Nicholas Seward Denies Daniel Negreanu At Poker Masters

Winning a PokerGO Tour title is a momentous achievement in any context. Nicholas Seward’s victory in occasion no. 9 of the 2026 Poker Masters was made all of the sweeter, although, given the caliber of competitors he confronted heads-up.

Seward squared off in opposition to Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu on the shut of the $25,000 buy-in no-limit maintain’em event, and managed to defeat the eight-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner to lock up the trophy and $412,500 in prize cash.

This was the third-largest payday but for the Washington, D.C. native. He now has greater than $5.4 million in lifetime cashes, along with his high rating being the $516,135 that got here along with his first bracelet within the 2024 WSOP $3,000 six-max occasion. His next-biggest windfall was the $418,700 that got here along with his victory on this yr’s World Poker Tour Venetian foremost occasion.

This triumph additionally got here with loads of rating factors. The 420 Card Player Player of the Year factors he secured for his second title and thirteenth final-table end of 2026 moved him inside the highest 50 within the total POY standings offered by CoinPoker.

With 4 cashes at this pageant, together with this win and two different top-five showings, Seward (397 factors) now sits in third place within the series-long standings. He now trails solely Adrian Mateos (451 factors) and Nicholas Palma (407 factors) within the race for the purple jacket.

Negreanu Leads Into Final Day

The 50-entry subject produced a prize pool of $1,250,000, with that sum cut up amongst the highest eight finishers. They made the cash late on day 1, with sequence standings chief Adrian Mateos being eradicated on the direct bubble for the fifth time this sequence. The Spanish celebrity has additionally gained an occasion, completed because the runner-up, and positioned fourth, accumulating $467,700 throughout these outcomes.

David Coleman, who secured the purple jacket in 2025, was knocked out in eighth place ($50,000) earlier than the remaining contenders bagged up for the evening.

The last day started with Negreanu main the ultimate seven, whereas Seward sat in second chip place to begin. Three-time bracelet winner Jesse Lonis was the primary to fall. Just just a few fingers into the session, he known as off the final of his stack from the massive blind with Okay♦Q♣ dealing with an efficient shot of 25 large blinds from Seward, who held J♥9♥. The Q♦J♦5♣ flop saved Lonis forward, however the J♣ flip left him drawing to a queen with one card to come back. The 7♥ rolled off as an alternative and Lonis hit the rail in seventh place ($50,000). The reigning POY now has practically $35.1 million in profession cashes to his title.

With that, Seward overtook the highest spot within the chip counts. Negreanu fell even additional again when his Okay-J suited misplaced to Okay-Q for Sean Perry, who doubled off a brief stack and into the center of the pack.

Wilson And Perry Are Bounced To The Rail, While Negreanu Bounces Back

Brandon Wilson was left on fumes after shedding most of his stack with A-2 suited in opposition to the pocket jacks of Seward. He then put his last 1.33 large blinds in with Q-7. He confronted two opponents, and Negreanu guess Seward out on the river to win the pot with high set of kings. Wilson earned $75,000 because the sixth-place finisher. This was his third money of the sequence, and twenty third final-table end of 2026. He stays in second place within the POY standings, with 7,807 whole factors and greater than $7.6 million in to-date POY earnings, with $18.1 million for his profession.

As five-handed play continued, Negreanu picked up one other key pot with pocket kings. He held off the A-J of Seward in an impactful conflict to maneuver again into pole place on the last desk.

Negreanu then expanded his lead additional through a showdown with Perry. Negreanu opened for an 80,000 min-raise from underneath the gun with J♠J♣ and Perry defended his large blind with 8♣6♣. The flop got here down 10♣7♣3♥ to provide Perry a gutshot straight flush draw. He checked to Negreanu, who fired 90,000. Perry check-raised to 255,000 and Negreanu moved all-in. Perry known as off his stack and the 10♥ appeared on the flip. That left him needing a 9 or a membership on the river. The 2♥ on the top was no assist to Perry, although, and he was despatched to the rail in fifth place ($100,000).

This was the primary last desk in over three years for the previous high-stakes event common, who now focuses on sports activities betting. His poker earnings grew to $7.1 million with this efficiency.

Another BIG CLASH between @RealKidPoker and @seanperrywins! 💥

Stream the @PokerGOTour’s Poker Masters, offered by @official_glp, on https://t.co/l4l4onsRIp. https://t.co/MKjdgGTGzt

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) October 22, 2026

Wantman And Gheba Bow Out Ahead Of Heads-Up

World Poker Tour champion and bracelet winner Matthew Wantman was the clear quick stack going into four-handed motion. He managed one double-up via Negreanu to purchase some respiration room to begin, however then bumped into high two pair for Seward to surrender a lot of his beneficial properties.

Wantman made his last stand with A♦Q♠, committing all however 20,000 of his stack preflop. Negreanu got here together with Okay♦10♦ and flopped high pair. The remaining chips went in after a Q♣ flip. The 6♠ river modified nothing, and Wantman was eradicated in fourth place ($125,000). His lifetime event haul surpassed $14 million because of this newest deep run.

Daniyal Gheba, a bracelet winner who’s cashed in 5 of the primary 9 occasions at this pageant, added one other $175,000 to his tally with a third-place exhibiting on this occasion. His previous few large blinds went in with Okay♦6♦ dealing with A♣Q♦ for Seward. Neither participant linked with a nine-high runout, and Gheba headed to gather his second six-figure payout of the week. His 2026 Poker Masters earnings now sit at $424,850 with one occasion left to play. His 348 factors are good for fifth within the pageant rankings.

Seward Survives Back-And-Forth Battle

Heads-up play started with Negreanu holding 4,200,000 to Seward’s 3,305,000. That hole was expanded within the early going, with Negreanu turning pocket tens right into a bluff to power Seward off of second pair with Okay-J after an ace hit the flip.

Seward battled his means again into the lead, just for Negreanu to win a hefty pot with the nut flush to tug away once more.

Things evened out once more when Seward flopped quad kings after elevating from the massive blind. Negreanu limp-called with 4-3 suited and made kings and threes proper off the bat. He hung round to the river, however folded when Seward went for the house run with a river jam.

The subsequent key pot pitted Seward’s A♠6♥ in opposition to Negreanu’s Q♠J♣.  Seward raised to 225,000 preflop from the button and Negreanu defended. The flop introduced the A♣6♠3♣ to provide Seward aces up. Negreanu check-called 150,000 and picked up a membership draw on the 9♣ flip. He led out for 375,000 and Seward known as. The 6♣ improved each gamers, giving Negreanu a flush and Seward sixes stuffed with aces. Negreanu fired 525,000 and Seward moved all-in. Negreanu went into the tank, however ultimately folded and preserved his remaining 1,900,000.

Shortly after that, Negreanu acquired all-in with Okay♥10♦, three-bet shoving for 21 large blinds over Seward’s button open. Seward known as with Okay♦J♥ and held via a 9♠3♠3♣5♣7♣ runout to deliver the event to an in depth.

It’s throughout! Nick Seward will get his first PGT title and $412,500. https://t.co/KxA1tyVWJm

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) October 23, 2026

After including this $262,500, Negreanu’s profession earnings have grown to $60.36 million. That’s good for tenth on poker’s all-time cash listing. He stays Canada’s high event earner, however Daniel Dvoress ($59.96 million) is sizzling on his heels.

Final Table Results

Series Standing (Top Ten)

Photo credit score: PGT / Antonio Abrego.