SPT Main Event Day 1a | 2024 SunBet Time Square

08-07-2024 23:19 UTC+2

Kalil Takes From Grove

Christian Zetzsche

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Sheldon Grove raised to 9,000 from under the gun and Gareth Kalil called in the cutoff. On the J♦5♥3♣ flop, Grove continued for the very same 9,000 and Kalil called.

Following the 4♥ turn, Grove checked and then called Kalil's bet of 25,000 before leading again the 8♠ river for 25,000.

"How much?" Kalil asked and then called.

"You are ahead then," Grove said as he flashed the A♠Q♣. Kalil had outflopped him with the A♦J♠ to win the pot, which Grove bemoaned for a minute or two.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gareth Kalil	160,000 45,000	45,000
Sheldon Grove	125,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Gareth Kalil Sheldon Grove

08-07-2024 23:29 UTC+2

Down to the Final Two Tables

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Cliton Taliwanth had been nursing a short stack for an extended period and his run eventually came to an end, which set up the final two tables with 18 remaining. Still in the danger zone is late entrant Darren Kramer while Alvin Pillay pulled away from the bottom.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alvin Pillay	150,000 40,000	40,000
Darren Kramer	35,000 5,000	5,000
Cliton Taliwanth	Busted

Tags: Alvin Pillay Cliton Taliwanth Darren Kramer

Level: 12

Blinds: 2,000/3,000

Ante: 3,000

08-07-2024 23:37 UTC+2

Kramer Eliminated by Wiegand

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Darren Kramer pushed his short stack from the button with the A♣4♣ and was looked up by Wesley Wiegand in the big blind with the A♥5♥.

While a split pot was likely, the poker gods had other plans as Wiegand paired up on the K♦9♦6♦5♦ turn. Kramer needed another diamond to chop but the 8♣ river sent him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Wesley Wiegand	130,000 30,000	30,000
Darren Kramer	Busted

Tags: Darren Kramer Wesley Wiegand

08-07-2024 23:38 UTC+2

October Only Needs One Barrel

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Caleb October opened to 6,000 in the hijack and Hafiz Juma called on the button, as did KM in the big blind. Three ways to the K♣J♠3♦ flop, KM opted to check and October bet 7,000. That was enough to win the pot uncontested.

One table over, Derrick Steenkamp raised to 9,000. Fellow shorter stack Hennie Appel pushed all-in and Steenkamp sigh-folded. "Ace-queen," Steenkamp said and Appel replied "if you have ace-queen, I will show."

Steenkamp pulled his A♦Q♥ from near the muck and Appel revealed his A♥K♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hafiz Juma	150,000 62,000	62,000
Caleb October	125,000 35,000	35,000
KM	110,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Caleb October Derrick Steenkamp Hafiz Juma Hennie Appel KM

08-07-2024 23:42 UTC+2

Late Night Pictures on Day 1a

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Christian Zetzsche

08-07-2024 23:50 UTC+2

Grave Exit for Grove; Appel Gets Lucky

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Sheldon Grove called all-in when Wesley Wiegand in the small blind jammed the K♣9♣5♦3♦ turn and both players had nearly identical stack sizes behind.

Sheldon Grove: K♦10♠ All in
Wesley Wiegand: A♣7♣

The river brought the 5♣ and Wiegand improved to a flush. Both stacks were counted and the 71,000 of Wiegand covered by a few big blinds.

At the same time one table over, the cards and board were already exposed. Hennie Appel in an early position had flopped two pair with 10♠7♥ to crack the Q♠Q♣ of Melissa Kalil in the big blind. The board had come 10♥7♣3♥6♣5♥ and other players at the table pointed out how lucky the double was.

"What? I had top two pair, I am not going to fold," Appel replied.

"You got it in pre," Wesley Blom added ... and Appel countered that with a big grin and "but if you know it's gonna come ...".

Player	Chips	Progress
Wesley Wiegand	240,000 110,000	110,000
Hennie Appel	125,000 20,000	20,000
Melissa Kalil	100,000 20,000	20,000
Sheldon Grove	Busted

Tags: Hennie Appel Melissa Kalil Sheldon Grove Wesley Blom Wesley Wiegand

08-07-2024 23:57 UTC+2

KM Wins Showdown Pot to Leave Juma Short

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

With the turn showing 10♦7♠4♥6♠, KM's bet of 36,000 in the big blind was only called by Hafiz Juma on the button while Caleb October went out of the way. The two active players checked the 4♦ on the river and KM revealed the 10♥8♣ for tens and fours.

That was good enough to scoop the pot as Juma shook his head and mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
KM	250,000 140,000	140,000

Caleb October	60,000 65,000	65,000
Hafiz Juma	55,000 95,000	95,000

Tags: Caleb October Hafiz Juma KM

08-08-2024 00:05 UTC+2

Kalil On the Rise

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Gareth Kalil bet the J♦9♣2♦J♥ turn for 16,000 to get called by Wesley Wiegand and then sized up to more than 45,000 on the 5♥ river. The dealer had not counted the bet size yet when Wiegand had already folded, he was shown the J♠.

One table over, the stack of Wesley Blom had taken a toll as oif recently while Alvin Pillay chipped up. Blom opened again, making it 6,500 to go this time. Harold Brooks applied pressure with a three-bet to 18,500 and forced reluctant folds by Quintin Heather-Clark and Alvin Pillay out of the blinds, Blom also folded.

Brooks flashed the A♥K♣.

Player	Chips	Progress
Wesley Wiegand	260,000 20,000	20,000
Harold Brooks	230,000 35,000	35,000
Gareth Kalil	225,000 65,000	65,000
Alvin Pillay	190,000 40,000	40,000
Wesley Blom	120,000 130,000	130,000
Quintin Heather-Clark	115,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Alvin Pillay Gareth Kalil Harold Brooks Quintin Heather-Clark Wesley Blom Wesley Wiegand

08-08-2024 00:14 UTC+2

Appel Applies Pressure on Heather-Clark and Blom

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Christian Zetzsche

Level 12 : Blinds 2,000/3,000, 3,000 ante

Three ways to the 8♥7♣4♣ flop, Quintin Heather-Clark checked out of the big blind and so did Hennie Appel. Wesley Blom in the cutoff bet 14,000 and Heather-Clark called. Appel then check-raised to around 110,000 with very few chips behind. Blom reluctantly folded and Heather-Clark also let go, flashing 9♠6♥ to Alvin Pillay.

One table over, Hafiz Juma was in the tank on the Q♣J♣2♥ flop when he had checked and Wesley Wiegand bet 21,000. Juma used one time bank to shove his short stack and Wiegand called.

Juma tabled the K♥10♦ for an open-ender and Wiegand had the equally strong K♠10♠. The chop was already guaranteed ahead of the 8♦ turn and 5♠ river.