button in SafariReigning Champion Thaller Looks to go Back-to-Back in MPP Main Event; Zargaran Tops Counts
It was an exhilarating Day 2 of the 2026 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event, with the returning field of 146 narrowed down to just 15 players who are still left in contention for their slice of the $5,000,000 prize pool. They will return to play the final two tables until a champion is crowned here at the Merit Crystal Cove Casino.
Heading the counts is Danesh Zargaran with 24,950,000, looking for his biggest ever score following on from a first place finish in the 2024 Dolce Vita Series worth six figures. Can he make the next one seven figures by locking up the $1,000,000 top prize?
Zargaran faces stiff competition from some talented players who are still in the field, and the counts are close at the top.
Second place Ivan Bryksin, winner of the 2025 MPP Luxon Pay Grand Final, bagged for 22,450,000, while Mehmet Biskin rounds out the top three with 20,525,000.
End of Day 2 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danesh Zargaran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 24,950,000 | 83 |
| 2 | Ivan Bryksin | Russian Federation | 22,450,000 | 75 |
| 3 | Mehmet Biskin | Turkey | 20,525,000 | 68 |
| 4 | Raphael Schreiner | Austria | 20,325,000 | 68 |
| 5 | Daniil Kiselev | Russian Federation | 16,400,000 | 55 |
| 6 | Kirill Solovev | Russian Federation | 13,825,000 | 46 |
| 7 | Manig Loeser | Germany | 12,025,000 | 40 |
| 8 | Timo Vogt | Germany | 11,500,000 | 38 |
| 9 | Nikolay Baryshnikov | Russian Federation | 10,700,000 | 36 |
| 10 | Jordan Woodall | Germany | 9,875,000 | 33 |
| 11 | Farbod Nazari | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 9,700,000 | 32 |
| 12 | John Doe K | Lebanon | 8,375,000 | 28 |
| 13 | Daniel Thaller | Austria | 7,050,000 | 24 |
| 14 | Naji Tannoury | Lebanon | 5,400,000 | 18 |
| 15 | Vadzim Godzdanker | Belarus | 3,725,000 | 12 |
Reigning champion, Daniel Thaller, who won last year's MPP Main Event for $786,670 following a three-way deal, is still in the mix. Thaller bagged for 7,050,000 and sits towards the bottom of the pack heading into the final day, so he needs a spin up or two when action resumes. Still, there's potential for Thaller to defend his title and go back-to-back.
Two-time bracelet winner Manig Loeser, who has over $12 million in live tournament winnings, comes back as one of the most experienced players on the final table. He sits in the middle of the counts with 12,025,000. Ultimately though, it's still anyone's game.
Players who return for Day 3 have already locked up $31,000, but pay jumps are steep and the six-figure sums are reserved for seventh place and beyond. Second place is set to take $621,000, while first place will take home the trophy and $1,000,000.
| Place | Prize | Prize | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000,000 | 7 | $110,000 |
| 2 | $621,000 | 8 | $80,000 |
| 3 | $420,000 | 9 | $60,000 |
| 4 | $290,000 | 10 -11 | $47,000 |
| 5 | $210,000 | 12 -13 | $47,000 |
| 6 | $150,000 | 14 -15 | $31,000 |
Action resumes on Level 25 with blinds on 150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 big blind ante. Day 3 commences at 1 p.m. local time and will play down to a winner.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates straight from the tournament floor until a champion, old or new, is crowned.