Merit Poker is turning up the heat this November with an Omaha-first festival on the Mediterranean. From November 19–30, 2025, cash games run around the clock, and the schedule drops a couple of headline PLO tournaments – including a $5,400 5-Card PLO K.O. Main Event with a $500,000 guarantee and a $3,300 Double Board PLO Bomb Pot special. Hold’em tables will be there too, but make no mistake: this one’s built for Omaha lovers.
Fast facts
- Dates: November 19–30, 2025.
- Festival focus: 4-card and 5-card Omaha cash games all festival long, plus a pair of marquee PLO events. Hold’em tables available.
- Flagship tournament: $5,400 PLO5 K.O. Main Event, $500,000 GTD, 100K starting stack. Two Day 1s (Nov 23–24), Day 2 (Nov 25), Final Day (Nov 26). Levels 40/50/60 minutes by day.
- Side special: $3,300 Double Board PLO Bomb Pot (Nov 27), 50K stack, 30-minute levels.
- Venue: Merit Poker at the Merit Kyrenia resort cluster on the coast near Girne (Kyrenia), North Cyprus. Event hotels include Merit Royal Diamond, Merit Royal, Royal Premium, Crystal Cove, Merit Park and more.
- Contact: WhatsApp: +90 548 810 83 83
The tournaments (at a glance)
$5,400 PLO 5-Card $2,000 K.O. Main Event — $500,000 GTD
- Day 1A: Sun, Nov 23 – 12:00
- Day 1B: Mon, Nov 24 – 12:00
- Day 2: Tue, Nov 25 – 12:00
- Final Day: Wed, Nov 26 – 12:00
- Starting stack / Levels: 100,000 / 40-50-60 min by day.
- Notes: K.O. format with a $2,000 bounty component; late reg and level counts per the posted structure; festival reserves the right to amend structures/schedule.
$3,300 Double Board PLO Bomb Pot
- Thu, Nov 27 – 12:00
- Starting stack / Levels: 50,000 / 30 min
- Guarantee: $150,000
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What to expect on the floor
This is a cash-game–led festival: expect lively 4-card, 5-card and bomb-pot action at a range of stakes every day, with NLH tables mixed in. The PLO5 K.O. Main Event brings a serious prize pool and a bounty element that attracts action-heavy fields; the double-board bomb-pot tournament is a true novelty—great rail potential, lots of splashy pots, and a fast structure.
About Merit Poker (and why North Cyprus works)
Merit Poker has been running series on the island since 2008, growing into one of the region’s busiest live brands. Over the years they’ve welcomed names like Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Antonio Esfandiari, and more, and by their own ledger have awarded $40,000,000+ in prize pools. The cadence is busy—roughly a major series every 45 days—so the operation is used to handling festival-level traffic.
The setting is the Merit Kyrenia resort cluster on the northern coastline (Girne). That footprint includes several five-star properties—Royal Diamond, Royal, Royal Premium, Crystal Cove, Merit Park—all within the same complex, with restaurants, spa options, and an easy walk to the poker rooms. If you played EPT Cyprus, you’ve likely already navigated this campus; the PokerStars guide is a handy refresher.
Travel & stay basics
- Airports / access: Players typically route via Larnaca (LCA) or Ercan (ECN) depending on itinerary and nationality rules, then transfer to Kyrenia. (Confirm current entry guidance when booking.)
- On-site hotels: The event page showcases the festival’s partner hotels; booking through Merit is common for convenience and shuttle logistics.
- Vibe: Seafront resort, late-night food options, and a poker-first schedule—expect late finishes and busy cash-game pits after flights conclude. (That’s by design for this festival.)
How to register / who to contact
The festival page lists online schedule details, downloadable structure sheet, and a direct contact line (+90 548 810 83 83) for buy-in and hotel questions. As always, Merit notes that structures and times can change, so double-check the official page the day you arrive.
Key takeaways
- When/where: Nov 19–30, 2025, Merit Kyrenia complex, North Cyprus.
- Main draw: $5,400 PLO5 $2,000 K.O. with $500k GTD; 100k starting stack; two Day 1s.
- Side draw: $3,300 Double Board PLO Bomb Pot ($150k GTD). Merit Poker
- Cash-game identity: Omaha-led cash action throughout the festival; NLH available.
- Resort campus: Multiple five-star hotels on one coastal site; easy logistics for poker.
As a PLO enthusiast with nearly 12 years of experience, I’m passionate about breaking down the complexities of Pot Limit Omaha, helping you sharpen your strategy and grow your bankroll – no matter your current level. I also share exclusive bonus and rakeback deals, along with discounts on poker courses and tools, so you can get an extra edge. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me online, playing PLO cash games and turbo MTTs.
