2008 March | All Africa Poker Blog

March | 2008 | All Africa Poker Blog

Ray Rahme goes to EPT Grand Finale in Monte Carlo Millions

Mar.28, 2008

Internationally acclaimed All Africa Poker tournament Champion Ray Rahme, is on his way to play with poker royalty at the EPT Season 4 Grande Finale, set to take place from 12th to 17th April in Monte Carlo! Televised for broadcast worldwide, the EPT is Europe’s richest poker tour, that attracts the top professional poker players from across the world.

Last year saw Gavin Griffin claim the coveted title, earning himself a massive $2,400,000! The tour started out with around 3,500 entrants, and at the finals, Gavin had to battle it out against a field of 706 players, including newcomers to the poker scene, as well as formidable poker legends and celebrities.

This year the luxurious event is expected to once again attract the best of the best, and promises even more poker action and excitement than before.

With Ray’s tremendous success on the poker scene worldwide, everyone will watch with bated breath to see how he fares against other international poker legends at this major tournament. The All Africa Poker Tournament organizers will keep tabs on Ray’s progress and keep you updated throughout. “Go Ray, we wish you the best, and we know you will once again do us proud!”

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Category: All Africa Poker Info

Dates for WSOPE 2008 announced

Mar.25, 2008

Harrah’s has announced the schedule for the next World Series of Poker Europe. The tournaments will be held from the 19th September till 1st October in London. Harrah's, who have not confirmed the exact buy-in’s so it is still unconfirmed if there will be a £10,000 buy-in event this year , will release the exact schedule closer to the date. Whilst 362 players registered in the Main Event last year, this year expected attendee’s are projected to triple that. Notable player’s who managed impressive performances were Thomas Bihl and John Tabatabai. Bihl won the H.O.R.S.E tournament and took home the first European bracelet for Germany whilst reigning All Africa Poker Champion John Tabatabai left his mark on the international when he finished second at the first ever WSOPE main event .

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Category: WSOP 2008

WSOP gears up for the Ante Up For Africa Tournament

Mar.19, 2008

This year’s Ante Up For Africa Tournament is set to attract more celebrities than last year. This annual charity poker challenge was launched at the 2007 World Series Of Poker and drew an unprecedented cast of celebrities such as Ben Affleck, Shannon Elizabeth, Adam Sandler and Matt Damon, as well as poker pro’s Chris Ferguson, Jamie Gold, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey and Howard Lederer. But it was Dan Shakand and Brandon Moran who made it to the final table, where they announced that they would share the first prize. They then donated 100% of their prize money to the victims of the Darfur tragedy through the Enough Project and the International Rescue Committee charities.

Even though the two players shared first place, the real winners of this event were the victims of the unspeakable tragedy which is currently taking place in the Darfur region of western Sudan in Africa, who are overwhelmed by an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The total amount of money donated from these two champions alone amounted to almost $400,000, along with the tournament entry fee’s made up the donation of over $700,000.

This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, July 2nd at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, and as academy award nominee Don Cheadle and professional poker player Annie Duke start their campaigning, they are hoping that this year’s event will bring in close to $1 Million.

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Category: All Africa Poker Info

Danny K donates winnings to the Fountain of Love home

Mar.17, 2008

The Fountain of Love is a voluntary care facility founded in 2005 to accommodate abused children and those orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Speaking at the handover function, Danny K said that he was touched by the warm reception which he received from the Katlehong community, who came out in numbers to welcome him. He also presented the building plans for the crèche. “Rosie Mthembu is an angel in this society, I am touched by her efforts to uplift this community”, said Danny K.

Wendy Graaf (Group Marketing Manager) noted that Piggs Peak was currently providing a wide variety of cash and in-kind contributions to promote the social security for the poor in both Swaziland and South Africa, in line with the company’s corporate citizenship responsibilities. The footage of the donation will be shown on the All Africa Poker Channel, DSTV 393 from the end of April 2008 in the three hour programme highlighting the Celebrity Charity Challenge.For schedule details visit http://www.allafricapoker.com/calendar.aspx

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Category: News 2008

It’s official … the 13th All Africa Poker Tournament is set to be the biggest one yet!

Mar.13, 2008

Piggs Peak, Swaziland have announced that the top nine placed players at the May 2008 Main Event, will each win a package to the World Series of Poker worth R150,000, this in addition to the One Million Rand first prize.

This unprecedented move is sure to attract not only a large Southern African contingent, but also international players eager to win their entry to the 2008 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event. The total guaranteed prize pool for this event is R3,500,000 and will be held from 29 May to 31 May 2008 at Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino, Swaziland. “No other tournament in Southern Africa has made entry to the World Series of Poker Main Event so accessible, and we’re delighted to be able to add another 9 names to Team All Africa Poker after AAPT in May.”, says Wendy Graaf, Group Marketing Manager of Piggs Peak Casino.

The R23,000 AAPT buy-in comprises the R20,000 seat entry which goes to the prize pool and R3,000 for the accommodation/food and beverage package, which includes 3 nights’ accommodation at Orion Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino for the player and one partner, all meals and drinks in the poker room. For players sharing a room at Orion Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino with another tournament player, there will be a R2,500 rebate for each player.

Being an unlimited rebuy tournament, players will start the tournament on Thursday night 29th May with a chip stack of 5,000, and the re-buy period will last for four hours. Rebuys are R5,000 for 5,000 chips and the add-on is R7,500 for 12,500 chips.

