Daniil Kiselev outlasted 972 entries in the $5,400 Main Event at the Merit Crystal Cove Resort, turning around a short stack early in the series to claim the $1,000,000 first prize.
Daniil Kiselev won the 2026 MPP Main Event, beating a 972-entry field and collecting $1,000,000.
Defending champion Daniel Thaller finished fourth after Kiselev eliminated him at the final table.
The 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event, a $5,400 buy-in tournament held at Merit Crystal Cove Resort, produced a 972-entry field. Daniil Kiselev emerged as champion and took home the $1,000,000 top prize after a comeback that began when he nearly busted during the early flights.
Kiselev described a critical low point on Day 1d when his stack fell to 23,000 with blinds at 4,000/8,000. He survived that stretch, bagged a middling stack that flight, and returned for Day 3 in 13th place with 15 players remaining. From there he won a flip to eliminate Nikolay Baryshnikov and climbed the counts, ultimately arriving at the final table as chip leader.
Final table run and key eliminations
The top nine finishers and payouts listed by the event were:
Event produced a deep field and a significant seven-figure first prize. Kiselev's path highlights tournament variance: a player can survive a short stack early, capitalize on key flips and momentum at the final table, and convert that into a title and seven-figure payday.
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