In back‑to‑back nights at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, Myles Mullaly and Nicholas “Nicky P” Palma each secured their first PokerGO Tour titles, igniting a high‑stakes contest for the famed purple jacket.
The 2026 Poker Masters has ripped into life in a dramatic fashion. In event No. 1, New York’s Myles Mullaly finally broke through for his first PokerGO Tour (PGT) title, winning the $10,500 No‑Limit Hold’em opener for $218,400. Less than 24 hours later, fellow New Yorker Nicholas “Nicky P” Palma followed suit, steamrolling a field of 84 to capture Event 2 and his first PGT crown with a $235,200 payday.
Mullaly Gets Over the Line
Tuesday’s opener saw Mullaly tame a 78‑entry field and outlast a stacked final table to claim the title and $218,400. He dispatched Justin Zaki heads‑up, rivering a better two‑pair after both players chased flush draws in a dramatic conclusion, earning his first-ever PGT trophy. It was a satisfying breakthrough for the Rye, New York pro, who had endured several near‑misses earlier in the year—particularly during the PokerGO Cup—before sealing the deal in a packed house at the PokerGO Studio.PokerNews reported Mullaly’s post‑win relief: “A lot of things just went my way today, and it feels good.”
The victory also carried significant Player of the Year (POY) and PGT implications. Mullaly earned 420 POY points—bringing him to 4,786 for the year, placing him around 20th in the race—and picked up 218 PGT points, positioning himself as an early contender for the purple jacket. Coverage from CardPlayer notes that the first event attracted an $780,000 prize pool and included bruisers such as Adrian Mateos and Sam Laskowitz.
Palma Roars Into Spotlight
Less than a day later, Palma — long a fixture on the circuit but still seeking that marquee win — seized his moment. At 37, “Nicky P” entered Event 2 riding a breakout 2026 that had already seen him score major live results, including a four‑year high in finishing fourth in a BetMGM Championship and third in a live bracelet event. Against a field of 84 entries and an $840,000 prize pool, Palma captured the PGT title and $235,200—his largest live cash to date in terms of significance, if not size.CardPlayer details how his win vaulted him into the top 50 of the 2026 Card Player POY race and up to second in the purple jacket standings, trailing only Mullaly.
PokerNews paints a vivid picture of Palma’s run, noting his head‑to‑head win against the Spanish superstar Adrian Mateos and even his choice of attire—a Scarface T‑shirt echoing his brash, confident table persona. As Palma himself quipped, “The world is yours.”
Stakes Rising: Purple Jacket Race Takes Shape
With two events complete, the battle for PGT supremacy and the purple jacket is already heating up. Mullaly holds a slim lead thanks to his first win, while Palma’s timely follow‑up second push him into immediate contention. The top Earning and POY rankings are realigning fast after a year dominated by varied performers; these two will certainly be names to watch as the series barrels forward.
As Mullaly and Palma leap into the spotlight, the stage is set for what promises to be a riveting Poker Masters marathon. Will Mullaly hold fast as the frontrunner? Can Palma ride his momentum and close the gap? Or will new challengers emerge from the high‑stakes heat? One thing is clear: anything less than perfect execution won’t be enough in this electrifying race.
Sources
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