Daniil Kiselev has won the $5,400 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event in North Cyprus, turning a dominant final-table performance into a $1 million payday.
The Russian player came through 972 entries at Merit Crystal Cove and defeated Mehmet Biskin heads-up after carrying a significant chip lead through much of the final table. Biskin collected $621,000 as runner-up, while Jordan Woodall took $420,000 for third.
The result brings the curtain down on the biggest tournament of the Mediterranean Poker Party 2026, a festival that arrived with more than $10 million in advertised guarantees and a $5 million guarantee attached to its Main Event.
Kiselev Controls the Final Table
Kiselev did not simply survive his way to the trophy. He held a substantial advantage for much of the closing stages and kept applying pressure as the payouts became increasingly serious.
With three players remaining, Woodall moved all-in holding queen-ten against Biskin’s king-queen. Biskin paired his king and sent Woodall out in third, leaving himself as the final obstacle between Kiselev and the seven-figure top prize.
Kiselev began heads-up play with close to a two-to-one chip lead. He also picked off a river bluff during the duel, calling a raise from Biskin on a paired ace-high board and extending his advantage without even needing to show his cards.
$1 Million Decided With Nine-Three
The final hand was not exactly the sort of holding players expect to see attached to a million-dollar winner photo. Biskin raised from the big blind with king-queen and Kiselev moved all-in holding nine-three of clubs.
Biskin called and was ahead before the flop, but a three landed immediately. The turn and river paired the board with aces without improving Biskin, leaving Kiselev with the winning two pair and the title.
Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniil Kiselev | $1,000,000 |
| 2 | Mehmet Biskin | $621,000 |
| 3 | Jordan Woodall | $420,000 |
| 4 | Daniel Thaller | $290,000 |
| 5 | Timo Vogt | $210,000 |
| 6 | Naji Tannoury | $150,000 |
| 7 | Kirill Solovev | $110,000 |
| 8 | Ivan Bryksin | $80,000 |
| 9 | Raphael Schreine | $60,000 |
A $5M Prize Pool After 972 Entries
The 972-entry field produced the guaranteed $5 million prize pool. It was smaller than the 1,196 entries recorded in 2025, when Daniel Thaller eventually won following a three-way deal, but the guarantee ensured another seven-figure first prize remained available this year.
The festival had already produced a notable result for Congya Zhang in Cyprus. Zhang won the $2,200 Global Poker Championship for $300,000 after that tournament required an additional turbo flight while chasing its own $2 million guarantee.
North Cyprus has become a regular destination on the international live circuit, and the Mediterranean Poker Party once again brought a substantial field to Merit Crystal Cove. The region also entered the festival with extra attention following Evagoras Evagorou’s breakout year at the WSOP.
Kiselev Leaves Cyprus With the Biggest Prize
Plenty of money changed hands across the 11-day festival, but Kiselev leaves with the result everyone was chasing. He beat a 972-entry Main Event, controlled the final table when the payouts were at their largest and finished the job with nine-three suited.
There are prettier hands to put on a trophy photo. There are not many prettier numbers than $1,000,000 beside your name.
