Congya Zhang wins $300,000 at the Mediterranean Poker Party 2026

Congya Zhang became the winner of the $2,200 Global Poker Championship in Cyprus, claiming the top prize of $300,000 and adding a new title to an already successful year.

The prestigious Mediterranean Poker Party 2026 series, held at Merit Crystal Cove Casino in Cyprus, has wrapped up the $2,200 Global Poker Championship . Congya Zhang emerged victorious, claiming the top prize of $300,000 and adding another major title to her resume. The tournament attracted some of the world’s best players, and the final table proved to be a true test of skill and composure. Tournament Progress: The Road to the Final Table Sixteen players returned for the final day, with Congya Zhang starting in 12th place by chip count. In the opening hands, she eliminated an opponent, but soon found herself short-stacked and remained out of the chip lead. Nevertheless, Zhang managed to reach the final table, keeping her hopes for victory alive. Meanwhile, Adrian State was in control from the early stages of the final day. He knocked out Anatoly Korochenskiy in 13th place with a set of tens, and then, picking up tens again, sent Roman Gadzhiev to the rail in 12th. State’s hot streak continued when he picked up pocket kings in the small blind and faced Mehmet Dalkilic ’s queens in the big blind—a classic cooler where the best hand held. Shortly after, State eliminated Dalkilic for good, setting the final table and overtaking Sergei Petrushevskii in chips. State kept building his stack, busting Selahaddin Bedir in 9th place and constantly applying pressure to the short stacks. However, the momentum shifted when he lost a big pot to Petrushevskii, then dropped another sizable hand to Mengdian Peng . After the dinner break, State tangled with Zhang: he misjudged her stack and shoved all-in from the big blind, but Zhang snap-called with ace-king and knocked State out of the tournament. Key Moments at the Final Table With six players left, Congya Zhang started to gain momentum. First, she doubled through Paul Esau , then eliminated him in 6th place. After that, Zhang won a big pot from Sergei Petrushevskii by making a straight on the river, moving up to second in chips, trailing only State. However, after a series of successful hands and State’s elimination, Zhang took over the chip lead. In her winner’s interview, Zhang shared: “On Day 2, I played really well and was happy with my game. Day 3 was a bit nerve-wracking because I was short-stacked, but I believed in myself and stayed patient. I picked up a lot of good hands and won all my coin flips when I was short—everything went very smoothly.” After Zhang knocked out State in 5th place, she gained a commanding chip lead. In the final stretch, three Chinese players and Sergei Petrushevskii remained. Zhang emphasized: “I’m proud of us—this is a big moment for China. Every Chinese player who made it this far is a very strong competitor.” Despite the friendly atmosphere among the Chinese players, Zhang didn’t hold back: she eliminated Mengdian Peng in 4th place, and then, with pocket tens, sent Yilu Yuan out in 3rd, securing her spot in heads-up play against Petrushevskii. Heads-Up: A Swift Finish Going into heads-up, Zhang held about a four-to-one chip lead over Sergei Petrushevskii . After a brief exchange of hands, Zhang limped from the button, Petrushevskii, short-stacked, shoved all-in with pocket fives, and Zhang called with jacks. The higher pair held, and Congya Zhang was crowned champion, taking home the $300,000 top prize. After her victory, Zhang shared her feelings: “I have a lot of emotions, but above all I feel calm. This has been a fantastic year for me—I’m growing quickly as a player and feel confident in myself.” She also added: “I love this place, I love Cyprus, I love Merit. It’s truly paradise.” Payouts at the Final Table of the $2,200 Global Poker Championship 1st place — Congya Zhang — $300,000 2nd place — Sergei Petrushevskii 3rd place — Yilu Yuan 4th place — Mengdian Peng 5th place — Adrian State 6th place — Paul Esau 7th place — Oguzhan Kasar 8th place — Fahredin Mustafov 9th place — Selahaddin Bedir Other players who cashed include: Anatoly Korochenskiy (13th place), Roman Gadzhiev (12th place), Mehmet Dalkilic , and other top-16 finishers. Context: Mediterranean Poker Party and Merit Crystal Cove The Mediterranean Poker Party is a major poker festival that brings together top players from around the world in Cyprus every year. Merit Crystal Cove Casino is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, top-notch organization, and generous prize pools. The $2,200 Global Poker Championship was one of the marquee events of the 2026 series, drawing the attention of both professionals and poker enthusiasts alike. The tournament featured players from many countries, with Chinese players especially standing out by taking three of the top four spots. Congya Zhang’s victory was a milestone not only for her personally, but for the entire Chinese poker community. The Significance of Congya Zhang’s Victory For Zhang herself, this win was a testament to her professional growth and confidence at the table. In her post-tournament interview, she emphasized that 2026 has been an especially successful year for her, and that competing in such a prestigious event—and winning it—marked a major milestone in her career. Zhang’s path to the title was far from easy: starting the final day with one of the shortest stacks, she showed composure, patience, and the ability to capitalize on her opportunities. Her success is a great example of how, even in tough spots, you can achieve outstanding results by staying calm and believing in yourself. Zhang’s victory is also part of a larger trend: in 2026, women are increasingly making their mark at major poker events, demonstrating a high level of play and achieving significant results. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a perfect illustration of how important discipline and mental resilience are in tournament poker. Even if you start the final day with a short stack, smart strategy and patience can help you overcome much bigger stacks and claim victory. It’s also worth noting how players make the most of their opportunities: knowing when to double up, accurately assessing opponents’ stacks, and not being afraid to make bold moves. Congya Zhang’s example shows that even in the toughest situations, you can find a path to success if you stay confident. For club players on PPPoker, it’s also a reminder: playing online tournaments and regularly competing against strong opponents is a great way to sharpen your skills—so that one day, you’ll be ready to fight for titles at the world’s biggest poker series.