The All Africa Poker Tournament

All Frica Poker Tournament Poker tournaments in the 21st century are the stuff of glamour. It is not uncommon for poker superstars to arrive for tournament play in full costume, accompanied with theme music or fireworks. Players are known for Vaudevillian behavior and dress, many carry small hordes of beautiful women on each arm. The All Africa Poker Tournament is an oddity in such a world. Yes -- the AAPT as it is known is a World Poker Tour event, and it is true that the prizes awarded here are the largest in Africa. But from its very beginning, this tournament has been slightly off kilter. One difference between the AAPT and comparable tournaments in, say, the Bahamas or Monaco, is that it is technically a series of four tourneys of Texas hold 'em spread out over a year.

AAPT Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino

I'm sure the organizers of the AAPT, at Piggs Peak Hotel and Casino in Swaziland, will take great care of their players with many amenities. Drinks will be served by waiters in fancy dress, various pink shades of slightly roasted beef will be made available, the beds will be turned down and Cuban cigars left for an evening smoke, etc. But in a universe where poker tournaments can include anything from Phil Hellmuth's entrance via tank to cruise ship tourney winners bathing in gold coins, poverty-plagued Africa will naturally have a difficult time keeping up.

On a personal note, I must admit my ignorance of this event. I read and write about poker every day of my life, and I was completely unaware of the AAPT's existence -- sure, I knew there was a WPT event in Africa. After all, the AAPT champion and South African national Raymond Rahme, who won his seat to the World Series of Poker through the All African Poker tournament, became the first South African to make the final table and I remember when this was a big deal. So in passing, sure, I knew there was "an" African tournament. But I knew less about the AAPT than I know about Swan Lake. And I'm no fan of the ballet.

AAPT Raymond Rahme

Raymond Rahme, by the way a Piggs Peak native, finished in 3rd place at the WSOP, earning prizes that equated to more than $3 million bucks. He has already won the May AAPT (the tournament is usually held four times a year, inexplicably) and earned a spot at the WSOP Main Event and is going for a never before accomplished three peat at the AAPT.

Team All Africa - WSOP

Joining Rahme on Team All Africa this year at the WSOP will be Michael Simoes, Greg Ronaldson, Peter Vermaas, Gordon Harris, James Gubb, Ryan Eber, Darren Miller, Nik Rujevic, David Spangenberg, Reynhart van Rooyen and Allistair Didloff. Recently, Piggs Peak Casino added even more value to the tournament by deciding to give the third-place finisher a WSOP seat as well. One can imagine that the host casino is more than happy to liven up its reputation by hosting the richest freezeout poker tournament in Africa and create yet another instant poker millionaire.

The All African Poker Tournament was once a casual thing. We're talking players eating their lunches out of buckets around broken poker tables, dealing games amongst themselves, and most likely cheating as hard as any one group of poker players has ever cheated. Officially, the AAPT began in February 2005, with 90 players gathered around conference tables. Since then it has grown to the world-class even it is today -- 120 players in the tournament, taking place four times a year. The All African Poker tournament has been dubbed the "Richest Poker Tournament in Africa", and certainly it earns that perhaps dubious distinction. The tournaments are all covered rather extensively on African television, most popular in South Africa.

AAPT Past Participants

Players of note to have participated in the AAPT have included Christopher Convery, Peter Vermaas, Ryan Brauer, the aforementioned Raymond Rahme, and the father and son duo of Neville and Ryan Eber. With the recent global revival in Texas Hold'em Poker, the tournament has also become popular among local populations who have produced homegrown celebrities such as Alex Jay, Danny K, Neil Andrews and many more.

Apart from the opportunity to play side by side with celebrities and poker professionals, as well as the top cash prize available on the continent, Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino's AAPT is a huge draw for poker in the Southern hemisphere.

See also: