Daniil Kiselev Takes the $1 Million Prize at 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event

The 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party wrapped up its $5,400 Main Event with Russia’s Daniil Kiselev claiming the top spot and the $1 million first-place prize at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, after mounting a strong comeback during the final stages of play.

Event organizers confirmed the result as part of the ongoing 2026 poker festival season, which continues to draw participants from multiple regions to the Mediterranean location. The tournament took place at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel, a venue that has hosted similar high-stakes events in previous years and provides the setting for the current series of competitions.

Tournament Details and Location

The $5,400 Main Event formed a central part of the festival schedule at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel, where players competed across multiple days before reaching the final table. Kiselev advanced through the field and secured the win after regaining momentum in the later rounds, according to reports from the event coverage on poker.pro.

Kyrenia serves as the host city for the festival, with the hotel offering facilities that support large-scale poker tournaments including dedicated playing areas and accommodation for participants. The 2026 edition follows the established pattern of the Mediterranean Poker Party, which runs as an annual gathering focused on cash games and tournament play.

The Path to Victory

Kiselev entered the final stages trailing in the chip counts yet mounted the comeback that led to the outright victory and the $1 million payout. Festival records list this outcome as one of the standout results of the 2026 season, with the prize representing the largest single payout awarded at this particular event.

Observers tracking the 2026 festival noted that the Main Event attracted a substantial field, though exact entry numbers remain tied to official announcements from the organizing body. The structure included standard blind levels and payout positions, culminating in the heads-up and final-hand sequences that delivered the title to Kiselev.

Context Within the 2026 Season

The Mediterranean Poker Party operates as one stop on teh broader 2026 poker festival calendar, with additional events scheduled through the remainder of the year. Kiselev’s result stands among the highlighted achievements reported so far, particularly because the $1 million first prize exceeds typical payouts at many regional tournaments.

Data compiled by industry tracking services shows that Northern Cyprus has maintained its position as a recurring host for international poker series, with the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel serving as the primary venue for the Mediterranean Poker Party across multiple editions. The September 2026 portion of the schedule included this Main Event alongside side tournaments and cash-game offerings that ran concurrently.

Conclusion

Kiselev’s win at the 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party $5,400 Main Event adds a documented high-profile result to the season’s record, centered on the $1 million prize and the comeback performance at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel in Kyrenia. The outcome aligns with the festival’s established format and continues the pattern of large-scale tournament play hosted at the location throughout 2026.