Out of Africa, a new poker king

The recently crowned All Africa Poker Tournament champ Greg Ronaldson (24) has ambitions next year to repeat or better the outstanding performance at the 2007 World Series of Poker of previous champ Raymond Rahme.

Ronaldson excelled in the Tournament, held at the Piggs Peak Casino in Swaziland, taking home a million-Rand winner's prize together with a $10 000 seat in the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event. During the 2007 Main Event, Rahme turned the seat he won in a Piggs Peak tournament into a third-place finish for US$3 million.

This year Rahme returned to Piggs Peak to try to win his seat again, but was knocked out. He didn't leave empty-handed, though collecting a cheque for Rands 80 000.

Ronaldson has been a regular face on the poker scene and a top finisher at final tables over the past months. His best placement previously had been fourth place.

He went heads-up with Michael Simoes to earn his win. As the runner-up, Simoes earned Rands 400 000 and a seat in the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event.

Piggs Peak Casino added further value to this year's tournament by warding the third-place finisher a WSOP seat as well. That honour went to Daniel Callighan, who took home Rands 300 000 and that opportunity to play with the world's best in Las Vegas next year.

The rest of the televised final table included Peter Kortleve, Jaco Mouton, Jaco Storm, Clyde Sham, Barry Shum, Hennie Appel and Andre Clark.

"It was an exciting tournament with 111 entries and totaling 32 hours of play," said Wendy Graaf, Piggs Peak Casino marketing manager. "We also had a great balance of both new and regular players. The lady entrants also proved that there are fists of steel under those velvet gloves."

The All Africa Poker Tournament is billed as the richest freezeout poker tournament on the continent. The 12th edition of the tournament will be taking place February 28 to March 2 next year at Piggs Peak Casino.