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Joe-Boy Rahme MonsterStaK Main Event
Day 1bc Completed
2025 SunBet GrandWest
Joe-Boy Rahme MonsterStaK Main Event
Day: 1bc
Event Info
2025 SunBet GrandWest
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1bc
Buy-in
15,000 ZAR
Prize Pool
4,334,400 ZAR
Total Entries
344
Level
33
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
300,000
Entries
93
Players Left
44
Players Left 1 / 344
Filter
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
The second of three starting days for the Joe-Boy Rahme MonsterStaK Main Event has concluded at the GrandWest Casino by Sun International on the outskirts of Cape Town and the crown jewel of the SunBet Poker Tour stop is one step closer to surpassing the ZAR 4 million guarantee. An additional 93 entries on Day 1b vaulted the overall field size to 218 for the ZAR 15,000 (USD 850) buy-in with 44 players bagging up chips for the night.
They will join the 58 survivors of the opening flights and await all those who make it through the turbo heat 1c, which was up to at least 32 entries at the time of writing. Day 1b also crowned a new overall chip leader as Michele Lodi-Fe soared to the top of the leaderboard after a seven-deuce big blind special in the final level of the night to bag up 629,000 chips.
Franco Da Matta also enjoyed a very successful day at the tables to advance with 560,000, which puts him into second place across the two opening flights. Jeebaun Singh from Mauritius was the early chip leader on Day 1b and ultimately bagged up the third-largest tally of 478,500 while ZAR 50,000 High Roller champion Bradley Moore immediately continued his run-goood and advanced with a very healthy stack of 454,000.
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michele Lodi-Fe | South Africa | 629,000 | 252 |
| 2 | Franco Da Matta | South Africa | 560,000 | 224 |
| 3 | Jeebaun Singh | Mauritius | 478,500 | 191 |
| 4 | Bradley Moore | South Africa | 454,000 | 182 |
| 5 | Stephen Courtney | South Africa | 399,500 | 160 |
| 5 | Jehan Richards | South Africa | 399,500 | 160 |
| 7 | Dean Hutchison | United Kingdom | 309,000 | 124 |
| 8 | Tanith Rothman | South Africa | 291,000 | 116 |
| 9 | Beat Schlegel | Switzerland | 281,000 | 112 |
| 10 | Warren Abrahams | South Africa | 267,000 | 107 |
Further notables in the top ten include the South African poker couple Stephen Courtney (399,500) and Tanith Rothman (291,000), Jehan Richards (399,500), High Roller finalist Dean Hutchison (309,000) and Beat Schlegel (281,000). Warren Abrahams (267,000) made the headlines early on when he tripled up for more than 100 big blinds in the second level of the day before turning a full house against Reza De Bruyns in level three.
Outside of the top ten, Marko Nortje advanced with 234,500 but needed two bullets to do so. He was caught bluffing by Rothman in the penultimate level of the night and bought back in for the final hour. On the live stream table, he then quadrupled up in a memorable hand in which Lissa Szymonowicz was eliminated.
Some other notables to bag up chips were Wesley Blom (205,000), Tim Akinnusi (191,500), Jonathan Hoal (177,500), Richard Barnard (164,000), Clive Kikia (136,500), Djordje Stojic (120,500), Rajeev Poonhath (83,000), Cliton Taliwanth (71,500), and James Rann (45,500). Some of the shorter stacks already through to Day 2 were spotted in the turbo heat 1c to try and build up more momentum, as the larger stack will be carried forward.
Well-known local players from the South African poker scene to bust on Day 1b were Harold Brooks, Sugen Singh, Alvin Pillay, Gavin Sardini, Chris Luyt, and Okkie Fourie. In case they are not bagging up chips in the turbo heat, they have another four levels on Day 2 to enter the field as the late registration remains open until the start of level 14.
