Curtain Lifts on the Merit Poker Carmen Series With Day 1a of the $2,200 Warmup at Noon
In 1875, Georges Bizet premiered his opera Carmen, telling the story of Spanish soldier Don Jose and his infatuation with the titular femme fatale gypsy. Now that world of smugglers and bullfighters is being brought back to life along the Mediterranean coast of North Cyprus with the start of the Merit Poker Carmen Series.
The 12-day festival at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino kicks off at 12 p.m. local time with Day 1a of the $2,200 Warmup. This is the first of four starting flights for the five-day tournament with a $700,000 guaranteed prize pool. The surviving players who make it through the day will return for Day 2 on March 24.
Players begin with 100,000 chips and will play eight hour-long levels on Day 1a. Unlimited reentries are allowed, with late registration open until the end of Level 12 on Day 2.
Selahaddin Bedir won this event last year, defeating a field of 409 total entries to earn $158,055. Merit Poker regulars Gabriel Akiki, Nikolay Fal, and rising French star Fabrice Bigot all made deep runs.
Just as Don Jose longs for the love of Carmen, so will the players who descended on this seaside resort have their eyes on capturing the prestigious Merit Poker title. PokerNews will provide live updates until the curtain drops and a new champion is crowned.