SA Open final table decided

02/10/2008

This weekend saw the South African Open main event unfold at the MonteCasino complex in Johannesburg, with an entry field of 175 players paying in the $3 500 buy-in for a crack at the main prikze opf $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" (see previous InfoPowa report).

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 challeger 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