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2026 Mediterranean Poker Party: Zhang Wins as Merit Cup Reaches Final 14

By Mrinal Gujare

2 hours ago

Mrinal Gujare 2 hours ago

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Congya Zhang wins $2,200 Global Poker Championship for $300,000.
Darko Svesko leads final 14 of the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup.
$5.4K Main Event with $5M guarantee starts September 23.

Image by Merit Poker

Congya Zhang won the 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party Global Poker Championship for $300,000, while Darko Svesko leads the final 14 players in the Merit Poker Cup.

The 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party is underway at Merit Crystal Cove in Cyprus, with the September 17 to 27 festival featuring more than $10 million in guaranteed prize pools across its schedule.

The series has already produced a major winner, with Congya Zhang capturing the $2,200 Global Poker Championship. Attention has now shifted to the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup, where 14 players remain from a 418-entry field and Serbia's Darko Svesko holds the chip lead.

The festival will then move toward its centrepiece, the $5,400 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event, which begins on September 23 with a $5 million guaranteed prize pool.

Congya Zhang of China won the $2,200 Global Poker Championship after overcoming a field of 830 entries.

The tournament generated a $2 million prize pool, with Zhang securing the $300,000 first-place prize after defeating Sergei Petrushevskii heads-up.

Petrushevskii collected $200,000 for second place, while Yilu Yuan finished third for $140,000.

Zhang began the final day 12th among the 16 remaining players and entered the final table as one of the shorter stacks.

Her position improved as the tournament progressed, with a series of double-ups and eliminations helping her move into contention.

She eliminated Adrian State in fifth place before knocking out Mengdian Peng in fourth and Yuan in third to reach heads-up play against Petrushevskii.

Zhang began the heads-up contest with approximately a four-to-one chip advantage. The tournament ended when Petrushevskii moved all-in holding pocket fives against Zhang's pocket jacks. Zhang's hand held, securing the title and the $300,000 top prize.

Darko Svesko Leads Final 14 in $3,500 Merit Poker Cup

The $3,500 Merit Poker Cup has reached the later stages of Day 2, with 14 players remaining from a field of 418 entries.

Serbia's Darko Svesko is the chip leader among the remaining players. The Merit Poker Cup carries a $1 million guarantee and is one of the major tournaments scheduled before the Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event.

With the field reduced to 14 players, the remaining contenders are competing for places at the final table and the Merit Poker Cup title.

$5 Million Guaranteed Main Event Begins September 23

The $5,400 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event is scheduled to begin on September 23.

The tournament carries a $5 million guaranteed prize pool and features four starting flights before the surviving players combine for Day 2.

The Main Event is scheduled to continue through September 27, when the tournament champion is set to be crowned. The wider Mediterranean Poker Party schedule features more than $10 million in guarantees.

Among the major events are the $2 million guaranteed Global Poker Championship, the $1 million guaranteed Merit Poker Cup, and $500,000 guaranteed tournaments including the Mini Main Event and Paradise Mystery Bounty.

Mediterranean Poker Party Moves Toward Main Event

The early stages of the 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party have already seen Congya Zhang claim the Global Poker Championship title and $300,000 first prize from an 830-entry field.

The focus now turns to the closing stages of the Merit Poker Cup, where Darko Svesko leads the final 14 players from 418 entries.

The festival will then move into its headline tournament, with the $5,400 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event beginning September 23 and offering a $5 million guarantee.