Africa shows up on the global poker map
Senegal and Marrakesh are two African nations that will be welcoming poker players from their home, and all other, continents during January 2011.
The Dakar Poker Tour is now on in the capital of the Republic of Senegal and will run until 17 of January. The tournament’s program included satellites for the Main Event and a 500 euro No Limit Hold’em Poker event. The Main Event starts on 14 January in the luxury Terrou-Bi resort, the largest casino in Dakar that also features a hotel, gastronomic restaurant, swimming pool and a night club. Gambling is legal in Senegal for both casino and lottery competitions.
The African-flavored start to the new poker year continues later in Janaury in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh (often confused as the nation’s capital which is actually the city of Rabat while the largest city is the infamous and romantic-sounding Casablanca). Two poker tournaments will be organized by the Casino De MarraKech, located in the beautifil Es Saadi Gardens and Hotel. The exotic location will play host to the Big Poker Series (BPS) from January 19 to 21 and the 18th Festival of Marrakesh Poker Cup.
The Big Poker Series and the Marrakesh Poker Cup are both the brainchildren of Roger “Terminator” Hairabedian, the famous French poker player who is considered am ambassador for French poker and a former national judo star who became the European champion in 1981. Hairabedian cashed in 20 tournaments in 2010 for $590,288 in winnings and was namde French poker player of the year for the second year running.
Hairabedian’s efforts in the promotion of poker in Africa began with the creation of the Morroccan Open Championship last year and the Marrakesh Poker Cup, a High Stakes tournament with a very high buy-in. It is reported that French players flock to participate in the luxury events held in the paradisiacal
The Big Poker Series will be launched in Dakar with those players who qualify being invited to attend the deep stack tournament of € 500 buy-in, a main event of €1,500 and a satellite qualifier of €220 to get a package of € 3,500 for the second Big Poker Series event in Marrakesh. After the BPS, the 18th Festival of Marrakesh Poker Open will be played from January 22 with a Main Event buy-in set costing € 2,700.
Tags:
Africa, Dakar Poker Tour, Marrakesh, No Limit Hold'em, Poker, Senegal
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