SPT Main Event
Day 1b Started
2024 SunBet Time Square
SPT Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1b
2024 SunBet Time Square
Buy-in
15,000 ZAR
Prize Pool
5,266,800 ZAR
Entries
418
Level
26
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000
Entries
73
Players Left
12
Day 1b of the 2024 SunBet Poker Tour Time Square Main Event Kicks Off at Noon
At noon local time, the second of four starting days awaits in the 2024 SunBet Poker Tour Time Square ZAR15,000 Main Event. Poker enthusiasts from near and far in South Africa are expected to head to the Time Square Casino in Pretoria, the administrative capital of the country.
The live poker event in South Africa is taking place thanks to a partnership between two established brands of the poker and gaming brand in the country: the Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) and Sun International Group, the leading South African gaming and hospitality company. One of Sun International's newest properties is the aforementioned Time Square complex on the outskirts of Pretoria, fewer than half an hour away from the international airport at Johannesburg. It features a four-star hotel, sports as well as entertainment complex and nearby shopping mall.
Launched two years ago with the first event taking place at this very venue, the SPT has become one of the most exciting live poker tours of the country. The entire series already kicked off on February 28 and lasts 12 days total with ZAR12,000,000 in guarantees. Nearly half of that money will be up for grabs in the ZAR15,000 Main Event (~$790), which comes with a large ZAR5,000,000 (~$263,400) guarantee.
Yesterday's first starting day brought a total of 106 entries and 16 players advanced when the top 15% of the field were reached in the final scheduled level of the night. The same goal is also set for today, as a maximum of 15 levels of 50 minutes will be completed. All those who have previously busted on Day 1a as well as those unhappy with their accumulated chips can enter again, as the bigger stack will be carried forward to the race for the money stages and beyond.
All participants start with 40,000 in chips and that makes for a very deep 200 big blinds in the first level at 100-200 with a big blind ante of 200. The late registration and re-entry period is open for the first ten levels and there will be a break every two levels on average with a 60-minute dinner break at the end of level seven. Each Day 1 flight will finish outside of the money with one of eight entries earning a cash price as of Day 2.
Alongside Day 1b of the flagship Main Event, the ZAR50,000 High Roller will also play down to a winner on the live stream table. Likewise, cards will be in the air at noon local time and you can follow the conclusion with cards-up coverage and commentary on a 30-minute security delay via the Monster Jam Poker Twitch and YouTube channels.
Stay tuned right here on PokerNews for all of the live poker action from South Africa, as the live reporting team will be on the floor from start to finish in the Main Event.
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 200
Shuffle Up and Deal for Day 1b
Level 1
: Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
With a short delay, the action has kicked off for Day 1b of the Main Event with two tables running. There are nine entries to begin with but that number is certain to increase in the hours to follow.
First Batch of Notables in the Field
Level 1
: Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
Pillay and Potgieter Chip Up Early
Level 1
: Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Sugen Singh, the man with the many rings, got into a three-bet pot with Alvin Pillay right out of the gates but then folded the A♠8♠5♠ flop when Pillay bet 1,000. He was shown two low black cards for a flopped flush.
Soon after, Leon Potgieter barreled through a king-high board and took it down with a larger bet to become the early chip leader on their table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
44,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
|
41,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
|
39,000
-1,000
|
-1,000 |
Wheatley Chips Up Without Showdown
Level 1
: Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Howard Lipman arrived and won the first battle of the blinds against Alvin Pillay. He then bet a three-way flop of Q♠J♥7♣ for 1,500 and was check-called by Russel Wheatley as well as Leon Potgieter.
The same action repeated on the 8♠ turn for 2,000 before Wheatley in the big blind led the 3♦ river for 3,000. Potgieter and Lipman folded for Wheatley to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
45,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
|
37,000
-7,000
|
-7,000 |
|
36,000
36,000
|
36,000 |
ZAR50,000 High Roller to Determine a Winner Today
Level 1
: Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
During the 12-day live poker series, the most expensive tournament on the schedule was is the three-day ZAR50,000 High Roller ($2,664). A total of 72 entries created a prize pool of ZAR3,024,000 ($161,105), which doubled the initial guarantee of ZAR1,500,000.
After two days, the money stages were reached and the conclusion of the tournament will unfold on the live stream table as of 12.30 p.m. local time with cards-up coverage and commentary on a security delay of 30 minutes.
Final Table Seat Assignments
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nic Ioannoy | South Africa | 2,945,000 | 49 |
| 2 | Imran Bhojani | South Africa | 3,995,000 | 67 |
| 3 | Muaaz Gani | South Africa | 1,540,000 | 26 |
| 4 | Eben Mare | South Africa | 485,000 | 8 |
| 5 | Kinesh Pater | South Africa | 2,100,000 | 35 |
| 6 | Ronit Chamani | South Africa | 3,005,000 | 50 |
| 7 | Nahum Lim | South Africa | 2,340,000 | 39 |
| 8 | Cliton Taliwanth | South Africa | 5,120,000 | 85 |
Cliton Taliwanth starts the final table as the chip leader with 85 big blinds but it won't be an easy or short ride to victory with an average stack of 40 big blinds. Recommencing blinds will be 30,000-60,000 with a big blind ante of 60,000 and there are 56:29 minutes remaining in level 17.
The bubble burst on stream last night when Tim A flopped top pair with the A♥Q♠ and couldn't get away from it throughout a board of A♠10♠6♦3♣J♣ to get shown 6♠6♥ for a set of sixes by Taliwanth. That sent the latter into the top spot and secured a cash prize for the remaining eight contenders.
Payout Information
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize in ZAR | Prize in USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | R1,000,000 | $53,000 | |
| 2 | South Africa | R650,000 | $34,450 | |
| 3 | South Africa | R476,000 | $25,228 | |
| 4 | South Africa | R348,000 | $18,444 | |
| 5 | South Africa | R225,000 | $11,925 | |
| 6 | South Africa | R150,000 | $7,950 | |
| 7 | South Africa | R100,000 | $5,300 | |
| 8 | South Africa | R75,000 | $3,975 |
Tebege Off to a Good Start
Level 1
: Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
Samuel Tebege bet the 7♦6♦4♦2♠7♥ river out of the big blind for 1,700 against Tony Zhang and that won him the pot uncontested, as Zhang folded after very brief consideration. Also new on the table is Stephen Courtney, who just sat down a minute ago.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
45,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
41,000
41,000
|
41,000 |
|
|
37,000
-3,000
|
-3,000 |
Moore Has More Chips Now
Level 1
: Blinds 100/200, 200 ante
From under the gun, Cape Town's Bradley Moore bet 1,600 on the 8♠6♠5♠8♥ turn and Bernard Gassard called on the button. The river brought the J♠ for a fourth spade and it killed the action as both checked down.
"Do you have a spade?" Moore asked before he flashed his A♣8♣ for trips eights, and Gassard mucked the 9♥9♣.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
44,000
44,000
|
44,000 |
|
36,000
36,000
|
36,000 |