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A new chapter of the inaugural 2026 Merit Poker Noir Series begins today as the $5,500 Merit Poker Main Event gets underway at 12:00 p.m. local time inside the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa in North Cyprus.
With the Merit Poker Cup now complete and the High Roller set to crown its champion, attention turns to the centerpiece of the festival. Professionals, experienced regulars, and ambitious qualifiers from around the world will compete for one of the most prestigious titles on the Merit Poker calendar and a share of the $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Players begin Day 1a with a 100,000 starting stack, with four opening flights available across the first three days of the tournament. Each flight offers another opportunity to build a stack, secure a place in the money, and advance to the combined Day 2 field.
Ilichev Set the Standard at the Previous Main Event
The most recent Merit Poker Main Event took place during the Merit Poker Classic in May, where Ivan Ilichev outlasted a record-setting field to claim the trophy and the $525,000 first-place prize.
Ilichev navigated a demanding final table featuring Erdem Akmert, Davit Mikhanashvili, Guy Dvash, Maxime Chilaud, Nikolay Gadzhalov, Dimitrios Kilintaris, and Wael Sarkis on his way to securing the largest live tournament score of his career.
2026 Merit Poker Classic Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivan Ilichev | Russia | $525,000 |
| 2 | Unknown | Unknown | $320,000 |
| 3 | Erdem Akmert | Turkey | $200,000 |
| 4 | Davit Mikhanashvili | Georgia | $139,000 |
| 5 | Guy Dvash | Israel | $100,500 |
| 6 | Maxime Chilaud | France | $82,500 |
| 7 | Nikolay Gadzhalov | Bulgaria | $67,000 |
| 8 | Dimitrios Kilintaris | Greece | $54,000 |
| 9 | Wael Sarkis | Lebanon | $43,536 |
Four Starting Flights Available
Late registration will remain open until the start of Level 11 in each opening flight, with unlimited reentries permitted throughout the registration period.
Day 1a and Day 1b will feature 40-minute blind levels, providing players with a deep and measured structure during the opening stages. Day 1c will move at a slightly faster pace with 30-minute levels, while the final opportunity to qualify, Day 1d, will be played as a turbo flight with 20-minute levels.
Each starting flight will continue until only 15% of its field remains. Every player who bags chips from an opening flight will secure a payout and advance to Day 2.
Once the surviving fields combine on August 5, blind levels will increase to 60 minutes, giving the remaining contenders more room to maneuver as the tournament moves toward its decisive stages. The official prize pool and full payout structure will be confirmed after registration closes.
$5,500 Merit Poker Main Event Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2 | Day 1a | 12:00 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| August 3 | Day 1b | 12:00 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| August 4 | Day 1c | 12:00 p.m. | 30 minutes |
| August 4 | Day 1d | 6:00 p.m. | 20 minutes |
| August 5 | Day 2 | 1:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| August 6 | Final Day | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
With four opening flights, a deep structure, and $3 million guaranteed, the stage is set for the biggest event of the Merit Poker Noir Series. Stay connected with Merit Poker for chip counts, major hands, and tournament updates as the Main Event begins its journey toward crowning a champion.
