A member of Sun International’s loyalty programme, Sun MVG, bested the competition to claim the R1.5 million cash prize in the group’s nationwide Baccarat extravaganza.
CAPTION (above and below): Sun International’s prestigious Black Opal Baccarat Tournament finale was held October 1 and 2 at Carnival City, with the overall winner (who wishes to remain anonymous) landing the R1,5 million prize.
The player, who wished to remain anonymous, landed the R1.5 million grand cash prize and the bragging rights that come with winning Sun International’s prestigious Black Opal Baccarat Tournament in a glamorous finale at Carnival City from 1 to 2 October.
Beginning in May, members of Sun International’s Sun MVG loyalty programme racked up Table Points at six properties in the hospitality giant’s stable – Carnival City, GrandWest, Sun City, Time Square, Sibaya, and Boardwalk – in a bid to be one of 52 finalists at the East Rand resort and take a shot at the R2.5 million in total prize money.
Baccarat is especially popular in Asia, and the weekend’s activities were held under a Chinese Imperial theme, baiju spirits, lion dancers, and kung-fu demonstrations. Participants competed with R10 000 of chips in 21-round heats that pitted them against their rivals through Saturday to qualify to be one of four to play at the final event later in the evening. The tournament was held according to strict COVID-19 regulations – masks were mandatory, and perspex barriers separated players.
“Baccarat is easy to master because there are just three bets: Player, Banker, and Tie. It’s also the only table game that allows players to handle the cards, making it popular with customers. We saw an increasing demand for Baccarat tables at Carnival City as players chased points. The Black Opal tournament has been great for gaming at the casino, but also for showcasing what we have on offer for the whole family out here in the East Rand,” said Carnival City Tables Manager Emma Mothibi.
CAPTION: Annemie Turk, General Manager, Carnival City at the Black Opal Baccarat Tournament finale.
Enjoying raucous support from friends and family, the winner emerged victorious in the finale at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena. The other three finalists also received generous financial rewards for their efforts, and a further R150 000 in cash was given away to participants who didn’t qualify for the showpiece event, bringing the total prize pot for the tournament to R2.5 million.
Sun International Hospitality COO Graham Wood confirmed that the group’s glamorous nationwide gaming tournaments are here to stay.
“We’re all about bringing the excitement and feel-good vibes back to the gaming floor and rewarding our MVGs for their loyalty. We understand that many players visit several casinos, so tournaments like Black Opal give us a competitive edge, with big prize money on offer and the ability to participate at several Sun International properties,” he explained.
Sun International continues to ramp up gaming and lifestyle activities, prioritising guest experience ahead of an expected upturn in the local travel and tourism industry in 2022.
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