\u201cThe closest we have come in the past is November 2013 and October 2015 when the total buy-in was R14.9-m and the prize pool was R13.4-m,\u201d said an elated Bob Yearham, Peermont COO for gaming.<\/p>\n
Amongst the 10 WPT\u00ae title winners, Daniel Habib came out tops to claim the WPTDeepStacks Johannesburg Main Event title.<\/p>
In a competitive field of 456 entries, Habib\u2019s perseverance paid off with a massive taking of R1-m.<\/p>\n Other notable events included the High Roller, which surpassed all past event pay-outs, with Vijay Nalajala taking home R1-m from a field of 92 entries.<\/p>\n \u201cI am very proud of the efforts put into the event by team Gary Lentin and the rest of the ShuffleUp Poker team.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks to our partners from the WPT\u00ae based in California and the strength of their brand internationally.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd to everyone behind the scenes at Emperors Palace, who worked long hours, who did the preparation and setup for the event – a huge thank you to all of you for going the extra mile and for making the event the success that it has turned out to be,\u201d said Yearham.<\/p>\n \u201cThe success of this series shows that poker players across South Africa and the continent are still excited to play in poker events in great venues, where a genuine international poker experience is guaranteed.<\/p>\n \u201cI thank Yearham, Emperors Palace general manager, Clive Tavener, and the resort\u2019s team for their tremendous effort,\u201d said Lentin, Queen-Ten CEO.<\/p>\n \u201cI also thank our behind-the-scenes heroes, tournament director Salvatore Elio Capuccio and his assistant, Matt Fish.<\/p>\n \u201cLast but not least, a huge thank you to our sponsor World Sports Betting, and congratulations to all the players who cashed in, particularly all the winners.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Comedy, music and craft drinks make for a good day out<\/a><\/p>\n Bikers set to aid animals<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As is customary with all WPT\u00ae events, numerous celebrities joined in on the poker action to give back to organisations in need.<\/p>\n In the first of two celebrity challenges, two heavyweights in the business world, Kaya FM 95.9\u2019s managing director, Greg Maloka and Peermont\u2019s Yearham went head-to-head in an epic poker clash, all in aid of charity.<\/p>\n Up for grabs was R20 000 to the charity of the winner\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n While Maloka won the event the two decided to split the winnings, which resulted in Maloka\u2019s charity, Zandspruit Primary School and Yearham\u2019s The John Wesley Children\u2019s Home each taking home R10 000.<\/p>\n The second celebrity challenge saw the likes of award-winning sports presenter, Carol Tshabalala, football legend, Mark Fish, SuperSport United\u2019s Dean Furman, Bidvest Wits\u2019 Darren Keet and 947\u2019s Alex Caige go all in for charity.<\/p>\n At the end of the evening, and through a series of re-buys, more than R19 000 was donated to two worthy charities, The Orlando Children\u2019s Home and We Care.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2017\/10\/43GCNENTERTAINMEN_29565-520x390.jpg\")