Evern van Niekerk is the winner of the All-Africa Poker Tournament, a no-limit Texas hold ‘em tourney that was held November 13-16, 2008, at the Piggs Peak Casino in Swaziland, a country in southern Africa.

It was one of the richest poker tournaments ever held on the continent of Africa, featuring 117 participants and distributing a total of 3.5 million South African rand–about 350,000 U.S. dollars–in prize monies.

For the victory, van Niekerk earned 1 million rand, about 100,000 U.S. dollars.

Of the 117 entrants in the 2008 All-Africa Poker Tournament, only eight were women.

Nevertheless, one of them, Melanie Banfield, managed to finish in fifth place in the event.

Finishing runnerup to van Niekerk in the tournament was Rudolph Fourie, who earned 400,000 rand.

Coming in third was Andre Johnstone, who earned 250,000 rand.

Ending fourth was Sami Sidia, who earned 150,000 rand.

For coming in fifth Banfield earned 125,000 rand.

Finishing in the sixth spot was Lolly Jackson, who earned 100,000 rand.

Taking seventh was David Spangenberg, who earned 75,000 rand.

In eighth place was Deon Minnaar, who earned 50,000 rand.

Ninth was Neville Eber, who earned 25,000 rand.

In addition to their prize monies, the Top Nine finishers all received a free cell phone and free entry to a 2009 poker tour.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)