Poker Masters: Negreanu, Foxen chase Mizrachi at PGT's 3rd Major

The third of four PokerGO Tour Majors is on the horizon with 10 events scheduled for the 2025 Poker Masters from September 19 through October 2 at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. It's one of the best of few remaining chances for players to build up points to lock in a spot in the top 40 on the season-long leaderboard, earning a ticket into the season-ending $1M PGT Championship freeroll. 

This year's hopefuls are still chasing Michael Mizrachi, who has picked up all of his points in just two cashes — big cashes — victories in the 2025 WSOP's Poker Players Championship and the Main Event. Alex Foxen, his nearest competitor, is just one strong PGT finish from taking over the top spot and The Grinder doesn't play in many events at the PokerGO Studio. It remains to be seen, however, if Mizrachi can resist the thrill of the chase in its final months — or a $1M freeroll in December. 

New to this year's Poker Masters lineup is the $1,000,000 Showcase, a $5,300 kickoff on Sept. 19 with two opening flights and the seven-figure prize pool, not to mention two very accessible $560 satellites that could land anyone a spot in the PokerGO Studio. The rest of the buy-ins fall between $5,100 and $25,200 with an ongoing leaderboard that will crown one player with this year's Purple Jacket. 

Jim Collopy is the reigning, defending Poker Masters champion.

Nine years of Purple Jackets

Poker Masters started in 2017 with five events at Aria — four $50K buy-ins and a $100K finale. The $100K Main Event winner, Steffen Sontheimer, beat out Bryn Kenney and Fedor Holz to win leaderboard battle for the first Purple Jacket.

The 2018 Poker Masters moved over to the newly-built PokerGO Studios and expanded to seven events. Ali Imsirovic edged out David Peters to win the second Purple Jacket and over $1.2 million after two wins and three final tables. From there, Sam Soverel won a 10-event series in 2019 before two online Poker Master series were won by Alexandros Kolonias and Eelis Parssinen in 2020. 

The reemergence of poker from COVID welcomed wins from Michael Addamo in 2021, Sean Winter in 2022, Stephen Chidwick in 2023, and James Collopy in 2024. 

Stephen Chidwick won his Purple Jacket in 2023.

The 2025 edition will feature two $560 satellites on Sept. 18 and 19 with guaranteed seats for the $1M Showcase and its two opening flights. The rest of the series plays out to a $25K climax on Wednesday October 1. 

Down the stretch they come

Poker Masters is the third of four PGT Majors, with the last coming in late October at the Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas. Everyone is stacking up points all season long with hopes for a spot in the top-40 on the PGT leaderboard and a free ticket into the $1M PGT Championship at the end of the year. The equally coveted top spot on the overall leaderboard scores PGT Player of the Year honors and a $50K PGT Passport. 

This year's field is chasing The Grinder, who owns the top spot on the 2025 PGT leaderboard with two huge wins — the PPC and the WSOP Main Event. Foxen follows with 17 cashes on tour and the ever-present Sam Soverel holds down third with 16 cashes. Nick Schulman and Daniel Negreanu, the only two players with 20 PGT cashes, round out the top five. 

2025 PokerGO Tour leaderboard top five

^{Images courtesy of PokerGO/Antonio Abrego.}