Alexander Razinkov won the $3,300 Paradise Mystery Bounty at MPP 2026

Alexander Razinkov became the champion of the $3,300 Paradise Mystery Bounty tournament at the Mediterranean Poker Party 2026, earning $85,000 and showcasing excellent play.

Alexander Razinkov claimed victory in the $3,300 Paradise Mystery Bounty tournament at the Mediterranean Poker Party 2026, held at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. The final table of this event became a true highlight of the festival, and Razinkov demonstrated composure and strategic precision on his way to the title and the top prize of $85,000. Brief Overview of the Series and Tournament Format The $3,300 Paradise Mystery Bounty tournament was one of the key events of the Mediterranean Poker Party 2026, traditionally held at the prestigious Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. The Mystery Bounty format means that when a player knocks out an opponent, they receive a random cash prize, the amount of which is revealed only after opening a special envelope. This approach adds an element of surprise and extra motivation for aggressive knockout play. This year, the battle for the top prize and major bounties began right from the first hands, and the tournament’s pace was especially high: after just four levels, 60% of Day 2 participants had been eliminated, leading to a long line at the Mystery Bounty envelope draws. Alexander Razinkov’s Road to Victory Alexander Razinkov, a Russian businessman and experienced tournament player, started the final day of the tournament with a clear strategy. As he told PokerNews, his passion for paragliding helps him at the poker table as well: "In paragliding, I wait for perfect weather conditions to take off. In poker, it’s the same — sometimes you just need to watch and wait for your moment." Throughout the final day, Razinkov remained unflappable, showing no emotion whether winning or losing. His calmness and calculated approach allowed him to survive the "chaos" of the early levels, when most opponents were eliminated, and reach heads-up against Alexey Istomin. In the decisive hand, Istomin, left with nine big blinds, went all-in with king-three. Razinkov called with ten-five and hit a ten on the flop, securing the win, the trophy, and $85,000 for first place. For Istomin, second place was not only a significant result but also pushed his career winnings over the $1 million mark. The Final Table: Dynamics and Key Moments The final table was marked by high aggression and many big hands. One of the most notable participants was Chengxu Hu, who knocked out five opponents in the first two hours, allowing him to open several Mystery Bounty envelopes. Among his prizes was the tournament’s top bounty — $100,000 — as well as additional payouts of $25,000, $10,000, $5,000, and $3,500. At certain points, Hu even led in chips, but in a key three-way hand, he lost the advantage to Razinkov. In that hand, Leonid Orman went all-in with suited queen-ten, Hu called with ace-queen, and Razinkov called with ace-king ("Big Slick"). Orman hit a ten on the flop, but on the river Razinkov improved to a pair of aces and took a commanding lead. Fifth place went to Kongya Zhang, who capped off a successful week: earlier at the same festival, he won the Global Poker Championships and $300,000. This time, his result was $20,200 for fifth place. After the tournament, Razinkov was congratulated by his friend, Merit Poker Cup champion Boris Smuskevicius. Final Table Results of the $3,300 Paradise Mystery Bounty 1st place: Alexander Razinkov — $85,000 2nd place: Alexey Istomin — $57,000 3rd place: Leonid Orman — $41,000 4th place: Chengxu Hu — $29,000 5th place: Kongya Zhang — $20,200 6th place: Mendian Peng — $14,500 7th place: Pavel Frolov — $10,500 8th place: Vasilios Panayotidis — $8,000 9th place: Yanis Liperis — $6,000 Winner’s Strategies and Emotions Razinkov himself called this victory one of the most significant in his career, ranking it "somewhere in third or fourth place." At the final table, he wore his WSOP Circuit winner’s ring, which he won last year at Merit Royal Diamond, earning $150,000 at that time. When asked about celebrating, Razinkov noted that he doesn’t feel the need for loud parties: "I don’t have to drink and celebrate. I know I’ll wake up in a good mood in the morning. As a child, people asked what was wrong with me, but I’m just happy inside." According to him, the tournament win gives him "more bullets" to play in future events. Razinkov expressed interest in playing higher stakes, especially at the upcoming Triton series to be held at Merit in November, and is open to staking offers. Features of the Mystery Bounty Format The Mystery Bounty format differs from classic bounty tournaments in that the reward for knocking out an opponent is unknown until the envelope is opened. In this tournament, the top Mystery Bounty was $100,000, and it was claimed by Chengxu Hu. This format encourages more aggressive play: players aim to knock out as many opponents as possible for a shot at a big random prize. The minimum prize for making Day 2 was $3,000, but the main battle was for the bounties. In the first four levels of Day 2, most participants were eliminated, once again highlighting the high pace and unpredictability of the event. Context: Successes of Other Participants In addition to the main heroes of the final table, it’s worth noting the achievements of Kongya Zhang, who earlier at the festival won the Global Poker Championships and $300,000. His top-5 finish in the Paradise Mystery Bounty was a fitting end to the week. Also at the final table were Mendian Peng, Pavel Frolov, Vasilios Panayotidis, and Yanis Liperis, each of whom took home a share of the prize pool. The tournament brought together the region’s strongest players and gave both seasoned professionals and ambitious amateurs a chance to shine. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, news about victories and strategies from major live series is a great reason to reflect on their own tournament approach. The Mystery Bounty format, which is gaining popularity in live poker, is already available on online platforms, including PPPoker. This format requires not only technical skill but also the ability to pick the right moments for aggression and to properly assess the chances of landing a big bounty. Alexander Razinkov’s story is an example of how discipline, patience, and knowing when to wait for your chance can lead to success even in the most dynamic and unpredictable tournaments. PPPoker club players should pay attention to the "wait and attack" strategy — you don’t always have to take risks; sometimes it’s better to wait for the perfect moment for a decisive move. Moreover, the success of players like Chengxu Hu shows that aggressive play in bounty tournaments can bring not only payouts for placement but also large random prizes. In PPPoker club tournaments with Mystery Bounty, you can practice these skills and prepare for major live events, where such formats are becoming increasingly popular.