South African Theo Knoetze triumphed in the first-ever The Asunción Times Grand Poker Tournament, held on 14 December, 2025, at the prestigious Casino de Asunción. The event attracted 40 participants from across the globe, marking a milestone for Paraguay’s emerging poker community.
“This is the first time for me playing poker in Paraguay”, Knoetze responded only seconds after his win, taking the first-place prize of Gs. 11,700,000 (approximately US$1,700). The South African lives in Mexico, and was visiting Paraguay. And then, after receiving the big cash prize, he said with a smile: “What to do now with all of these bills?”
The tournament kicked off at 14:30, and unfolded over just over six hours of high-stakes action. Players battled through multiple rounds of elimination, with the field narrowing steadily until only the final table with 10 players remained.
4 continents represented at the final table
The diverse final table highlighted the international appeal of the event, featuring skilled players from South Africa, Chile, Israel, Poland and Paraguay. In the end, it came down to an intense heads-up duel between Knoetze and Krzysztof Wojciechowski from Poland.
The two players traded chips in a back-and-forth battle, but Knoetze ultimately prevailed with a pair of 4’s over his opponent’s King-Queen, securing the championship title and the first-place prize of Gs. 11,700,000.
Happy Polish runner-up
Wojciechowski was more than happy taking second place. “I feel great. I did not even expect that I would even be on the final table.” His secret? “In poker, luck is an important factor. Even if you have good cards, you can lose to someone who has luck. Today, I was the lucky one.”
The player from Poland was happy to be part of the first The Asunción Times Grand Poker Tournament. “Many people here are looking for a good game, and to connect to others through poker. It is a strong social activity, and I hope there will be more tournaments like this one in the future.”
“Exceeding expectations”
Organisers from The Asunción Times, in collaboration with Casino de Asunción, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and smooth execution of the debut event.
“This tournament exceeded our expectations in terms of competition and excitement,” a spokesperson said. “We look forward to building on this success and establishing it as a monthly event on the regional poker calendar.”
The Asunción Times Grand Poker Tournament #1 Final Table
1. Theo Knoetze – South Africa (Gs. 11,700,000, approximately US$1,700)
2. Krzysztof Wojciechowski – Poland (Gs. 8,800,000)
3. Lucas Díaz – Paraguay (Gs. 5,800,000)
4. Offir Peer – Israel (Gs. 4,600,000)
5. Alejandro Prous – Paraguay (Gs. 2,900,000)
6. Jaime Errazuriz – Chile (Gs. 1,400,000)
7. Victor Rodríguez – Paraguay
8. Stefan Scheepers – South Africa
9. Cris Maurás – Chile
10. Franco Alfaro – Chile
