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The $3,500 Merit Poker Cup reaches its conclusion today at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa, with just 64 players remaining from an original field of 428 entries. After three opening flights and an action-packed Day 2, the inaugural event of the 2026 Merit Poker Noir Series is set to crown its first champion.
With late registration closing during Day 2, the tournament comfortably surpassed its $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, generating a total prize pool of $1,260,032. Only 63 players will finish in the money, meaning the final day begins on the direct money bubble before attention turns toward the battle for the title and the $240,000 first-place prize.
Three Players Cross the Two-Million Mark
Leading the field into the final day is Vyacheslav Kardash, who bagged 2,090,000 chips after a dominant Day 2 performance. Close behind are Ali Al-Kubasi with 2,050,000 and Stefan-Sebastian Ionita, who returns with 2,035,000, placing all three players within striking distance of the championship.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vyacheslav Kardash | Russia | 2,090,000 |
| 2 | Ali Al-Kubasi | Iraq | 2,050,000 |
| 3 | Stefan-Sebastian Ionita | Romania | 2,035,000 |
| 4 | Huseyin Akgul | Turkey | 1,800,000 |
| 5 | Bogdan Jontulovic | Serbia | 1,665,000 |
| 6 | Evgenii Chernyi | Russia | 1,620,000 |
| 7 | Ohad Geiger | Israel | 1,555,000 |
| 8 | Maksim Shornikau | Belarus | 1,500,000 |
| 9 | Yurii Zabrodotskyi | Ukraine | 1,480,000 |
| 10 | Pavel Shchitnikov | Russia | 1,265,000 |
Plenty of Familiar Faces Still in the Hunt
The remaining field features an impressive mix of Merit Poker regulars and international contenders. Among those returning for the final day are Wael Sarkis (1,055,000), Adrian State (950,000), Atilla Saracoglu (855,000), Pedro Ingles (810,000), Andras Matrai (680,000), Danielle Noja (680,000), Traian Stanciu (615,000), Xiaosheng Zheng (605,000), Simone Andrian (575,000), Felipe Ketzer (465,000), Zoja Fleischer (435,000), Sukhrat Massimov (435,000), Tamazi Skhirtladze (400,000), Alisa Sibgatova (155,000) and Giorgiy Skhulukhiya (115,000).
Skhulukhiya, who entered Day 2 near the top of the leaderboard, now faces the challenge of mounting a comeback from one of the shorter stacks if he hopes to lift the trophy.
Money Bubble First, Championship Later
Cards go in the air at 12:00 p.m. local time with play resuming on Level 22 at blinds of 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 big blind ante.
With 64 players remaining and only 63 guaranteed a payout, the opening objective will be surviving the money bubble. Once the bubble bursts, the focus shifts to the race for the final table and the tournament’s top prize of $240,000.
By the end of today’s play, one player will become the first Merit Poker Cup Champion of the 2026 Merit Poker Noir Series.
$3,500 Merit Poker Cup Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $240,000 | 12–13 | $16,900 |
| 2 | $168,000 | 14–15 | $14,400 |
| 3 | $115,000 | 16–17 | $12,400 |
| 4 | $80,300 | 18–20 | $10,800 |
| 5 | $60,500 | 21–23 | $9,500 |
| 6 | $49,000 | 24–31 | $8,200 |
| 7 | $40,500 | 32–39 | $7,200 |
| 8 | $32,400 | 40–47 | $6,300 |
| 9 | $24,432 | 48–63 | $5,500 |
| 10–11 | $20,000 |
Stay tuned to Merit Poker for live chip counts, key hands, and complete coverage as the 2026 Merit Poker Noir Series crowns its first champion.
