Welcome to Day 1A of the bwin WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

Welcome to sunny Northern Cyprus for the opening event of season 12 of the World Poker Tour. We're here at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel for the first of two start days of the $4,000 + $400 event. It's also a re-entry event meaning if you bust on Day 1A, you can re-enter on Day 1B. Alternatively, even if you make it through the first of the two starting days, you can always take a second short and simply advanced with the bigger of the two stacks.

The big PartyPoker cash game has been going on for the last couple of days and we're expecting to see many of these players entering into this event as well. These will hopefully include Daniel Cates, Sam Trickett, Dominik Nitsche, Kara Scott and of course, last year's winner of this tournament Marvin Rettenmaier - who created history by winning back to back WPT's.

Play is set to get underway at 1pm. Follow us here for all the updates.