Daniil Kiselev Completes Remarkable Comeback to Win 2026 MPP Main Event for $1,000,000

The 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party has crowned its Main Event champion at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel Casino & Spa, with Daniil Kiselev overcoming a field of 972 entries to capture the prestigious title, the trophy, and a career-best $1,000,000 first-place prize.

Kiselev’s path to victory was anything but straightforward. He entered the final day among the shorter stacks, sitting 13th with 15 players remaining, before producing a remarkable comeback that eventually saw him take control of the final table.

By the time heads-up play arrived, Kiselev had built a commanding advantage over Turkey’s Mehmet Biskin. A short final duel ended with Kiselev securing the biggest victory of his career and bringing the 2026 MPP Main Event to a close.

“I have many emotions. First, I’m a bit tired, but very happy,” Kiselev said following the victory. “It’s my best score!”

2026 MPP Main Event Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Daniil Kiselev	Russia	$1,000,000
2	Mehmet Biskin	Turkey	$621,000
3	Jordan Woodall	Germany	$420,000
4	Daniel Thaller	Austria	$290,000
5	Timo Vogt	Austria	$210,000
6	Naji Tannoury	Lebanon	$150,000
7	Kirill Solovev	Russia	$110,000
8	Ivan Bryksin	Russia	$80,000
9	Raphael Schreine	—	$60,000

From 23,000 Chips to MPP Champion

Kiselev’s championship story began long before the final table.

During Day 1d, his tournament was close to ending when his stack fell to just 23,000 chips with blinds at 4,000/8,000. Instead of becoming another elimination, Kiselev survived and eventually found his way through to the next stage.

“From 23k to winner… so never give up, guys. Anything can happen!”

He returned for the final day near the bottom of the leaderboard, but his fortunes quickly changed. An early coin flip against Nikolay Baryshnikov went Kiselev’s way, providing the momentum he needed to begin climbing through the standings.

By the time the final table was formed, Kiselev had completed the transformation from short stack to chip leader, with Jordan Woodall close behind.

Kiselev Takes Control of the Final Table

Kiselev continued to apply pressure as the stakes increased, maintaining an energetic presence at the table while finding success in several crucial confrontations.

With six players remaining, his run accelerated.

First, his ace-king overcame Naji Tannoury’s pocket tens. He then won another key race to eliminate Timo Vogt in fifth place, leaving the defending champion Daniel Thaller as his next major obstacle.

Kiselev was also open about the role that momentum played in his championship run.

“When you have a good run — good cards, good flops, good situations — it’s not too important how you play,” he said. “If you run good, you just win!”

Defending Champion Thaller Falls in Fourth

One of the biggest stories of the final day was the performance of Daniel Thaller, who came remarkably close to defending his Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event title.

Thaller began strongly, eliminating Vadzim Godzdanker with pocket jacks before later sending John Doe K to the rail in 12th place. Once at the final table, he continued building and at one stage appeared capable of making a serious run at back-to-back MPP titles.

His title defense ultimately ended against Kiselev.

Thaller moved all in from the small blind with king-queen after Kiselev opened from the button. Kiselev called with ace-six, and his hand held to eliminate the reigning champion in fourth place for $290,000.

The result completed an impressive title defense but left three players competing for the million-dollar top prize.

Three Players Remain, One Million Dollars Up Top

Kiselev, Woodall, and Biskin entered three-handed play with everything still to play for.

Woodall had enjoyed an impressive final day of his own, eliminating experienced German professional Manig Loeser in 11th before sending start-of-day chip leader Danesh Zargaran out in tenth to establish the final table.

Eventually, Woodall and Kiselev collided in one of the defining pots of the tournament. Kiselev made a crucial river call to win a huge pot and establish a significant chip advantage.

Woodall later limp-shoved from the small blind against Biskin, who called with the dominating hand and had his opponent narrowly covered. Woodall was eliminated in third place for $420,000, leaving Biskin as the final challenger.

Kiselev Finishes the Job

Biskin had quietly navigated his way through the final table, avoiding unnecessary risks while maintaining enough chips to survive each successive stage. That approach ultimately carried him all the way to heads-up play.

Kiselev entered the final duel with close to a 2-to-1 chip advantage and immediately began extending his lead. He collected several smaller pots before successfully calling multiple river bluffs from Biskin.

Then came the final hand.

Kiselev attempted a limp-shove holding nine-three suited, only for Biskin to call with the significantly stronger king-queen.

But on a day when seemingly everything had begun falling Kiselev’s way, the board delivered once again. Kiselev paired his three and held through the remaining cards to bring the tournament to an end.

“That last hand, I still really can’t imagine how I made that decision or what happened in my head,” Kiselev said. “But I won, so… better to be lucky than skillful!”

With the final pot pushed in his direction, Daniil Kiselev was officially crowned the 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event champion, completing an extraordinary journey from 23,000 chips in Day 1d to the top of a 972-entry field.

The victory earned him the biggest score of his career, the MPP Main Event trophy, and the $1,000,000 top prize.

Kiselev closed by thanking the friends and family who supported him throughout the journey:

“Thanks to them for being with me through all moments, because my life is a rollercoaster. Up and down.”

And this time, the rollercoaster finished right at the top.