The SunBet Poker Tour is set to return to the iconic GrandWest Casino in Cape Town from November 19 to 30. This two-week poker festival features 16 events and an overall R10 million (≈$560,000) guaranteed prize pool, bringing major year-end poker action to South Africa.
R4 Million Monster Stack Main Event Headlines the Series
The spotlight shines on the R15,000 buy-in Monster Stack Main Event, which boasts a R4 million (≈$225,000) guarantee. Players start with 100,000 in chips and play a deep, player-friendly structure that allows plenty of room for strategic decisions.
Three starting flights are scheduled:
- Day 1A: Thursday, November 27 at 12 p.m.
- Day 1B: Friday, November 28 at 11 a.m.
- Day 1C: Friday, November 28 at 7 p.m.
Day 1A and 1B feature 60-minute levels, while Day 1C plays with 40-minute levels. Unlimited re-entry is available through the first 13 levels, and late registration stays open into Day 2 until 4:30 p.m. A champion will be crowned on November 30.
Last year, Mauritius-based Saurabh Gulati topped a 504-entry field to capture the 2024 GrandWest Main Event title and the lion’s share of a R6,350,400 ($351,395) prize pool after a three-way deal. His victory came on a record-breaking final table that included two female players, Ronit Chamani and Diane Walker, both reaching the final three. Reflecting on his win, Gulati said, “It was pressure in the start, but after that it got easier with the chip lead and everything. I had a ball time.”
The Hendon Mob Championship Cape Town Million Returns
The Hendon Mob Championship (THMC) Cape Town Million also returns to GrandWest as one of the region’s most popular mid-tier events. With an R8,000 buy-in, a 30,000 starting stack, and a R1.25 million guarantee, it offers strong value for players aiming to add a South African flag to their The Hendon Mob profiles.
Three Day 1 flights run from November 23–24, leading into Day 2 on Tuesday, November 25. The event uses 30-minute levels and a big blind ante structure. One in eight entries makes the money, and unlimited re-entry is available through the first 11 levels.
In 2024, Cape Town’s own Muaaz Gani emerged victorious after a heads-up deal with Sugen Singh. The 299-entry field pushed the prize pool to R2,009,280 ($111,000), exceeding the initial guarantee and keeping the THMC title on home soil. “Today was actually a day where I really wanted to have that trophy,” Gani said after the win.
A Full Schedule for All Buy-ins
Beyond the headline events, the SunBet Poker Tour GrandWest stop offers a wide range of buy-ins and formats:
- R75,000 Super High Roller (R1,000,000 GTD)
- R25,000 Mega Million (R1,500,000 GTD)
- R10,000 Battle of the Ages (R250,000 GTD)
- R2,500 Cape Town Ladies Championship
- R50,000 High Roller (R1,500,000 GTD)
High rollers have multiple options in the R50,000 High Roller and R75,000 Super High Roller, both backed by seven-figure guarantees. The R25,000 Mega Million runs from November 20–22 and is described as one of the best value mid-stakes tournaments of the series, featuring three days of action.
The R10,000 Battle of the Ages brings a distinctive format to the schedule. Debuting under the same name at the 2025 WSOP, this event splits Day 1 flights by age group before combining the fields for Day 2. The Cape Town Ladies Championship returns on Saturday, November 22, with a R2,500 buy-in and a dedicated spotlight for South Africa’s growing community of women in poker.
