Boris Smuskavichyus won the Merit Poker Cup 2026 with four queens

Boris Smuskavichyus achieved the biggest victory of his career by winning the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup 2026 and taking home $217,000. Find out the details of the final table.

Boris Smuskevicius scored the biggest win of his career by taking down the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup at the Mediterranean Poker Party 2026. The tournament concluded at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, where the Lithuanian player received a prize of $217,000 — his best-ever result in live poker. Final Table Action: Dramatic Endings and Key Hands The final table of the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup was a stage for spectacular poker moments and intense competition. Boris Smuskevicius, known for his expressive playing style, showed aggression from the very start, never letting his opponents relax. However, on his way to the title, he needed not only strategy but also a bit of luck. The key moment at the final table was a hand between Smuskevicius and Mehmet Dalkilic. In one of the tournament’s biggest pots — with a quarter of all chips in play — Smuskevicius went all-in with pocket jacks against Dalkilic’s queens. The turn brought a jack, giving Boris a set and sparking a lively reaction from both the player and his supporters. This win became the turning point, allowing the Lithuanian to take the lead and confidently continue his fight for the top prize. When three players remained — Boris Smuskevicius, Ekrem Sanioglu, and Joseph Mouawad — they agreed to an ICM deal, redistributing the prize pool according to their current stacks. Despite this, Smuskevicius received only $3,000 less than the originally announced first-place prize ($220,000). In the tournament’s final hand, Smuskevicius sealed a spectacular victory by making four of a kind, queens, against Ekrem Sanioglu. This hand earned him the long-awaited Merit Poker Cup trophy and cemented his success on the Mediterranean’s biggest poker stage. Tournament Details: Structure, Participants, and Dynamics The $3,500 Merit Poker Cup was held as part of the Mediterranean Poker Party 2026 at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. Many well-known players joined the action on Day 1, and 63 participants returned for Day 2. In the first two hours of play, 24 players were eliminated — most of them had short stacks of less than ten big blinds, forcing them to go all-in and take risks. Among those who exited early on Day 2 were notable names like Evgeny Kachalov, Turkish pro Selahaddin Bedir, and Adrian State. The only woman to make it to Day 2 was Chensyu Zhang from China. She played confidently and finished in 10th place, losing a key hand to Mehmet Dalkilic: her pocket tens couldn’t hold up against her opponent’s king-queen when a king hit the flop. One of the day’s standout performers was Serbian player Darko Svesko. For most of the day, he was among the chip leaders, combining an aggressive style with well-timed moves. Thanks to this, he managed to knock out several opponents and reached the final table with the biggest stack. However, at the final table, Svesko couldn’t build on his success and finished fifth after Joseph Mouawad made a wheel straight against his pocket sixes. Joseph Mouawad’s performance deserves special mention. The EPT London 2007 champion from Lebanon once again showed top-class play, especially with a short stack, and achieved his best result since his EPT victory. His experience and ability to double up at the right moments helped him reach the final three. Final Table: Full Results and Payouts Place Player Payout 1 Boris Smuskevicius $217,000 2 Ekrem Sanioglu — 3 Joseph Mouawad — 4 Mehmet Dalkilic — 5 Darko Svesko — 6 Vyacheslav Kardash — 7 Viktor Iarilov — 8 Aleksanras Rusinovas — 9 Espen Sandvik — Note: Exact payout amounts for places 2 through 9 were not specified in the original. Boris Smuskevicius: The Road to Success and Recognition This victory was a real breakthrough for Boris Smuskevicius: his previous biggest win was $39,800, earned at Aria Las Vegas in 2023. Now, not only did he surpass that result, but he also cemented his status as one of Lithuania’s top players on the international stage. In a post-win interview, Smuskevicius shared his emotions: he admitted he was tired but incredibly happy, as the tournament was tough and full of bluffs and memorable moments. He praised the tournament’s perfect structure and expressed gratitude to the organizers, staff, and kitchen at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, where he has played for ten years, missing only one series. Boris said he started learning poker twenty years ago at Olympic Casino in Lithuania, where he played tournaments, home games, and cash games, and later played in Berlin and at tournaments in Tallinn. Now, he rarely plays in Lithuania, as he says he has already won everything possible there and is looking for new challenges at bigger series. Smuskevicius gave special thanks to his family and friends for their support and belief in him on his way to a major victory. He also hinted that now, with a bigger bankroll, he might try his hand at Triton One — the prestigious series to be held in November at another Merit venue, Merit Diamond. Women and New Stars: Chensyu Zhang and Other Participants Chensyu Zhang took a special place in the tournament as the only woman to make it to Day 2. Her 10th place finish was the result of confident and impressive play, and experts note that her future performances are worth watching. Other notable Day 2 participants included Adrian State, Evgeny Kachalov, and Selahaddin Bedir, each known for their achievements in the poker community. The final table also featured players such as Aleksanras Rusinovas, Viktor Iarilov, Vyacheslav Kardash, and Espen Sandvik, confirming the high level of competition at the tournament. The Venue and Series: Merit Crystal Cove and Mediterranean Poker Party Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino is a renowned venue for major poker events, combining top-level service, professional tournament organization, and a luxurious vacation atmosphere. The Mediterranean Poker Party is one of the region’s most prestigious series, attracting the world’s best players. Organizers pay special attention to tournament structure, player comfort, and quality of service. According to Boris Smuskevicius, these factors make Merit Poker one of the best places to play live poker. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great illustration of how regular practice and participation in online tournaments can lay the foundation for success in live events. The experience gained in club games helps develop strategic thinking, the ability to read opponents, and adapt to different playing styles — exactly the skills that were key to Boris Smuskevicius’s victory. Moreover, Smuskevicius’s story highlights the importance of mental resilience and support from those around you. In PPPoker clubs, players can not only improve their technique but also find like-minded people, making it easier to navigate the ups and downs of a poker career. Finally, the success of players at major series like the Mediterranean Poker Party motivates PPPoker members to aim higher. Stay tuned for news, join club tournaments, and don’t be afraid to set ambitious goals — maybe the next big win will be yours!