The tournament structure remains deep with several duplicate levels for the early stages of Day 2, which is set to recommence at noon local time. Returning blinds will be 1,500-2,500 with a big blind ante of 2,500, which gives all players jumping in from the start fourty big blinds to navigate.
Stay tuned for more of the thrilling live poker action from South Africa as the PokerNews live reporting team will be on the floor for the final two days of the Joe-Boy Rahme MonsterStaK Main Event until a winner is crowned on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
629,000
19,000
|
19,000 |
|
||
|
560,000 | |
|
478,500
11,500
|
11,500 |
|
454,000
104,000
|
104,000 |
|
399,500
30,500
|
30,500 |
|
399,500
35,500
|
35,500 |
|
309,000
69,000
|
69,000 |
|
291,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
|
281,000
35,500
|
35,500 |
|
267,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
|
262,000
162,000
|
162,000 |
|
250,000
135,000
|
135,000 |
|
234,500
18,500
|
18,500 |
|
||
|
224,000
61,000
|
61,000 |
|
223,000
127,000
|
127,000 |
|
221,500
26,500
|
26,500 |
|
214,000
39,000
|
39,000 |
|
205,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
204,500
10,500
|
10,500 |
|
|
191,500
1,500
|
1,500 |
|
|
185,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
177,500
22,500
|
22,500 |
|
173,500
13,500
|
13,500 |
|
164,000
59,000
|
59,000 |
|
161,000
43,000
|
43,000 |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
According to the screens, the second flight attracted a total of 93 entries and some 46 players advanced upon completion of level nine. Chip counts and a recap of today's action are to follow while the turbo heat 1c continues on three tables with a finish time beyond 2 a.m. local time.
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Just before the end of the night, Gavin Sardini pushed all-in for a short stack of 40,000 on the A♠Q♥J♠ and Tim Akinnusi asked for a count. When he found out it was only such a small wager to call, Akinnusi came along.
"Did you hit the board?" Sardini said and showed the 5♥4♣, up against A♥3♥ and in rough shape.
"I just gambled," Sardini added because he was either winning a pot or getting to enter 1c as well as Day 2 with a fresh stack.
The 4♥ turn was a minor seat but the 10♥ river only improved Akinnusi to the ace-high flush.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
190,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Several players are hovering just below or above five times the starting stack and Franco Da Matta was spotted with a massive stack. He mentioned a big three-way all-in in which he three-bet jammed with pocket jacks. Sachin Naidoo called with ace-king and the third player in the hand came along with ace-queen.
The flop brought three diamonds with Da Matta holding the only diamond. Two blanks followed and the pot went to him.
However, he is not the chip leader as Michele Lodi-Fe has even more.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
610,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
560,000
280,000
|
280,000 |
|
|
490,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
435,000
118,000
|
118,000 |
|
|
430,000
330,000
|
330,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
From under the gun, Lissa Szymonowicz pushed all-in for 60,500 and Tanith Rothman called. Marko Nortje then jammed for 62,500 and Alexandra Müller called in the small blind, Rothman called the few chips on top.
The 6♣2♠2♦9♣9♥ board was checked down by the two active players. Szymonowicz had missed her flush draw with the A♣10♣, She was covered by Nortje's 10♥10♦, who won the entire lot as Müller's A♦Q♦ and the 8♠8♦ of Rothman were no good either.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
264,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
|
253,000
190,500
|
190,500 |
|
|
||
|
86,500
67,500
|
67,500 |
|
Busted | |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Out of a field of 93 entries, fewer than 50 players remain and they are now playing the last five hands for the night before bagging and tagging their chips.
Level 9
: Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
With some 40,000 in the middle to the 10♣6♦4♣ flop, Gavin Sardini and Menesh Keshav got their chips into the middle with Keshav as the player at risk for 57,500.
Menesh Keshav: A♣10♥ 
Gavin Sardini: K♦10♠
Sardini was aiming to deal the final blow but instead suffered a big blow to his stack when the J♣ turn and A♠ river runout only improved Keshav.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
160,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
|
50,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
