Nick Seward defeats Negreanu to win $412,500 at Poker Masters

Nick Seward defeated Daniel Negreanu in the heads-up of the Poker Masters Event #9 and took the first prize of $412,500 and his first PokerGO Tour (PGT) title on 23 October 2026. Seward also added 248 points toward the Purple Jacket standings; he had three prior cashes in the series and now sits third with one event remaining.

Final table action

Daniel Negreanu reached the end with the chip lead and kept the advantage until the heads-up with Nicholas Seward. The final table also featured Adrian Mateos and Nick Palma, who were eliminated before the money and lost the chance to add more points in the Purple Jacket race.

Poker Masters Purple Jacket standings before the finale were:

• Adrian Mateos: 451 PGT Points

• Nick Palma: 407 PGT Points

• Nicholas Seward: 397 PGT Points

• Vitalijs Zavorotnijs: 365 PGT Points

• Daniyal Gheba: 348 PGT Points

Mateos was eliminated on the "stone bubble" for the fifth time in the series and, despite not scoring any additional points, retains first place heading into the final $50,000 Poker Masters Championship event.

Eliminations and key hands

Jesse Lonis was the first final-table elimination in seventh place. In a blind-versus-blind confrontation, Lonis called all-in with [cards not specified in the report] against Seward's shove from the small blind with [cards not specified]. The flop paired both and Lonis was a 4-to-1 favorite to win, but the turn left him with one out and the river completed the board to end his run.

Brandon Wilson finished sixth after shoving from the small blind with [cards not specified] and being called by Seward, who held [cards not specified]. Wilson held on to just over a big blind before losing the rest of his stack.

Sean Perry finished fifth after a confrontation with Negreanu. Perry defended the big blind with [cards not specified], hit a combo draw on the flop, bet after Negreanu checked and ultimately called the all-in re-raise; Negreanu held [cards not specified] and Perry failed to find the needed cards on the turn and river.

Negreanu eliminated another opponent during the four-handed phase. In a blind-versus-blind clash, Matthew Wantman shoved most of his stack with [cards not specified] and Negreanu called from the big blind with [cards not specified]. After a flop that put Negreanu ahead and action that went to the river, Wantman lost the hand and was out. Shortly after, Seward knocked out Daniyal Gheba in a blind-versus-blind confrontation where his hand held against [cards not specified], leaving Seward and Negreanu heads-up.

Heads-up and the decisive hand

Negreanu began the heads-up with 84 big blinds to Seward's 66. The Canadian extended his lead early, but Seward rallied and evened the stacks. The pivotal hand that swung momentum arrived when Seward flopped quad cards in a key pot and took control of the match.

The game-turning hand began with a raise from Seward on the button with [cards not specified]. Negreanu defended with [cards not specified] and checked a small continuation bet on the flop. The turn gave outs to Negreanu but still left him behind Seward's two pair; both checked action until the river produced a card that changed everything: Negreanu completed a flush while Seward made a full house. Negreanu bet and, after Seward shoved over the top, the Canadian mucked his hand.

In the final hand, Negreanu shoved for roughly 20 big blinds after a button raise from Seward. With [cards not specified] Negreanu was dominated by Seward's [cards not specified] and the runout offered no help. Negreanu conceded with the line:

"GG," Negreanu said to Seward. "You got me, fair and square. Congrats, kiddo."

Seward took first place for $412,500 and his first PokerGO Tour title, plus 248 points toward the Purple Jacket standings. Before this win, Seward had three cashes in the series and now holds third place in the standings with one event left on the schedule.

Credits and closing context

The event was played on the PokerGO Tour (PGT) and tournament footage is courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO Tour. With the victory, Seward looks to close the gap in the Purple Jacket race, where Adrian Mateos still leads with 451 points before the series finale at the $50,000 event.