Poker Masters 2026

In Event #9 of the Poker Masters 2026 series, Nicholas Seward claimed his first victory on the PGT, preventing Daniel Negreanu from winning another title.

As part of the prestigious Poker Masters 2026 series on the PokerGO platform, the penultimate tournament — Event #9: $26,000 NLH — has concluded. The main highlight of the final table was the intense battle between poker legend Daniel Negreanu and young American pro Nicholas Seward, who managed to claim his first victory on the PokerGO Tour (PGT) and take home the top prize of $412,500. Final Table Event #9: $26,000 NLH — Lineup and Results Event #9 was one of the most anticipated tournaments of the Poker Masters series thanks to its high $26,000 buy-in and star-studded field. The final table brought together seasoned professionals and rising stars of the poker world: Daniel Negreanu — Poker Hall of Fame member, holder of 12 PokerGO titles, and one of the most recognizable players in the world; Nicholas Seward — young American pro, WSOP bracelet winner, making his third final table appearance of the series; Jesse Lonis — regular in high roller tournaments; Matthew Wantman — recently won his first Triton title and $836,721; Sean Perry — known for his aggressive playing style; Brandon Wilson — representative of the American high-stakes scene; Daniyal Geba — reached four final tables in this series, previously finished second in Event #3. The final table was played in No-Limit Hold'em (NLH) format, with each player starting with a deep stack and the prize pool formed by the high buy-ins. Final Table Results Event #9: $26,000 NLH 1st place — Nicholas Seward — $412,500 2nd place — Daniel Negreanu — $267,500 3rd place — Daniyal Geba — $210,000 4th place — Matthew Wantman — $175,000 5th place — Sean Perry — $140,000 6th place — Brandon Wilson — $105,000 7th place — Jesse Lonis — $87,500 Final Table Action: Key Hands and Eliminations Daniel Negreanu started the tournament confidently, finishing Day 1 as the chip leader. By his own admission, he allowed himself to relax with two large glasses of red wine, which he said helped him take the lead and dominate for most of Day 2. Jesse Lonis was the first to leave the final table. Despite miraculously surviving on the bubble, the short stack couldn't build any momentum. In one of the first hands, his king-queen lost to Nicholas Seward's jack-nine . Brandon Wilson tried to make a move, putting most of his stack in with ace-deuce , but couldn't beat the future champion's pocket jacks. Shortly after, he lost his last big blind in a three-way pot against Seward and Negreanu, where Daniel hit a set of tens and knocked Wilson out in sixth place. Sean Perry, known for his aggressive style, finished fifth. His combo draw didn't improve against Negreanu's overpair, and he was eliminated. At this point, there was a minor conflict at the table between Perry and Nicholas Palma, who was watching the game from the rail. Matthew Wantman, who won Triton a month ago and ended a long downswing, continued his strong run by finishing fourth and earning $175,000. Daniyal Geba, making his fourth final table of the series, hoped to improve on his runner-up finish in Event #3. However, after losing a big pot to Negreanu, he was left short-stacked and soon lost to Seward, finishing third. Heads-Up for the Title: Seward vs. Negreanu After Geba's elimination, the heads-up battle began between Daniel Negreanu and Nicholas Seward. At this point, both players had nearly even stacks, promising a long and tense showdown. For two hours, the opponents traded chips, showcasing a high level of skill. The key moment came when Negreanu made a flush, but Seward had a full house, allowing the young pro to seize the initiative. From then on, Seward held the advantage. In one of the following hands, Negreanu moved all-in with king-ten but lost to his opponent's king-jack , ending Daniel's quest for a 13th PGT title. In his post-victory interview, Nicholas Seward noted that it was especially exciting for him to play against Negreanu, whom he had watched on TV since childhood. Despite his nerves, Seward showed composure and high-level skill, not giving an inch to his idol in any key hand. He also thanked his friends and colleagues, emphasizing that his environment motivates him to work on his game and achieve success. Negreanu: 14 Ferraris, but Not a 13th Title For Daniel Negreanu, this tournament was another chance to add to his PokerGO title collection, where he already holds a leading position with 12 wins. This time, however, he had to settle for second place and a $267,500 payout. Daniel joked that despite the setback, he still has 14 Ferraris, hinting at his successes away from the poker table. After the final, it became known that Negreanu would not participate in the series' last tournament — Event #10: $51,000 NLH — since he could no longer contend for the overall Poker Masters leaderboard and decided to go play golf instead. Seward in the Race for the Poker Masters Purple Jacket Winning Event #9 allowed Nicholas Seward to join the race for the series' main prize — the Poker Masters Purple Jacket, awarded to the best player across all tournaments. The battle for the top spot was set to be decided in the final, tenth event with a $51,000 buy-in. For Seward, this victory was his first PokerGO Tour title and a major milestone in his career. Before the tournament, his total live earnings according to Hendon Mob were $4.7 million, and now he adds another $412,500 to that tally. Event #9: $26,000 NLH Payouts and Standings Place Player Prize 1 Nicholas Seward $412,500 2 Daniel Negreanu $267,500 3 Daniyal Geba $210,000 4 Matthew Wantman $175,000 5 Sean Perry $140,000 6 Brandon Wilson $105,000 7 Jesse Lonis $87,500 What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great example of how even the most experienced professionals face tough competition, and young players can defeat the stars of world poker. It proves that consistent work on your game, support from like-minded people, and mental resilience can lead to major success even in the most prestigious series. The final table of Event #9 highlighted the importance of solid strategy at every stage of the tournament: from aggressive play on the bubble to cool-headed decisions in heads-up. PPPoker club players should pay attention to how the pros quickly adapt to their opponents and use even small advantages to achieve results. By analyzing such tournaments, you can improve your own game and be ready to compete for big prizes online. Moreover, participating in regular PPPoker club tournaments allows you to practice the skills demonstrated by top players on PokerGO. Follow the pros, learn from their decisions, and don't be afraid to challenge stronger opponents — that's the path to big victories.