It has been won by South African player Darren “kingkramer” Kramer on his home soil.  For his win Kramer takes home $140,575 as well as the title.

Prior to his South African Open win, Kramer has at best achieved thirteenth place in the 2007 Sun City Million Dollar King of Poker and twentieth place at Event 1 of last year’s Aussie Millions.  He only began playing poker at the end of 2004.

He battled through a tough field of 175 players which included such esteemed professionals as Tony G, WSOP main event final tabler Raymond Rahme as well as his fellow South Africans; WSOP bracelet winners, Norman Keyser and Hugh Todd.  Although none of these players made it through to the final table.

The players that did make it through to the final table and their chip counts at the start of the final table action were: Anton Bertilsson (960,000), Grant Nelson (822,000), Michael Hollom (637,000), Chris Convery (555,000), Darren Kramer (488,000), Melanie Banfield (412,000), Danny K (286,000) and Berny Lengenfelder (218,000).

Although Bertilsson had the chip lead at start of play, he was the first player to go to the rails.  He lost out in an exchange with Chris Convery and his eighth place earned him prize money of $16,573.  The next player to fall was less surprisingly the player who was bottom of the chip count leaderboard going into the final table, Berny Lengenfelder.  £20,440 was his reward for seventh place.

Michael Hollom then took out Grant Nelson into sixth position.  Nelson earned $24,257 for his efforts.  Danny K was the next player to leave the final table as he lost out to Chris Convery and fifth position earned him a payday of $28,074.  Convery was in fine form as he eliminated another player this time Melanie Banfield into fourth place.  Banfield was rewarded with $38,331.  Kramer then decided who would be left for the heads-up by taking out Michael Hollom, whose third spot earned him $63,845. 

So it was left to Kramer and Convery to do battle in the final.  At the start of this heads-up action, Convery had a 2:1 chip advantage over Kramer and looked favourite to take the title.  However, Kramer played some skilful and enterprising poker to take over the chip lead.  This heads-up was an exciting and close contest with both players playing their part.  Eventually though Kramer picked up a straight to win the title.  Convery however didn’t disgrace himself and was well deserving of his $95,826 runners-up prize.

Source:http://www.onlinecasinopress.co.uk/