Welcome to the Full Tilt Poker Merit Cyprus Classic Main Event!
It's almost time for the second annual 2010 Full Tilt Poker Merit Cyprus Classic Main Event to begin here in stunning Cyprus. The buzz around the resort and in the tournament room is exciting as we await the start of play, which been kicked back to 2:30 pm local time. The event should be jam packed with plenty of big names judging by who we've seen so far lurking the area and that'll provide plenty of action.
This event has a twist to it in that each buy-in costs $5,000 + $400 for 20,000 in tournament chips, but each player may rebuy or add-on anytime during the first five levels for an additional 20,000 in tournament chips. Each level will be 75 minutes long with a break coming at the end of each level.
Who to we expect to be on hand? Well, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi and Phil Ivey both busted the High Roller Freeze-Out yesterday and may show up to the first of two starting days. John Racener, Filippo Candio, Jean-Robert Bellande, Karina and Chip Jett, Roy Winston, Van Marcus and Chino Rheem are also likely to be playing. There are two starting days and the tournament staff announced yesterday that the players had the chance to choose their day, so we'll just have to wait and see at start time for who shows up.
We're only a short while away from the kickoff of the event and it's going to be a great day of poker. We'll also have coverage of the $25,000 High Roller Freeze-Out final table today, for double the dose of poker. Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the action from the floor. See you in a few!