Technology / Other
Who are the best South African poker players?
15 Jul 2019 at 10:03hrs | Views
If you're an avid fan of poker, you'll know that the majority of the big-name players on the circuit, particularly in the World Series of Poker, and at the top rankings of the all-time money list are American, or at least from the Western World. However, if you're playing poker online, you're bound to come across players of all nationalities, as well as abilities. Aside from the western world, which names dominate poker? Here we will take a look at some of the best South African poker players, their total earnings and achievements.
Raymond Rahme - $3,546,346
Raymond Rahme may sit 393rd in the all-time money list, but he made history in 2007 when he became the first African to reach a final table at a World Series of Poker Main Event, eventually finishing third. Here, he won $3,048,025; his best live cash finish to date, which has contributed to the main bulk of his poker earnings.
He originally started as an online poker player, under the name of Ray Rahme and he only took up the game as a hobby after retirement. As well as that one big win on the WSOP circuit, he's had two further cashes: finishing 52nd in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em in 2009 and a 348th place finish at the 2014 tournament, playing in the $1,111 No Limit Hold'em - The Little One for One Drop.
As well as participating in many events in his homeland of South Africa and the All Africa Poker Tournaments in Swaziland, Rahme has also played at the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific and World Series of Poker Europe.
Jarred Solomon - $1,304,177
1,444th in the all-time money list, Jarred Solomon has one WSOP ring and 29 cashes to his name, but is yet to win a bracelet – although he has claimed to his family in the past that he will quit professional poker when he wins his first WSOP bracelet. He recently scooped under $100,000 for a 73rd place finish at the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em - WSOP Main Event; while his best live cash finish was back in 2011, when he won $354,460 in the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em Championship.
Away from the World Series, Solomon has played in the Monster Jam Poker Tour, as well as the WPTDeepStacks, both in South Africa.
Darren Kramer - $1,090,060
Darren Kramer is the third and final South African poker player to have amassed over $1,000,000 in live winnings and he sits 1,792nd in the all-time money list. He has only won cash finishes in four events at the World Series of Poker, in 2011 and 2012 with his best finish 27th in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship.
However, on the European Poker Tour in 2011, he won his best live cash of $199,249, placing sixth at the Main Event in Berlin. In recent years, Kramer has been playing in World Poker Tour events, primarily in South Africa and has racked up a number of third-place finishes.
Completing the top five
Warren Zackey - $860,268 (2,277th in all-time money list)
Greg Ronaldson - $836,294 (2,357th in all-time money list)
All-time rankings correct as of 12/07/2019
Raymond Rahme - $3,546,346
Raymond Rahme may sit 393rd in the all-time money list, but he made history in 2007 when he became the first African to reach a final table at a World Series of Poker Main Event, eventually finishing third. Here, he won $3,048,025; his best live cash finish to date, which has contributed to the main bulk of his poker earnings.
He originally started as an online poker player, under the name of Ray Rahme and he only took up the game as a hobby after retirement. As well as that one big win on the WSOP circuit, he's had two further cashes: finishing 52nd in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em in 2009 and a 348th place finish at the 2014 tournament, playing in the $1,111 No Limit Hold'em - The Little One for One Drop.
As well as participating in many events in his homeland of South Africa and the All Africa Poker Tournaments in Swaziland, Rahme has also played at the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific and World Series of Poker Europe.
1,444th in the all-time money list, Jarred Solomon has one WSOP ring and 29 cashes to his name, but is yet to win a bracelet – although he has claimed to his family in the past that he will quit professional poker when he wins his first WSOP bracelet. He recently scooped under $100,000 for a 73rd place finish at the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em - WSOP Main Event; while his best live cash finish was back in 2011, when he won $354,460 in the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em Championship.
Away from the World Series, Solomon has played in the Monster Jam Poker Tour, as well as the WPTDeepStacks, both in South Africa.
Darren Kramer - $1,090,060
Darren Kramer is the third and final South African poker player to have amassed over $1,000,000 in live winnings and he sits 1,792nd in the all-time money list. He has only won cash finishes in four events at the World Series of Poker, in 2011 and 2012 with his best finish 27th in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship.
However, on the European Poker Tour in 2011, he won his best live cash of $199,249, placing sixth at the Main Event in Berlin. In recent years, Kramer has been playing in World Poker Tour events, primarily in South Africa and has racked up a number of third-place finishes.
Completing the top five
Warren Zackey - $860,268 (2,277th in all-time money list)
Greg Ronaldson - $836,294 (2,357th in all-time money list)
All-time rankings correct as of 12/07/2019
Source - Byo24News
