WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Championship Day 1a | 2009 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

09-06-2009 13:11 UTC+3

Brrrr

[user75032]

After countless hours spent in frigid casinos, poker players and intrepid tournament reporters learn to carry something with long sleeves -- a sweatshirt, a fleece, even just a shirt -- to all poker tournaments. Some players today, however, seem to have been caught unaware by the slightly hilly conditions inside the tournament room. The casino's solution? Maroon blankets. There is a stack of maroon blankets, like you might find on an airplane, in the back corner of the room. Chilled players are encouraged to take a blanket off of the stack an wrap it around their shoulders. Several already have.

09-06-2009 13:06 UTC+3

Faces in the Crowd

[user38449]

During our initial walk-through of the floor we've spotted notable pros Dan Harrington, Jeff Lisandro, Layne Flack, Danny Wong, Roy Winston, Rep Porter, John Monnette and Shaun Deeb.

Of note, Lisandro, Flack and Winston are all sitting at table 8, though Tournament Director Jack McClelland let them know they'd be the first table to break. Lisandro found his seat a few minutes after the cards were in the air, and as he sat down, Flack took notice:

"Ha ha, ha ha. Yum, yum," he joked.

The early player count is 73, though tournament organizers expect that number to double -- maybe even triple -- tomorrow afternoon when the players in flight Day 1b take to the felt.

Tags: Jeffrey Lisandro Layne Flack Roy Winston

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

09-06-2009 12:51 UTC+3

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user75032]

After some extended opening remarks, cards are in the air. Players start with 40,000 chips.

09-06-2009 12:48 UTC+3

Slight Delay

[user38449]

We're fast approaching 1:00 p.m. and play is still on hold due to a few technical issues with the television production set-up. Tournament organizers expect play to be underway momentarily. We'll keep you posted.

09-06-2009 12:07 UTC+3

Start Pushed Back

[user75032]

The players have just been informed that the start of play has been pushed back to 12:30pm.

09-06-2009 11:32 UTC+3

Hey, Hey, Hey - It's Day 1a!

[user75032]

WPT Merit Cyprus Classic welcoming party

From the banks of the Mediterranean, welcome to the 2009 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic. This $10,300 No-Limit Texas Hold'em championship is taking place at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino on the northern coast of Cyprus. The halumi has been plentiful, and the early September weather here has been bright sunshine with temperatures hovering just above 30 Celsius (about 88 Fahrenheit). That has allowed all of the assembled poker players to take advantage of the beautiful beach facilities attached to this all-inclusive resort property.

Of course, the real reason for the assemblage is the poker that will take place here over the course of the next week. This is a World Poker Tour event, with two Day 1 flights and five full days of poker after that before we determine a champion.

There was an extended party last night with lots of booze flowing. It should be interesting to see which of the notable players have made the trek to the eastern edges of the Mediterranean Sea for this event turn up today and which sleep off their hangovers and wait until tomorrow to play.

Play is scheduled to start just after noon local time, in about thirty minutes. We're already hard at work in preparation to bring you highlights of all of the action. Stick around!

Tags: WPT Merit Cyprus Classic