SPT Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2024 SunBet Time Square
SPT Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
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
Players Left
12
Pillay and Bitton Lead Final 12 Players in 2024 SunBet Poker Tour Time Square Main Event
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
The penultimate tournament day of the 2024 SunBet Poker Tour Time Square Main Event has whittled 71 Day 1 survivors to just 12 hopefuls, all hoping to secure the biggest possible slice of the ZAR5,266,800 ($281,989) prize pool at the Time Square Casino in Pretoria.
Once again, the newest live poker series in South Africa surpassed the guarantee of the marquee event at the same venue where the inaugural stop took place back in 2022. It is hosted in partnership between the Monster Jam Poker Tour (MJPT) and Sun International Group, which owns the entertainment property on the outskirts of the administrative capital. The 418-entry strong Main Event with a buy-in of ZAR15,000 (~$790) attracted mostly local players from all over the country and will determine a champion on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
After ten levels of frantic live poker action, the field was whittled down to one dozen contenders and all but one of the finalists represent South Africa. Cash game player Keegan Pillay leads the way with 2,790,000 while Roy Bitton (2,650,000) and David Ng from Mauritius (2,045,000) complete the overnight podium.
Also still in contention is Jarred Solomon, who sits in second place on the all-time money list of South Africa according to The Hendon Mob database. He finished Day 2 on a high note and bagged up 1,690,000 in chips, good enough for sixth place.
Chip Counts for the Final Day
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keegan Pillay | South Africa | 2,790,000 | 70 |
| 2 | Roy Bitton | South Africa | 2,650,000 | 66 |
| 3 | David Ng | Mauritius | 2,045,000 | 51 |
| 4 | SM | South Africa | 1,820,000 | 46 |
| 5 | Jarred Solomon | South Africa | 1,690,000 | 42 |
| 6 | Danny Dayani | South Africa | 1,290,000 | 32 |
| 7 | Sugen Singh | South Africa | 1,235,000 | 31 |
| 8 | Norman Cherry | South Africa | 1,200,000 | 30 |
| 9 | MAJ | South Africa | 905,000 | 23 |
| 10 | Gareth Kalil | South Africa | 580,000 | 15 |
| 11 | Gavin Sardini | South Africa | 555,000 | 14 |
| 12 | Edgar Antezana | South Africa | 320,000 | 8 |
Day 2 brought all survivors of the four starting tables back to their seats and nearly two dozen of them had to leave empty-handed, as only the top 53 spots were paid. Among the notable casualties before the money were Shannon Elizabeth, Joshua Liebenthal, Jacobus de Nysschen, and Tanith Rothman. High Roller champion Imran Bhojani became the bubble boy when his ace-jack suited ran into the pocket kings of Gareth Kalil.
Father and son duo Brett Toker and Ricky Toker both cashed, the latter winning the family last longer bragging rights with a 32nd place finish. Benjamin "Guppie" Lingenfelder was pursuing a deep run in honour of his father Bennie Lingenfelder, who passed away a few days ago on March 5. He started the day with the chip lead but tangled once too often with Bitton when he three-bet jammed ace-trey at the wrong time.
The very same outer table produced more frantic all-in showdowns in rapid succession with Day 1d chip leader Graham Savings and Samuel Tebege both heading to the payout desk a few minutes later. The final two tables were reached in the penultimate level of the night, after which Ronit Chamani as the last woman standing departed in 18th place.
Elai Mazor and Moon Khan were knocked out by Danny Dayani before the wild ride of Keegan Pillay culminated in a massive all-in showdown with Marko Nortje. Another two hopefuls bowed out in the final hands of the night to end the day in extraordinary fashion.
The final day will recommence at 11 a.m. local time with level 23, which features blinds of 20,000-40,000 and a big blind ante of 40,000. All levels will last 60 minutes each and the conclusion of the tournament is streamed on the Monster Jam Poker Tour YouTube and Twitch channels. The PokerNews live updates will adhere to the 30-minute security delay to not spoil any of the action.
