Alongside the fist-ever WPT main event to be held in South Africa, the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic offers players the chance to participate in a number of events both on and off the felt. Two of the most popular events so far have been a VIP Welcome Party open to all Main Event players and a charity poker tournament open to anyone who wanted to play.
The Celebrity Charity Tournament saw 30 players donate at least R200 (the minimum allowed) to enter the event. Those funds were matched by Emperors Palace Casino and used to benefit the nearby town of Duduza, which was recently devastated by a tornado. The celebrities that played the tournament included South African actresses, radio DJs, T.V. hosts, sports commentators, and professional poker players – as well as World Poker Tour’s Jeanine Deeb and WPT Royal Flush Girl Angelique Velez. Every one had a fun-filled time and many players donated several thousand rand to the cause.
The VIP Welcome Party followed soon after inside the restaurant Aurelias, where dinner and drinks were served and traditional Zulu musicians performed. The mood got even better after players were informed that the turnout for Event #1 of this tournament series drew 408 entrants, making it the largest poker tournament in Africa.
A great time was had by all at both events and a large sum of money was raised for a worthy cause. Check out photos of the events below, and make sure to keep up with all of the action at the WPT Live Updates page.
