The New Zealand Poker Championships, the country's only national poker tournament, is coming to the Christchurch Casino during the first week of April. The richest poker tournament in the country, the New Zealand Poker Championships boasts a prize pool of NZ$200,000 (~ US$134,652.23). The winner takes the largest chunk of the pot, naturally, in addition to a seat at the 2006 World Series of Poker. The New Zealand Poker Championships provides one of the only opportunities in the Southern Hemisphere to win a seat at the WSOP.

Participation in the seven-day event is expected for anyone who's anyone in the local poker scene, including this year's Aussie Millions champion, Lee Nelson. All in all, 150 poker players are anticipated.

The Christchurch Casino is an integral part of local poker history, being the first Kiwi casino to offer poker. The casino brought poker to its gaming floor in 1999, and launched the inaugural New Zealand Poker Championships later that year.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Tuesday, 14 February 2006