Remaining Payouts
| Rank | Payout (in ZAR) | Payout (in USD) | Rank | Payout (in ZAR) | Payout (in USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,072,820 | $57,932 | 7 | 173,280 | $9,357 |
| 2 | 751,625 | $40,588 | 8 | 140,200 | $7,571 |
| 3 | 483,230 | $26,094 | 9 | 107,285 | $5,793 |
| 4 | 323,910 | $17,491 | 10 | 90,590 | $4,892 |
| 5 | 249,120 | $13,452 | 11 | 90,590 | $4,892 |
| 6 | 206,460 | $11,149 | 12 | 90,590 | $4,892 |
Seat Draw for the Final Day
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Gareth Kalil | South Africa | 580,000 | 15 |
| 1 | 2 | SM | South Africa | 1,820,000 | 46 |
| 1 | 3 | Keegan Pillay | South Africa | 2,790,000 | 70 |
| 1 | 5 | Edgar Antezana | South Africa | 320,000 | 8 |
| 1 | 8 | MAJ | South Africa | 905,000 | 23 |
| 1 | 9 | Jarred Solomon | South Africa | 1,690,000 | 42 |
| 10 | 1 | Sugen Singh | South Africa | 1,235,000 | 31 |
| 10 | 2 | David Ng | Mauritius | 2,045,000 | 51 |
| 10 | 4 | Norman Cherry | South Africa | 1,200,000 | 30 |
| 10 | 6 | Danny Dayani | South Africa | 1,290,000 | 32 |
| 10 | 7 | Roy Bitton | South Africa | 2,650,000 | 66 |
| 10 | 9 | Gavin Sardini | South Africa | 555,000 | 14 |
End-of-Day 2 Chip Counts (full)
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,790,000
-10,000
|
-10,000 |
|
||
|
2,650,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
||
|
2,045,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
1,820,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
1,690,000
-110,000
|
-110,000 |
|
1,290,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
1,235,000
-15,000
|
-15,000 |
|
1,200,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
905,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
580,000
-70,000
|
-70,000 |
|
555,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
320,000
-30,000
|
-30,000 |
Day 2 Completed With 12 Survivors
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
The late night carnage has reduced the field to just 12 hopefuls and they bagged up the chips for the night. All will return at 11 a.m. local time to determine a champion. Full counts and a recap of today's action are to follow.
Stephen Courtney Eliminated in 13th Place (ZAR75,315)
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Stephen Courtney raised to 80,000 from an early position and SM three-bet in the cutoff to 210,000. Gavin Sardini folded the 4♠4♣ thereafter, as did Gareth Kalil with the A♥Q♣ and a shorter stack behind.
It folded back to Courtney, who moved all-in for 845,000. SM instantly called and the cards were revealed.
Stephen Courtney: 7♦7♥ 
SM: K♠K♥
The dominated pair found no escape on the J♠9♥6♥8♥3♣ runout and the stacks were counted. SM had 900,000 and covered Courtney to reduce the field to the last 12 contenders.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,800,000
1,085,000
|
1,085,000 |
|
|
650,000
-105,000
|
-105,000 |
|
|
550,000
-585,000
|
-585,000 |
|
Busted |
Solomon Hits a Big River
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
First to act over on the live stream table, MAJ opened to 60,000 with the A♥A♣ and Jarred Solomon called one seat over with the J♠J♣. The flop came Q♥9♣6♦ and MAJ's continuation bet for 80,000 was called by Solomon.
After the Q♠ turn, both players checked and MAJ bet the J♥ river for 250,000. Solomon tanked, used a time bank and raised to 630,000 with some 200,000 behind with his full house. MAJ used several time bank extensions before he paid it off to get shown the bad news.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,800,000
1,280,000
|
1,280,000 |
|
|
850,000
-750,000
|
-750,000 |
Djordje Stojic Eliminated in 14th Place (ZAR75,315)
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Djordje Stojic jammed a shorter stack out of the small blind and was called by David Ng in the big blind, who had arrived not long ago to balance the final two tables.
Djordje Stojic: A♣Q♥
David Ng: 6♦6♥
The two overcards missed the 10♦8♠7♥5♣4♠ runout as Ng made an eight-high straight, knocking out Stojic in 14th place in the final hands of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,925,000
325,000
|
325,000 |
|
Busted |
Bitton Still Dominates Feature Table
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
MAJ opened to 60,000 with the 9♥7♥ and Roy Bitton called with the A♥6♥ in the small blind, SM did so in the big blind with the 10♠8♠. On a flop of A♣9♦6♦, Bitton check-raised from 80,000 to 225,000 and MAJ folded.
Gareth Kalil then jammed for 680,000 with the K♠Q♦ and Bitton folded the A♦J♦ on the button.
In the meanwhile, Stephen Courtney has chipped below one million again.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,500,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,600,000 | |
|
|
845,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
|
755,000
-155,000
|
-155,000 |
Final Five Hands for the Night
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
With 14 players remaining, the final five hands have been announced for the night. Once those are completed, all survivors will bag and tag for the night and return for tomorrow's grand finale.