Cash Game Room Converted to Handle Carmen Main Event Surge

The 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series continues to smash expectations, as demand for seats in the $3,300 Main Event has officially outgrown the main tournament hall. For the first time in the series’ history, organizers were forced to expand into the dedicated cash game area to accommodate the surge in entries.

What began as a steady flow of arrivals quickly turned into a full-on rush. Just 15 minutes before cards were scheduled to be in the air, the main tournament room was still relatively quiet—but within moments, every seat filled, dealers rushed to open new tables, and the overflow was directed into the adjacent poker room.

It’s yet another sign of the Carmen Series' growing reputation as a must-play stop on the international poker calendar. With registration still open and entries continuing to climb, the Main Event is already up to 645 entries and shaping up to be one for the record books.