There are only 120 seats available to this prominent event. Book your seat today, for your chance to win one of these 9 WSOP packages and earn your place on Team All Africa by contacting Victoria on 011-4078700 or victoriaw@piggspeak.com. For more information go to www.allafricapoker.com

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Category: AAPT 2008

AAPT offers NINE chances to win seat to WSOP 2008

Mar.13, 2008

Piggs Peak Casino, Swaziland is delighted to announce that the Three and a Half Million Rand All Africa Poker Tournament will be held from 29 May to 31 May 2008 at Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino, Swaziland. This tournament will be a re-buy tournament, with a guaranteed prize pool of R3,500,000! First prize is One Million Rand and the top NINE placed players will each win World Series of Poker packages to the value of R150,000.

The Tournament, starting on Thursday, 29 May 2008 at 8pm, has a R23,000 Buy-in, (R20,000 going to the prize pool and R3,000 for accommodation/food and beverage package) which includes 1 Main Event Tournament seat, a starting chip stack of 5,000, 3 nights accommodation at Orion Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino for the player and one partner, all meals and drinks in the poker room.

For players sharing a room at Orion Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino with another tournament player there will be a R2,500 rebate for each player. There are unlimited re-buys and one add-on. Re-buys are R5,000 for 5,000 chips and the Add-on is R7,500 for 12,500 chips. There are only 120 seats available, so book your seat today!

The Main Event Tournament Prize Pool
Starts at 20:00 pm on Thursday, 29 May 2008.

R 1 Million + WSOP package valued at R150,000

R400,000 + WSOP package valued at R150,000

R250,000 + WSOP package valued at R150,000

R150,000 + WSOP package valued at R150,000

R125,000 + WSOP package valued at R150,000

R100,000 + WSOP package valued at R150,000

R75,000 + WSOP package valued at R150,000

R50,000 + WSOP package valued at R150,000

WSOP package valued at R150,000

To read more about the Main event and the R225,000 Guaranteed Shootout Tournament Click Here

To buy into this unprecedented tournament, please contact Victoria on (011) 407-8700 or email victoriaw@piggspeak.com

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Category: News 2008

A Champion’s perspective

Mar.02, 2008

John Tabatabai is probably one of the most level headed twenty-two year olds and has achieved more in his few years than many will achieve in their entire lives. Chess was his first passion and he played in European and World Championships. He turned to poker at University and used the skills and strategies of chess to enhance his poker arsenal.

He has a unique playing style that has more to do with who you are playing with rather than what cards you have. It is exactly this “philosophy” of poker that helped him make it through the first two days of the 12th All Africa Poker Tournament. The cards he had to play with would have eliminated a lesser player well before the final table. The final table made up for all the stress by blessing him with great hands and friendly flops that helped him eliminate all nine finalists single-handedly!

Coming second in the WSOPE (Europe) was the best and the worst experience of his life. He loved the challenge and the great players that he played with but second was heartbreaking. It left him shell-shocked and took him more than two months to recover from the disappointment.

His advice to the young players out there, “Do not try to become a pro or make poker your sole income. You will play better if you have a backstop, something that takes the financial pressure off. Never assume you are the best player. Listen to everyone, even players you consider weaker than yourself. They will give you an insight into how they think which will help you play against them.“

All Africa Poker is the first major tournament that he has won and it means the world to him. He had high praise for the organisation, the dealers, the players and the two beautiful new countries that he has discovered. He will not be able to defend his title in May but will try for the tournament after that. His next event is the EPT event in San Remo.

Catch all of John Tabatabai’s action in the 12th All Africa Poker Tournament on DSTV Channel 393 in eight weeks. You will be amazed.

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Category: AAPT 2008

Its all over

Mar.02, 2008

Hand eighty-five: KP raises by 100000 and JT calls. Flop 10d Qd 6s, KP bets 140000 and JT raises all-in. Kyri calls immediately and shows10h Jc and John shows 5d 6d. The turn clinches the hand when the 4d appears to make John’s flush. The river means nothing because Kyri is drawing dead.

Kyri Patsalos finishes in 2nd place earning R400,000 and a seat to the World Series of Poker valued at R150,000

John Tabatabai is the 12th All Africa Poker Tournament Champion and earns R1,000,000 and a seat to the World Series of Poker valued at R150,000.

John is fast confirming that he is not a flash in the pan but a poker player to be reckoned with. His aggressive and seemingly erratic style proved too strong for the South Africans but he made many friends with his affable nature.

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Category: AAPT 2008

Testing the waters

Mar.02, 2008

Hand eighty: Two to the flop with flat calls, KP bets and takes the hand

Hand eighty-one: KP completes and JT checks. Flop 5c Jd 10d, KP bets 60000 and JT folds.

Hand eighty-two: JT raises and KP immediately folds.

Hand eighty-three: KP completes and JT checks. Flop A 5 4, turn 3 river Q. JT bets 40000 and gets called. He shows an Ace and takes the pot.

Hand eighty-four: JT raises and KP immediately folds

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Category: AAPT 2008

Heads-up for a million

Mar.02, 2008

John Tabatabai has an almost 2 to 1 advantage over Kyri Patsalos in the final chip count. JT has 2,019,000 chips and KP has 1,204,000

Straight into the action.

Hand seventy-six: First blood to the more aggressive JT with a preflop raise to steal KP’s blind.

Hand seventy-seven: KP raises 40000 and is called. Flop K 7 6 , turn 2, 60000 each, river 5. John bets 180000 and KP folds. John 2 Kyri 0

Hand seventy-eight: JT raises to 120000 and KP reraises another 100000 which is called. Flop 10 9 7, Check by KP bet of 200000 by JT which KP does not call. 3 – 0

Hand seventy-nine: KP raises by 80000 and JT folds. 3 -1 as Kyri gets on the board.

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Category: AAPT 2008

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