Weissman Wins Fifth PGT Title at Poker

Joey Weissman has put together a remarkable run of autumn results. Days after winning his second career World Series of Poker bracelet in an online event, he added a live title at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, capturing Event #3 of the Poker Masters 2026 series. The win marked his fifth title on the PokerGO Tour circuit and came with a first-place prize of $218,400.

Event #3 by the Numbers

The tournament was a $10,500 no-limit hold'em event that drew 78 entries, generating a prize pool of $780,000. The top 12 finishers were paid. The bubble finisher, as in the opening event of the series, was Adrian Mateos.

Six players returned for the final day, with Jeremy Ausmus leading the field as chip leader. His run took a sharp turn, however: Daniyal Gheba doubled through him, and Ausmus eventually exited in sixth place when his 10-9 could not hold against Weissman's A-Q.

Gheba then eliminated Dylan Linde and Brock Wilson while holding a substantial lead. The momentum shifted when Weissman doubled his stack with Q-Q against Gheba's 7-7. Shortly after, Weissman knocked out Shannon Shorr in third place and entered heads-up play with roughly a 7:1 chip advantage.

The heads-up match lasted a single hand. Gheba moved all in with Q-3 suited and was behind Weissman's Q-8 suited. The turn brought a chop scenario into view, but the river card gave Weissman the winning hand and the title.

Final Table Results

• 1. Joey Weissman (USA) — $218,400
• 2. Daniyal Gheba (USA) — $140,400
• 3. Shannon Shorr (USA) — $101,400
• 4. Brock Wilson (USA) — $74,100
• 5. Dylan Linde (USA) — $54,600
• 6. Jeremy Ausmus (USA) — $39,000
• 7. Michael Rossitto (USA) — $31,200
• 8. Myles Mullaly (USA) — $31,200
• 9. Filipp Khavin (USA) — $23,400
• 10. Jesse Lonis (USA) — $23,400
• 11. Nick Seward (USA) — $23,400
• 12. Darren Rabinowitz (USA) — $19,500

What the Result Means

The Poker Masters is a high-stakes tournament series held at the PokerGO Studio, and results count toward the PokerGO Tour standings. Winning a PGT title is generally regarded as a meaningful marker of success in the high-roller tournament scene, where fields are small but highly skilled.

For Weissman, the sequence stands out: a WSOP bracelet in an online event followed within days by a live PGT victory. That kind of quick transition between online and live formats is often cited by players as a test of focus and adaptability, since the pace, table dynamics, and physical demands differ between the two settings.

Hand Analysis: The Decisive Moments

Two hands shaped the outcome. First, Weissman's double-up with Q-Q against Gheba's 7-7 reversed the chip dynamic. In a typical situation, a player holding a higher pocket pair against a lower pocket pair is a large favorite, and winning such a pot can swing a short-handed final table dramatically.

Second, the heads-up hand saw Gheba commit with Q-3 suited against Q-8 suited. When both players hold a queen, the hand often comes down to kicker strength and suit equity. In this case, Weissman's eight kicker played, and the river completed his holding to end the match.

Context on the Series

The Poker Masters 2026 series continues at the PokerGO Studio, with multiple events on the schedule. The third event's $10,500 buy-in places it in the high-roller category, and the 78-entry field reflects the mix of established professionals and rising players who typically compete in these events.

Weissman's fifth PGT title adds to a resume that now includes two WSOP bracelets. While career totals and long-term earnings figures are widely tracked by tournament databases, the immediate takeaway is the timing: two major results in a matter of days, across two different formats of the game.