World Poker Tour(R) and Merit Crystal Cove Casino Launch WPT Cyprus

World Poker Tour(R) and Merit Crystal Cove Casino Launch WPT Cyprus

KYRENIA, Cyprus, July 14/PRNewswire/ --

- First WPT Land-Based Tournament for the Region is Expected to be Televised

World Poker Tour(R) (WPT) and Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in Cyprus have partnered to launch WPT Cyprus, which kicks off with the Merit Cyprus Classic main event September 6 - 10, 2009. Players can qualify now for the US$10,000 + US$300 Texas Hold 'em championship through the Merit Texas Hold'em Poker Club or via online satellites offered by event sponsor, Full Tilt Poker. The tournament is expected to be filmed for television distribution in select European markets.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/meritcasino/39082/

Merit Texas Hold' em Poker Club tournaments attracted professional poker players from all around the world in 2008, but has upped the ante for 2009 with a high stakes WPT stop. Professional players already confirmed to play in the Merit Cyprus Classic include Antonio "the Magician" Esfandiari, Dan Harrington, Kelly Kim, Howard "the Professor" Lederer, and Huck Seed among others.

"We've proven that we are an organization with international-standard infrastructure in Cyprus," said Grand Casino Club General Manager Aydogan Turay. "Due to the moderate Mediterranean climate and the professional casino staff, we have seen an increase in players coming to Cyprus, despite it being relatively new. We look forward to bringing the WPT to Merit Cove Casino and growing our reputation as a top international casino destination."

          Merit Texas Hold' em Club Satellite Schedule      - July 25-US$250 Entry Fee No Limit Hold' em Re-Buy     - August 8-US$500 Entry Fee No Limit Hold' em Re-Buy     - August 22-US$250 Entry Fee No Limit Hold' em Re-Buy  

The winner of each satellite tournament above will earn a place at the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Poker Tournament. Players at the final table may have chance to participate free in other super-satellite tournaments to be held just before the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Poker tournament on September 4 and 5.

          WPT Merit Cyprus Poker Classic Tournament Schedule      Day    Date           Tournament                       Buy-In      Fri.   Sept. 4, 2009  Super Satellite - No Limit Hold' US$1,000+US $80*                           em, 12pm     Fri.   Sept. 4, 2009  No Limit Hold' em, 7pm           US$500 + US$40     Sat.   Sept. 5, 2009  Super Satellite - No Limit Hold' US$1,000 + US$80*                           em, 12pm     Sat.   Sept. 5, 2009  No Limit Hold' em, 7pm           US$500 + US$40     Sun.   Sept. 6, 2009  Championship Day 1A, 12 p.m.     US$10,000+US$300     Sun.   Sept. 6, 2009  Super Satellite - No Limit Hold' US$1,000 + US$80*                           em, 7pm     Mon.   Sept. 7, 2009  Championship Day 1B, 12 pm       US$10,000+US$300     Mon.   Sept. 7, 2009  No Limit Hold' em, 7 pm          US$500 + US$40     Tues.  Sept. 8, 2009  Championship Day 2, 12 pm     Tues.  Sept. 8, 2009  No Limit Hold' em, 7 pm          US$500 + US$40     Wed.   Sept. 9, 2009  Championship Day 3, 12 pm     Wed.   Sept. 9, 2009  No Limit Hold' em, 1 p.m. (2-Day US$1,000 + US$80                           Event)     Wed.   Sept. 9, 2009  No Limit Hold' em, 7 pm          US$500 +US $40     Thurs. Sept. 10, 2009 Championship Day 4, 12 pm     Thurs. Sept. 10, 2009 No Limit Hold' em, 1 p.m. (2-Day US$1,500 + US$90                           Event)     Thurs. Sept. 10, 2009 Final Table $1000 Event, 3pm     US$1,000 + US$80     Thurs. Sept. 10, 2009 No Limit Hold' em, 7 pm          US$500 + $US40     Fri.   Sept. 11, 2009 Championship Day 5, 12 p.m.     Fri.   Sept. 11, 2009 No Limit Hold' em, 1 p.m. (2-Day US$2,500 + US$120                           Event)     Fri.   Sept. 11, 2009 Final Table $1500 Event, 3pm     Fri.   Sept. 11, 2009 No Limit Hold' em, 7 pm          US$500 + US$40     Sat.   Sept. 12, 2009 Championship Final Table, 12pm     Sat.   Sept. 12, 2009 Final Table $2500 Event, 3pm  

Please visit http://www.worldpokertour.com for more details, or contact Merit Crystal Cove Casino by e-mail with questions or feedback.

About Merit Casino:

Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino is located in the northern half of the island of Cyprus, on the beautiful Mediterranean coastline; the birth place of Zefiros, the god of wind, according to Greek mythology. It is a true 5-star hotel with sea views and a balcony in all rooms. There are 2 king suits, 24 junior suits, a total of 307 deluxe rooms. All rooms benefit from air-conditioning, showers and baths, satellite TVs, telephones, safes, mini bars and fire alarms.

Merit Casino, part of Net Holding, a leading conglomerate in Turkey, is a member of Grand Casino Club with over 1000 employees at their guests' service 24/7, providing live American Roulette, Stud Poker, Blackjack, Trio Poker Texas Hold' em Poker, 180 slot machines and private Texas Hold' em Poker cash tables.

About WPTE

WPT Enterprises, Inc. is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. WPTE has led innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, when it ignited the global poker boom with the creation of the World Poker Tour television show. Based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments, WPT is now broadcast globally and premiered its all-new seventh season on Fox Sports Net's national sports network in the United States in January 2009. WPTE also offers a unique online subscription and sweepstakes-based poker club, ClubWPT.com, which operates in 38 states across the U.S. WPTE also participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, see http://www.worldpokertour.com. (WPTEG)

          Mr. Cevdet Sakan     E-mail: cevdetsakan@meritcasinos.com     E-mail: info@texasholdemerit.com     Web: http://www.texasholdemerit.com     Tel: +90-392-821-87-73, +90-392-821-16-61  

Source: Merit Casino

Mr. Cevdet Sakan, E-mail: cevdetsakan@meritcasinos.com, E-mail: info@texasholdemerit.com, Tel: +90-392-821-87-73, +90-392-821-16-61

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Profile: International Entertainment