FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN POKER CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY U.S. ONLINE PLAYER

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Qualifying in an online tournament, US player enjoyed poker and tourism in South Africa

The inaugural South African Poker Open, held at the luxurious Montecasino complex in Johannesburg, came to a successful end this week after an impressive display of skill by All Africa poker champs, veteran players and international online qualifiers.

With 105 players taking part in the televised tournament, the prize pool came to Rands 2 million ($280 607.47) and the first 10 players were in the money bubble.

The event culminated in a tough 8 hour heads up battle between chip leader Danny K and previous All African runner-up Jaime Vilela which only ended when Vilela's four of a kind crowned him the 2007 SA Poker Open Champion.

The competition was a landmark event for one US player who travelled to South Africa all expenses paid after winning an online qualifier at the Poker Time.com site. Despite being eliminated from the final table before the heads up, RyanS enjoyed the adventure of a trip to Africa and was shown the sights by his Poker Time hosts after the tournament.

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S.A. Open Poker Final Table Decided

2008年2月10日 mgowanbo.cc

$140 575 goes to the winner in South Africa

This weekend saw the South African Open main event unfold at the Monte Casino complex in Johannesburg, with an entry field of 175 players paying in the $3 500 buy-in for a crack at the main prize of $104 575, a substantial percentage of the total $ 500 000 prize-pool.

Some of the international big names included Tony G and WSOP main event final tabler Raymond Rahme, although neither survived to the final table. On the celebrity list was the South African compere for the "Idols" television series, Colin Moss who also failed to make the final cut. There were a number of freeroll qualifiers from overseas who won airfare, buy-in and accommodation packages to go "on safari".

By the conclusion of Day 1 only 77 players remained in the hunt for poker respect and riches, including Rahme and two South African WSOP bracelet winners, Norman Keyser and Hugh Todd. The 19th placed Tom VanDermeere was the unlucky bubble boy who just missed the first of the 18 place cash-ins, but he was awarded a generous consolation prize which at least covered his buy-in.

At the end of Day 2 the final tablers had staked their claim, with Anton Bertilsson holding a significant chip lead of 960 000 over challenger Grant Nelson (822 000). Other players now competing for the big money are:

Michael Hollom:  637 000
Chris Convery:  555 000
Darren Kramer:  488 000
Melanie Banfield: 412 000
Danny K : 286 000
Berny Lengenfelder: 218 000

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Cape Town Player Wins South African Open

2008年2月11日 mgowanbo.cc

Kramer proves he's the king...

Local player Darren "kingkramer" Kramer is the new South African Open poker champion after a busy weekend at the MonteCasino in Johannesburg in which he survived an entry field of 175 players that included veterans like Raymond Rahme and TonyG.

The 24-year-old Cape Town player took the $140 575 lion's share of a $500 000 prize-pool after coming from the middle of the final table pack to a tense heads up in which opponent Chris Convery initially enjoyed a 2 to 1 chip advantage.

The low ranked Kramer has previously achieved a 13th finish in last year's Sun City Million Dollar King of Poker and a 20th placing in Event 1 of the 2007 Aussie Millions. He started playing poker in late 2004, with his strong game NL Texas Hold'em.

Kramer (488 000) and his eventual heads up rival Chris Convery (555 000) were middle-of-the-field on chipstacks when the final table for the South African Open started - well behind chip leader Anton Bertilsson who at 960 000 held a significant advantage.

Bertilsson's lead was shortlived through capricious luck leading to some early losses, and he was the first to be bundled out of the final after an exchange with Convery left him headed for the rail and an eighth placing cheque for $16 573. Lengenfelder, who had started the game as low man on the chip stack list was soon to follow him, a seventh place victim of Grant Nelson. His take-home was a little better at $20 440.

Nelson's jubilation didn't last long as he went out in sixth position for $24 257, falling to Michael Holm.  Danny K was next to go, taken out by Convery in fifth place with a payout of $28 074. Convery stormed on to take the next departing player down, too. He dismissed Melanie Banfield in fourth position for $38 331, and the heads up was decided when Kramer sent Holm to the rail with a third finisher prize of $63 845.

Kramer faced a significant chip difference as he and Convery went into heads up play with the latter holding a 2:1 chip lead. It didn't appear to faze him, however and he played enterprising and skilled poker to reverse the situation and take the chip lead. The heads up was an exciting affair as both men struggled to gain the upper hand, but in the end Kramerpicked up a straight that decided the affair and gave him the title and the $140 575 main prize. Convery earned respect for a well fought contest and a second place cheque for $95 826.