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
5,266,800 ZAR
Entries
418
Level
26
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
80,000
Entries
105
Players Left
16
Jody Van Wyk Tops Day 1a; Jarred Solomon and Shannon Elizabeth Among 16 Survivors in Pretoria
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The first of four starting days of the SunBet Poker Tour Time Square ZAR15,000 Main Event has concluded and 16 players punched their entry for Day 2, all with a decent shot at a big portion of the ZAR5,000,000 (~$263,400) guaranteed prize pool. It is one of the newest and most exciting live poker series in South Africa, established two years ago thanks to the partnership between the Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) and Sun International Group, the leading South African gaming and hospitality company.
One of Sun International's newest luxury properties is the Time Square casino, hotel, sports and entertainment complex on the outskirts of the country's administrative capital Pretoria and poker enthusiasts from all over the country have been heading to the 12-day series since February 28, 2024. Crown jewel on the schedule is the ZAR15,000 Main Event (~$790) and 105 entries were recorded on Day 1a. In the final scheduled level of the night, the field was reduced to the top 15% and that concluded the action for the night with 32 minutes left on the clock.
The final elimination was scored by Jody Van Wyk, who also jumped into the top spot with 478,000 in chips as a result, surpassing Gavin Sardini (448,000) and Anand Kumar (420,000) on the home stretch. Fourth in chips is none other than Jarred Solomon with 344,000, who sits in second place of the all-time money list of South Africa according to The HendonMob database.
Top 10 Chip Counts Day 1a
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | BB Day 1a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jody Van Wyk | South Africa | 478,000 | 80 |
| 2 | Gavin Sardini | South Africa | 448,000 | 75 |
| 3 | Anand Kumar | South Africa | 420,000 | 70 |
| 4 | Jarred Solomon | South Africa | 344,000 | 57 |
| 5 | Gary Citron | South Africa | 302,000 | 50 |
| 6 | Joshua Liebenthal | South Africa | 263,000 | 44 |
| 7 | Ricky Toker | South Africa | 256,000 | 43 |
| 8 | Marvin Torres | South Africa | 246,000 | 41 |
| 9 | Chad Khoury | South Africa | 243,000 | 41 |
| 10 | Brett Toker | South Africa | 233,000 | 39 |
Ricky Toker (256,000) and Brett Toker (233,000) both advanced as well with the son surpassing his father by a couple of big blinds in his very first live poker tournament.
All but one of the sixteen Day 1a survivors represent South Africa and the one exception is American actress, model and poker player Shannon Elizabeth, who is married to a South African and resides in the country. She made it through with 114,000 but may perhaps appear again in one of the remaining three starting days as the bigger stack across all flights will be carried over.
Among the plentiful of Day 1a casualties was also South Africa's all-time money leader, the 2007 WSOP Main Event third-place finisher Raymond Rahme. He was joined on the rail by mostly local poker players such as Mystery Bounty Event champion Marko Nortje, Adam Woolf, Danny Dayani, Alvin Pillay, Sugen Singh, Banks Solomons, and Eben Lottering to name all but a few familiar faces of the local live poker circuit.
Another three starting flights remain in the following two days with Day 1b and 1c featuring a level duration of 50 minutes throughout. The fourth and final turbo heat provides 30-minute levels during the registration period and 15-minute levels thereafter.
PokerNews will be providing live updates until the conclusion of the 2024 Sunbet Poker Time Square Main Event on March 10, 2024, and there will also be a live stream with cards-up and commentary available on all days of the series on the Monster Jam Poker Twitch and YouTube channels as well
End-of-Day 1a Chip Counts (full)
Level 15
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
478,000 | |
|
448,000 | 8,000 |
|
420,000 | |
|
344,000 | 67,000 |
|
302,000 | 67,000 |
|
263,000 | 3,000 |
|
256,000 | 6,000 |
|
246,000 | 1,000 |
|
243,000 | -87,000 |
|
233,000 | 33,000 |
|
|
210,000 | -89,000 |
|
206,000 | 27,000 |
|
189,000 | -51,000 |
|
144,000 | 49,000 |
|
114,000 | 14,000 |
|
|
91,000 | -49,000 |
Van Wyk Busts Bedford To Conclude Day 1a
Level 15
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
In three way action to the 10♥7♠6♦ flop, Jody Van Wyk bet 23,000 and was called by Thomas Bedford from one seat over while the table chip leader Anand Kumar reluctantly folded.
The 9♥ came on the turn and Van Wyk bet 28,000. Bedford moved all-in for around 120,000 - twenty big blinds - only to get snapped off by Van Wyk.
Thomas Bedford: 5♥5♣ 
Jody Van Wyk: 8♣8♠
Bedford was all but out of the door as he needed an eight to chop. The miracle never came on the 2♣ river and Day 1a concluded with 16 players left. Full counts and a recap of today's action are to follow.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
478,000 | 195,000 |
|
|
420,000 | 25,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Who Will Bite Into the Lemon?
Level 15
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Marvin Torres raised to 13,000 and then folded when Gary Citron jammed for 129,000 in the small blind.
One hand later, Tutu Russon raised to 20,000 and earned calls from Brett Toker as well as Josh Liebenthal. Citron moved all-in again and this time, Russon called while Toker and Liebenthal folded.
Tutu Russon: J♥J♦
Gary Citron: A♠J♣
"Give me an ace for the boom," Citron demanded and got his wish granted until the 8♠5♣4♦A♣ turn. The 9♦ river then let Toker sigh a "for fuck sake" as he mentioned in table chat to have folded pocket nines.
With now 17 players left, Day 1a is just one elimination away from the conclusion.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
260,000 | -70,000 |
|
|
245,000 | -30,000 |
|
|
235,000 | 165,000 |
|
|
200,000 | -40,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 15
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
A Double and More for Russon
Level 14
: Blinds 3,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Tutu Russon got it in for the last 26,000 with the A♦10♣ and Jarred Solomon looked him up with the 7♣7♦. The K♥J♦2♥A♥5♣ board gave Russon the superior pair.
He then opened to 20,000 soon after with Kade Ollewagen defending the big blind. The K♠Q♣J♣ flop saw Ollewagen check, and then fold when Russon continued for 20,000. Their table broke right after as the field was reduced to the last 18 hopefuls.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
277,000 | -48,000 |
|
|
179,000 | -46,000 |
|
|
90,000 | 36,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 3,000/5,000
Ante: 5,000
Down to the Final Two Tables
Level 13
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Brett Toker lost a bigger pot to Josh Liebenthal when his 7♣7♦ was no good on a board of K♦9♦6♣Q♠2♣ as Liebenthal had the A♠9♣.
Soon after that just before the blinds went up, Toker limped in from under the gun. Jacques Marais jammed for around 20 big blinds out of the big blind and Toker instantly called with the covering stack.
Jacques Marais: Q♣3♦
Brett Toker: A♠10♥
The A♦10♠7♣6♦2♦ board left Marais drawing dead on the turn to bow out in 19th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
330,000 | 156,000 |
|
|
240,000 | 55,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Woolf Howls for the Last Time
Level 13
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Down to around 61,000, Adam Woolf moved all-in from the button and he was called by Josh Liebenthal in the big blind.
Adam Woolf: Q♣8♥
Josh Liebenthal: A♣5♣
The ten big blind jam brought no help yet on the A♥K♥J♦ flop as Woolf even lost some of his outs, now needing running hearts or a ten to survive. Nothing changed with the J♣ turn and the 4♦ river ended his run on Day 1a in the penultimate level.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
174,000 | 84,000 |
|
Busted |