The official WSOP account on X announced just yesterday the cancellation of the planned WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus festival, citing “ongoing uncertainties in the region.” The tournament series was originally scheduled from April 25 to May 11, 2026, with organizers emphasizing that the safety of players, staff, and partners remains an absolute priority.
For Cyprus and its vibrant tournament scene, this marks a second major blow in a short time. Recently, the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship festival was also postponed due to conflict in the Middle East and travel complications related to the Eastern Mediterranean. While WPT managed to keep the rest of the festival, the Main Event had to be shelved. Now, a harsher decision has come – the WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus is fully canceled.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING WSOP SUPER CIRCUIT - CYPRUS pic.twitter.com/J61KXa6n6F
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) March 23, 2026
For players, it meant one thing: another festival they had prepared for, with reservations, plans, and bankroll ready for the Cypriot spring stop, vanished from the calendar. WSOP expressed hope for a future return to the region when conditions allow, but for now, caution prevailed over ambition.
Almost immediately, good news came from host Merit Casino, which has long been closely tied to major festivals in Cyprus. Not letting the free slot go to waste, Merit announced its own replacement for the WSOP Super Circuit festival, under the name Merit Poker Classic. Merit’s official channels hinted that although the WSOP won't take place this time, poker in Cyprus continues.
And it's no makeshift effort just to host something — the festival schedule on its official page shows that from April 27 to May 7, with a $5,000,000 guarantee and a Main Event buy-in of $3,500, it's ready to stand as a major international series. This suggests the organizer not only reacted swiftly but is also prepared to capture the interest of players who had their sights set on Cyprus around the end of April and beginning of May.
The whole situation showcases two faces of the current live poker scene in the region. On one side, uncertainty has already impacted both WPT and WSOP. On the other, it highlights the local organizers' ability to respond quickly and practically. Cyprus may have lost another prestigious brand, but it hasn’t lost poker. And that's likely the most important news for players right now.
Sources – X, WSOP, PokerStrategy, Reddit
