PowerBall Xtra: R21 million up for grabs – plus guaranteed winner twist

Tonight’s PowerBall draws take place at 21:00, with a combined R101 million up for grabs across both the PowerBall and PowerBall Xtra draws.

However! There’s an added twist tonight too, one that will mean a guaranteed winner – or winners – regardless of the numbers drawn.

BOOKMARK this page and check back tonight for the full results as soon as they’re announced.

HOW TO PLAY POWERBALL

Tonight’s estimated jackpots break down as follows:

• PowerBall: R80 million
• PowerBall Xtra: R21 million

How to play PowerBall: Pick 5 numbers from 1 to 50, plus one PowerBall number from 1 to 16.

A board costs R10.

Match all six numbers, and the jackpot is yours – or yours to share.

Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday at 21:00, broadcast on e.tv and SABC.

If you’d rather not choose your own numbers, a Quick Pick lets the terminal select a random set for you instead.

WHY TONIGHT’S POWERBALL XTRA DRAW IS DIFFERENT

Here’s something worth knowing: Tonight is the last PowerBall Xtra draw of September.

Under Sizekhaya’s rules, if nobody hits the PowerBall Xtra jackpot in the final draw of the month, the entire prize automatically cascades down to the next winning division, rather than rolling over again.

It’s already happened three times before.

On 30 June, when an estimated R139 million PowerBall Xtra jackpot cascaded down to Division 2, creating three overnight multimillionaires, each walking away with R45 733 457.30.

Then on 31 July, one lucky player scooped R23 810 456.50 after he – or she – was the only player to pick the five correct numbers after no one picked the five numbers plus bonus ball.

On 28 August, once again, one player walked away R21 062 766.20 richer after they also picked the five correct numbers without the bonus ball after no one had done so in last month’s final draw.

That’s five players who have become multimillionaires who previously wouldn’t have been catapulted onto South Africa’s richest list.

WHY TONIGHT’S POWERBALL JACKPOT HAS GROWN SO LARGE

Last Friday’s draw came and went without a PowerBall jackpot winner.

It marked the 10th consecutive rollover for the main game.

Rollovers happen whenever no single ticket matches all five main numbers plus the PowerBall.

The unclaimed portion simply carries forward, growing the pot for the next draw.

It’s exactly this pattern that’s pushed tonight’s jackpot from a R7 million starting point back in late August, all the way up to R80 million tonight.

WHERE TO BUY YOUR TICKET

PowerBall tickets are available at any authorised Sizekhaya retailer, including supermarkets, garages and convenience stores nationwide.

They’re also available through authorised banking apps and the official National Lottery website.

Tickets close at 20:40 tonight, so it pays not to leave it too late.

I always find draw night oddly thrilling, even from the sidelines.

Tonight, though, feels a little different.

I for one am genuinely watching in anticipation, curious to see exactly who ends up walking away richer once that PowerBall Xtra cascade plays out.

Are you playing tonight, and do you already have your numbers picked Mzansi?

Let us know in the comments below …

The South African is the first to deliver Lotto results each day. Check back at 21:00 for tonight’s results.