Joey Weissman Wins Fifth PGT Trophy at Poker Masters

Joey Weissman is back in live poker and back in the winner’s circle

Joey Weissman’s return to live high-stakes poker could hardly have gone better. After an extended break from live tournaments, the New York-born, Las Vegas-based grinder stepped back into the PokerGO Studio spotlight and immediately found the top of the podium in Event #3 of the 2026 Poker Masters.

The win delivered his fifth PokerGO Tour trophy and $218,400, but the broader significance goes beyond the payday. Weissman has now paired this title with a recent second career WSOP bracelet from the fall WSOP Online series, giving him a two-tournament burst that suggests his game is sharp, current, and fully ready for the most demanding fields in poker.

For tournament players, that matters. Live poker can be unforgiving after time away, especially in a high roller environment where the smallest timing errors, stack-preservation mistakes, or range misreads can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Weissman’s performance was a reminder that elite fundamentals travel well, whether the action is online, in a studio, or inside a packed major series. If you’re building your own routine between events, our guides to poker rooms and poker school can help you stay sharp.

Poker Masters Event #3 drew a stacked 78-entry field

Event #3 of Poker Masters 2026 was a $10,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament that drew 78 entries and built a $780,000 prize pool. Twelve players made the money, which is exactly what you expect from a premium PokerGO Tour stop: every deep run has value, and every cash can matter in the chase for the purple jacket and the season-long leaderboard.

Weissman reached the final day in fourth place out of six remaining players, so he was not sitting on a dominant stack when the action resumed. Ahead of him were some of the strongest names in the game:

• Jeremy Ausmus, a six-time WSOP bracelet winner, eight-time PGT champion, and the 2025 PGT $1 Million Championship winner;
• Brock Wilson, champion of the 2026 U.S. Poker Open series;
• Dylan Linde, a three-time bracelet winner and World Poker Tour champion;
• Shannon Shorr, the newly crowned four-time bracelet winner.

That lineup matters because it frames the quality of the win. This was not a soft final table or a lucky run through a fragile field. Weissman had to beat battle-tested opponents who know how to close out high-pressure spots.

There was also a broader series context. Through the first three Poker Masters events, Weissman picked up his second cash of the festival, while Myles Mullaly and Jesse Lonis each added another strong result to their early-series resumes. Mullaly remained in front in the purple jacket race, with Nick Palma sitting third overall after winning Event #2.

The key hands that shaped the final table

The final table started with a rapid shift in momentum. Ausmus entered the day as chip leader, but his edge did not last. Daniyal Gheba scored an early double through him with a turned king-high spade flush, and that hand changed the texture of the table immediately.

Gheba then climbed into the lead himself, but Weissman was waiting for the right spot to strike. The biggest turning point came when action folded to Ausmus in the small blind. He shoved roughly 16 big blinds with 10♠9♦, and Weissman called with A♥Q♣. Ausmus picked up a spade flush draw on the turn, but the runout never improved him, and he exited in sixth place for $39,000.

That hand was a clear example of why stack depth and position matter so much in late-stage high roller play. Weissman did not overcomplicate the situation. He recognized the strength of his holding, accepted the variance, and took the pot at a moment when the ICM pressure was beginning to matter.

Dylan Linde then had his own swingy stretch. He doubled through Wilson, only to run into a brutal cooler against Gheba: pocket queens into pocket kings in a pot that grew to around 90 big blinds. Linde’s run ended in fifth place for $54,600.

Weissman’s queens changed everything

With Linde out and the field down to four, the table dynamics became even more concentrated. Brock Wilson managed to ladder once more after Linde’s elimination, but Gheba still held a commanding stack and continued to pressure the remaining players.

Weissman’s most important surge came when he picked up pocket queens against Gheba’s pocket sevens. This time the premium pair held, and Weissman flopped a set to take a massive pot. That single hand flipped the tournament. Instead of surviving as one of several short-to-medium stacks, Weissman suddenly took control and forced the rest of the table to react to him.

Shannon Shorr was next to fall. He shoved from the small blind for about 14 big blinds with Q♥9♥, and Weissman called in the big blind with A♦9♠. The board came 10♠4♣4♦5♦J♦, giving Shorr no help, and he finished third for $101,400.

The heads-up match ended almost as quickly as it began. On the very first hand, Weissman shoved with Q♣8♣, and Gheba called off his last 11 big blinds with Q♠3♠. The board ran J♠2♣2♥2♦, which looked headed for a split pot, but the river brought the 8♠ and gave Weissman a full house. Gheba, who had already finished fifth in Event #1, collected $140,400 for second place.

Expert analysis: why this win matters in the PGT race

Weissman’s victory is more than a standalone trophy. It is a strong example of how high roller series are often decided by a mix of technical precision, emotional control, and timely aggression.

A few strategic takeaways stand out:

• Late-stage stack pressure is everything. Ausmus’ 16-BB shove and Shorr’s 14-BB jam show how quickly pots can decide a tournament when antes and ICM collide.
• Premium hands must be converted efficiently. Weissman did not slow-play the queens spot into Gheba; he allowed the hand to realize its value and then leveraged the stack.
• Series consistency is often more important than one big score. With 241 PGT points in the Poker Masters standings, Weissman moved into second place after three events, which keeps him firmly in the purple jacket conversation.

From a season-long perspective, the win also pushes Weissman to 40th on the overall PGT leaderboard, which is the exact cutoff line for qualifying to the year-ending $1 million PGT Championship. That detail matters because it turns this victory into something larger than a headline. It is now a practical bridge to one of the most important events on the tour.

For players who want to build toward this level, the lesson is simple: study spots, track stack sizes, and stay current with the tools and resources available through promotions & bonuses, poker clubs, and even network opportunities such as a poker agent if you are building a professional path.

Final takeaways from Poker Masters Event #3

Weissman’s run was a reminder that live poker form can return quickly when the underlying game is still intact. He arrived after time away from live action, but he navigated a brutal final table, beat multiple decorated opponents, and converted the most important late-stage spots.

The Poker Masters purple jacket race is still wide open, with Myles Mullaly leading after a strong start and Nick Palma also in the mix. But Weissman’s second cash in the first three events, combined with this title, makes him one of the clearest names to watch as the series continues.

In a field this strong, every decision matters. Weissman proved he can still make the right ones when the stakes are highest.

FAQ