The 18th All Africa Poker Tournament concluded on Sunday 23 August and will go down in the Southern African poker archives as a competition of records. Wessel Jacobs (44) from Durban took the R1 million winning pot, in what will be remembered as the longest final table in the history of the All Africa Poker Tournament. For almost 10 hours Jacobs kept his cool, playing the Ace of Spades and 7 of Hearts as the final hand, which won him the tournament and knocking Joe Rahme out in second place..
Jacobs is no newcomer to poker. He started playing in 2007 and has previously played in five All Africa poker Tournaments. After dedicating his win to his family, Wessels offered advice to aspiring poker players; “Good poker players are both patient and committed. It takes many hours of live play, reading poker books and advice from fellow pro’s to start understanding the game and sharpening your skill.”
It was the fairer sex that set the second record and showed exceptional skill. For the first time since it’s commencement in 2005, the All Africa poker Tournament saw two women make it to the final table - an extraordinary achievement considering the small proportion of female poker players in the local market. Sherill Loser was eliminated in eighth place, while Melanie Banfield exited the game in third position. Banfield, currently ranked 39* in Southern Africa, once again proved her pedigree being in the final 3 players, following her phenomenal performance at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas in July this year.
According to Wendy Graaf, Group Marketing Manager of Piggs Peak Casino, the quality of players at this past All Africa Poker Tournament was one of the most experienced the game has ever seen. “The sheer duration of the final table was a sure sign that quality players plied their trade with skill.” Graaf adds that the tournament was well attended and that a large percentage of the players that entered had the chance to refine their expertise at the WSOP.
The defending champion Nicolas Zakhem was knocked out early in the game in 83rd position while Armand Steyn, the SMS winner from the All Africa Poker Channel on DStv, exited in 106th position. Other notable eliminations included Warren Zackey, SA’s WSOP 2009 hero, who exited in 94th position, Ray Rahme in 34th and singer Danny K in 71st position.
The next All Africa Poker Tournament will take place in November at Piggs Peak Casino, Swaziland. Poker fans can watch the clips of the highs and lows from the August tournament on the newly launched 24/7 video poker website at www.allafricapoker.tv, along with the full seven episodes of the May 2009 tournament. The final table was played in Piggs Peak Casino’s state of the art broadcast poker studio and was recorded for broadcast on DSTV’s All Africa Poker Channel and The Poker Zone on e.tv. from October this year.
Catch you on the flop-side!
For further information contact Victoria on 0800 003 549 or victoriaw@piggspeak.com
* Rankings are based on the BLUFF SA Poker Player Ranking system.
Distributed on behalf of Piggs Peak Casino – Home of All Africa Poker by:
Tracy Hyams
TDH Communications
083 414 8656 / tracyhyams@mweb.co.za
