What better way to welcome in 2025 than by heading to warmer climes and playing poker for big money? The Merit Poker Western Series gives you the opportunity to do both because the festival, held in Northern Cyprus, boasts over $4.5 million in combined guaranteed prize pools, including a $1,500,000 guaranteed Main Event.
The Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino in Kyrenia, North Cyprus, is where hundreds of poker players will descend between January 14-26 for the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series. The PokerNews live reporting team will join those players and bring you all the live updates you can handle from the $2,200 Warm Up, the $3,300 Main Event, and the $5,300 High Roller.
The first event of the Western Series starts at noon local time on January 14. That is when the $2,200 buy-in, $1,000,000 guaranteed Warm Up shuffles up and deals. The Warm Up features four flights, including a turbo-structured Day 1D.
Last year’s $2,200 Warm Up saw 446 players compete for an $820,640 prize pool. Italy’s Simone Andrian came out on top, scooping $165,000 in the process. First place could be worth even more money this time around because Merit Poker has boosted the guarantee from $800,000 to $1,000,000.
The first day of the $5,300 High Roller starts on January 17, and it crowns its champion on January 20. Whoever that champion is, they will receive the lion’s share of the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. Maksim Shornikau of Belarus banked $177,500 last year when this event had $300,000 guaranteed, so expect even larger payouts in 2025.
The $3,300 Main Event, the final event that PokerNews is live reporting from, guarantees $1,500,000. It runs from January 20-26. Although this is the same guarantee size as the 2024 edition, some 672 players bought in and created a $1,854,720 prize pool. Frenchman Mohamed Mokrani emerged victoriously in 2024, scooping $342,500!
2025 Merit Poker Western Series Full Schedule
The 2025 Merit Poker Western Series has much more to offer than the $2,200 Warm Up, $3,300 Main Event, and the $5,300 High Roller. Each day, between January 14-26, several tournaments and satellites run, including the $1,650 Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty ($150,000 guaranteed), a $1,100 Mix-Max event ($100,000), a $1,100 PLO Double Board Bomb Pot ($50,000), and a $3,300 OPE Classic ($100,000).
Throw into the mix a plethora of satellites, a $1,100 Seniors, $220 Women’s Championship, and scores of other exciting events, and you have all the ingredients for an epic couple of weeks in North Cyprus. Here’s to seeing you there.
Senior Editor
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