Boris Smushkyavichyus wins $217,000 at the Merit Poker Cup 2026

Boris Smushkyavichyus from Lithuania claimed victory in the Merit Poker Cup 2026, earning $217,000 thanks to a four-of-a-kind queens hand. This is his biggest achievement in live tournaments.

Four Queens Deliver Boris Smuskevicius Victory and $217,000 at the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup Merit Poker Cup Final: Boris Smuskevicius Triumphs The $3,500 Merit Poker Cup, part of the 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party series, has wrapped up at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino. The champion is Boris Smuskevicius from Lithuania, who claimed the top prize of $217,000—his biggest live tournament score to date. Previously, his largest cash was $39,800, earned at Aria Las Vegas in 2023. With this win, Boris shattered his previous record by more than five times, and his victory was met with enthusiastic support from friends and fans on the rail at the final table. Smuskevicius is known for his bold playing style and table presence. At the final table, he steadily built his stack, though luck played its part as well. The pivotal hand came when Boris was all-in with pocket jacks against Mehmet Dalkilic’s pocket queens, with a quarter of all the tournament chips in play. The turn brought a jack, giving Boris a set, and he celebrated the dramatic swing with emotion. This hand proved to be the turning point on his way to victory. When play was down to three—Boris Smuskevicius, Ekrem Sanioglu, and Joseph Mouawad—the players agreed to an ICM deal (dividing the prize pool based on chip counts). Even so, Boris received just $3,000 less than the original first-place payout of $220,000. The tournament ended on a spectacular note: in heads-up play against Ekrem Sanioglu, Boris made four queens, clinching the Merit Poker Cup title. Final Table Results – $3,500 Merit Poker Cup 1st place: Boris Smuskevicius — $217,000 2nd place: Ekrem Sanioglu — $181,000 3rd place: Joseph Mouawad — $153,000 4th place: Mehmet Dalkilic — $93,000 5th place: Darko Svesko — $70,000 6th place: Aleksanras Rusinovas — $54,000 7th place: Viktor Iarilov — $44,000 8th place: Vyacheslav Kardash — $36,000 9th place: Espen Sandvik — $30,000 The Road to Victory: Day Two Highlights Sixty-three players returned for Day 2 of the tournament. The action was fast-paced from the outset: within the first two hours, 24 players were eliminated, most of them with short stacks of less than ten big blinds. Among those who busted early were well-known players like Eugene Katchalov, Turkish pro Selahaddin Bedir, and Adrian State. The only woman to make Day 2 was Chensyu Zhang from China. She played confidently and impressively, ultimately finishing in 10th place. In a key hand, her pocket tens lost to Mehmet Dalkilic’s king-queen when a king hit the flop, denying her a seat at the final table. Darko Svesko from Serbia also made a strong impression—he was among the chip leaders for most of the day. His aggressive play and timely decisions allowed him to knock out several opponents and reach the final table with the biggest stack. However, at the final table, Darko couldn’t keep up the momentum and finished 5th, losing to Joseph Mouawad, who made a wheel straight against his pocket sixes. Joseph Mouawad, the EPT London 2007 champion, was another standout performer. The Lebanese pro played excellently with a short stack, doubling up several times and ultimately finishing 3rd—his best result since his EPT victory. Key Moments at the Final Table The final table was dominated by Boris Smuskevicius, who was often in the spotlight thanks to his aggressive play and emotional reactions. The highlight was the hand against Mehmet Dalkilic, where Smuskevicius, all-in with jacks against queens, hit a set on the turn. That pot gave him a massive stack and a psychological edge. After the ICM deal was struck three-handed, the battle continued for the title and extra prize money. In heads-up play against Ekrem Sanioglu, Boris hit four queens—a hand that left his opponent drawing dead. With that, Smuskevicius secured victory in the series’ most prestigious event. Champion’s Interview: Emotions and Poker Journey After his win, Boris Smuskevicius shared his thoughts: “I think tomorrow I’ll be able to fully enjoy this! Right now, I’m just really happy—it was a great tournament, a lot of hard work, a lot of joy, and plenty of bluffs. The structure was perfect. I’ve been coming to Merit tournaments for ten years now, and I think I’ve only missed one series.” Boris praised the high level of organization: “It’s a fantastic poker room, wonderful staff, great tournaments, delicious food, and a cozy five-star hotel.” Smuskevicius said he started playing poker twenty years ago at Olympic Casino in Lithuania, taking part in tournaments, home games, and cash games, as well as playing in Berlin and attending events in Tallinn. He hardly plays in Lithuania now, as he says he’s already won everything Olympic Casino had to offer and is now looking for bigger challenges. He also expressed gratitude to his family and friends: “I’m very grateful to my family and friends, who always believed in me and supported me. They knew I could win a big tournament, and it took a lot of hard work.” Finally, Smuskevicius hinted that now, with a bigger bankroll, he might try his hand at the Triton One tournaments, which will be held in November at another Merit venue—Merit Diamond. Context: Mediterranean Poker Party Series and Merit Crystal Cove Venue The $3,500 Merit Poker Cup was part of the major Mediterranean Poker Party series, which brings together the region’s top players and guests from around the world every year. The venue, the five-star Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino, is renowned for its high level of service and comfortable conditions for players. The series and the venue traditionally attract both professionals and amateurs, offering a packed tournament schedule and excellent organization. The tournament featured players from various countries, including well-known names such as Eugene Katchalov, Selahaddin Bedir, Adrian State, Aleksanras Rusinovas, Viktor Iarilov, Vyacheslav Kardash, Espen Sandvik, and others. This speaks to the event’s high status and level of competition. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a great example of how regular practice and participation in club tournaments can lead to success at major live series. Boris Smuskevicius started out in local tournaments and home games, and after decades of experience and constant improvement, achieved a major result on the international stage. Take note of the importance of proper stack management and adapting to tournament structure: the key hands played by Smuskevicius show how timely decisions—and a bit of luck—can change the course of a tournament. By practicing similar situations in PPPoker online clubs, you increase your chances of success in live events. Finally, being part of PPPoker clubs not only helps you hone your skills, but also allows you to build your own poker community—the same kind of support that helped Boris at the final table. Follow the biggest events, analyze hands, keep improving your game—and maybe you’ll soon find yourself among the winners of prestigious tournaments!