SPT Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2024 SunBet Time Square
SPT Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2024 SunBet Time Square
Buy-in
15,000 ZAR
Prize Pool
4,926,600 ZAR
Entries
391
Level
27
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
65
Players Left
10
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The August edition of the 2024 SunBet Poker Tour in Pretoria has seen the first of five starting days conclude in the ZAR15,000 Main Event. Compared to the previous edition at the same venue in March, it was a timid start for the crown jewel of the schedule as just 65 entries were recorded compared to the 105 entries in Spring. Most notables of the close-knit South African poker community were still involved on Day 2 of the ZAR50,000 High Roller, which had also seen a drop in participation as well.
With 15 levels of 50 minutes each or down to the top 15% of the field set as goal, the latter was reached in the final level of the night and 10 players advanced. Leading the way in the early morning hours at the Time Square Casino Pretoria was local player KM, who turned his 40,000 starting stack into 519,000. There is already a significant gap to Banks Solomons (310,000) and Quintin Heather-Clark (292,000), who complete the overnight podium.
Final Chip Counts After Day 1a
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KM | South Africa | 519,000 | 87 |
| 2 | Banks Solomons | South Africa | 310,000 | 52 |
| 3 | Quintin Heather-Clark | South Africa | 292,000 | 49 |
| 4 | Harold Brooks | South Africa | 291,000 | 49 |
| 5 | Melissa Kalil | South Africa | 258,000 | 43 |
| 6 | Wesley Wiegand | South Africa | 252,000 | 42 |
| 7 | Patrice Ah-Nien | Mauritius | 212,000 | 35 |
| 8 | Pravir Rama | South Africa | 186,000 | 31 |
| 9 | Alvin Pillay | South Africa | 183,000 | 31 |
| 10 | Caleb October | South Africa | 143,000 | 24 |
Harold Brooks finished just a single chip behind the bronze spot with 291,000 and was responsible for the final elimination of the night when he won a flip against Mariette Language. Of the ten players to advance were nine from South Africa, while Patrice Ah-Nien made it through with 212,000 in chips. Ah-Nien is part of a small travelling player group from Mauritius and cashed in this event in March, finishing in 30th place for ZAR29,390.
Alvin Pillay reached the final three tables in the previous stop here in Pretoria and also needed just one entry to secure his spot for Day 2 in the opening flight, as he bagged up 183,000. The same was not the case for Gareth Kalil, who finished in 8th place back in March as he ran with kings into aces to bow out in the penultimate level. His sister Melissa Kalil fared batter and advanced with 258,000.
Other notable casualties throughout Day 1a were Hennie Appel, Darren Kramer, Okkie Fourie, Huawei Sun, Menesh Keshav, and Stephen Courtney. The previous champion Sugen Singh was also unable to get through on the first bullet but won another shot in the evening satellite, so he will be back for sure to try and win another SunBet Poker Tour title.
The live poker series in South Africa takes place in cooperation between the Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) and Sun International, one of the leading Hotels, Gaming and Entertainment Group operators in the country. Another four starting days are scheduled for the ZAR15,000 Main Event, which boasts a ZAR4,000,000 guarantee.
Stay tuned for more live poker action from South Africa right here on PokerNews, as the next winner of the SPT will be crowned on Sunday, August 11, 2024.
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
519,000
64,000
|
64,000 |
|
||
|
310,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
292,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
291,000 | |
|
258,000
58,000
|
58,000 |
|
|
252,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
212,000
153,000
|
153,000 |
|
186,000
6,000
|
6,000 |
|
183,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
143,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Harold Brooks raised to 18,000 from under the gun and he then called the shove by Mariette Language for just 56,000 from the very next seat.
Mariette Language: 5♣5♠ 
Harold Brooks: J♠9♥
The Q♥9♦2♥ flop instantly improved Brooks to the superior pair and nothing changed with the A♠ turn. Down to the last two outs, Language could not get there with the J♣ river and departed in 11th place.
With 22:53 minutes left in the final level of the night, Day 1a has concluded. Full counts and a recap of today's action are to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
291,000
61,000
|
61,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Mariette Language chipped down afte going through the blinds and not picking up any pots. In the meanwhile, Melissa Kalil had chipped up and then limped in. Language limped the small blind and Quintin Heather-Clark checked from the big blind.
Only Heather-Clark check-called three streets by Kalil for 18,000 on the J♥6♦3♠ flop, 20,000 on the 10♦ turn and 40,000 on the 10♣ river. Kalil showed K♣J♣ but Heather-Clark had her beat with the A♠10♥ for trips tens.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
305,000
65,000
|
65,000 |
|
|
200,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
72,000
58,000
|
58,000 |
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Wesley Wiegand lost some chips without any major pot and then three-bet jammed for 196,000 into a raise worth 15,000 by KM, who folded ace-jack face-up.
He then opened to 12,000 on the button and Patrice Ah-Nien defended his big blind. Following a 10♥7♦4♦ flop, Ah-Nien checked and subsequently folded when Wiegand continued for 20,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
365,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
245,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
On the 9♦6♥4♦ flop, Caleb October bet 10,000 and Patrice Ah-Nien called. October checked the 8♦ turn and folded when Ah-Nien bet 15,000.
Wesley Wiegand then raised to 12,000 and his former nemesis KM called from the big blind. KM check-called for 8,000 on the Q♦J♠4♣ flop and then led the 10♦ turn for 13,000. Wiegand raised to 37,000 and KM called, then checked the 4♦ on the river.
Wiegand pushed all-in for 119,000 and got through with it.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
455,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
390,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
|
225,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
|
180,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
130,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
|
118,000
57,000
|
57,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Gareth Kalil raised to 13,000 in the cutoff and Patrice Ah-Nien three-bet to 30,000 in the big blind. The initial raiser declared another raise and first pushed forward the 30,000. He then added another 42,000 on top and called all-in for around 120,000 when Ah-Nien pushed.
Gareth Kalil: K♥K♦
Patrice Ah-Nien: A♠A♥
The dire setup brought no help to Kalil on a board of 10♥7♦6♥2♣7♣ and last year's final tablist exited in 12th place. Shortly after, the last 11 remaining players went on another 15-minute break. They will play another full level or until one more of them runs out of chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
335,000
155,000
|
155,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Wesley Wiegand defended the big blind against chip leader KM and then bet the turn and river of a J♥10♠4♦7♦3♣ board for small amounts. The final bet was for 22,000 and KM called to get shown 10♣9♦ by Wiegand, which he had pipped by virtue of kicker with the A♠10♥.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
545,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
170,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
