-Press release_

Poker Update from SKYCITY Auckland – 21 January 2011

SKYCITY Auckland will be removing our remaining poker tables on 7 February, with the final day of play being Saturday 5 February.  Poker has been a great asset to SKYCITY Auckland but due to our extensive building enhancements across the property, including in the gaming areas, we are no longer able to offer it to our customers at this time.

We have been privileged to have played a part in the international poker circuit and extremely pleased and impressed with the calibre of domestic and international players we have attracted and seen develop.  SKYCITY plans to revisit poker once the construction has been completed as we believe it is a great part of our entertainment offering and brings a fun and exciting feeling to our diverse range of games.

As we have previously announced, this means that we are no longer able to hold the Auckland Anniversary Poker Tournament or the Festival of Poker which we have previously held in October.

The SKYCITY Casino in Queenstown is still offering poker and will remain an active part of the tournament poker circuit.

SKYCITY Auckland has a loyal following of poker players and we will be contacting them in due course to advise them of the changes and invite them to continue enjoying the entertainment experience at SKYCITY which includes other gaming offers as well as our hotels, restaurants and bars.

Matt Cheer wins AAPC 2009

Just after 1am this morning (Tuesday), Aucklander Matt Cheer took the honors of winning the 1st ever Auckland Anniversary Poker Championship, pocketing a tasty $35,540 for his efforts.

After a marathon 36 hours, Cheer played his way through 119 players to take out the very first AAPC trophy.

Ejaaz Dean, SKYCITY Auckland’s Executive Manager Table Games says with a starting field of 119 players, the inaugural tournament was a huge success.

“We are committed to making SKYCITY Auckland the home of New Zealand poker and to provide an exciting and entertaining poker platform for all lovers of the game. We hope to make the tournament an annual event, attracting top poker players from throughout New Zealand.”

The placings and prizes were as follows:

1st     Matt Cheer AUCKLAND
2nd     Rajko AUCKLAND ($23,090)
3rd     Darren “Dazz” Ying AUCKLAND ($13,920)
4th     Emerson Wirimu ROTORUA ($11,190)
5th     Amuant AUCKLAND ($9040)
6th     Craig Lowe WELLINGTON ($5710)
7th     Kevin Peters ROTORUA ($4760)
8th     Kent Tan AUCKLAND ($3810)
9th     Sherwin Naidoo AUCKLAND ($3450)
10th    Tim Grey WELLINGTON ($3090)
11th    Grant Harris AUCKLAND ($2380)
12th    Adrian Kitto AUCKLAND ($2020)
13th    Jimmy Henare NAPIER ($1190)

I’m in Melbourne this weekend so have been unable to cover the AAPC properly, but I have had some information from Sky City…

Saturday night’s $330 side event attracted 68 entracts and was taken out by Angie Fitzgerald who picked up just under $7000.

Sunday’s main event kicked off with 119 contenders from all over NZ including a big contingent from Wellington and Rotorua, and even a player from The Cook Islands making the journey.

At 5pm Dan Cranker (APPT Auckland winner) was still in, along with Martin Cardno (1st in the A$ 500 No Limit Hold’em 2008 PokerNews Cup Championship, Melbourne) and John Pye (3rd in NZ Poker Champs 2008).

Brooke Howard Smith was one of the 1st casualties of the day who was taken out by the young Clay Buskermolen (who just turn 20 about a month ago) and also took out Sky City Poker Zone regular, Dan Sing.

The tournament was played down to level 8 on the final 3 tables before breaking until the Main Event today.

I’ll post another update as it comes to hand or if anyone is at the games, please comment below and let us know how it’s going.

If you’re not heading over for the Aussie Millions, then it’s Auckland’s Sky City Casino and their purpose built ‘Poker Zone’ is where you should be this weekend for the Auckland Anniversary Poker Championship.

Being the first major tournament of 2009, Sky City are expecting a fantastic tournament with a minimum $50,000 prize pool (Prize pool amount based on number of entrants with a minimum prize pool of $50,000).

If the $1100 entry fee is a little high for you, Sky City are playing satellite games all this week where you could win your seat for as little as $40!

The main action kicks off on Sunday with Main Event 1 and concludes Monday with Main Event 2. For a full tournament schedule, satellite schedule  and entry forms, visit Sky City’s Poker Zone website:

http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/Casino/Poker-Zone/Auckland-Anniversary-Poker-Championship.html

Not only do we get the best season for Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere (honestly, prawns on the Bar-B is 10x better than stodgy old potatoes, turkey and pork) but thanks to Sky City, we’ll be getting another holiday treat, A $50,000* Poker Tournament!

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