Vilela pips pop star to win South African Poker Open
Tuesday 29th May 2007
The first international poker tournament in South Africa saw Jaime Vilela win after a head's up battle with South African pop star Danny K.
As many as 105 poker hopefuls descended on the MonteCasino Resort in Johannesburg to try their hand at winning a share of R2 million prize pool offered by the South African Poker Open.
But only ten players could finish in the money, with Vilela taking top spot. In a head's up with Danny K he was able to boost his reputation after he had crashed out of the All-African Poker Tournament in February in only 56th place - the same tournament that South African pop star had won the July before.
The final table action took eight hours to come to its conclusion and was filmed for television. Although Danny K had started the final head's up as chip leader Vilela produced Four of a Kind to finish the singer.
Cowboy Kenna James and Robert Williamson III were hosts of the tournament and compered as international and local poker pros and amateur internet qualifiers were all eventually taken out to see Vilela crowned champion.
The first international poker tournament in South Africa saw Jaime Vilela win after a head's up battle with South African pop star Danny K.