James Honeybone Takes Down SKYCITY Auckland Anniversary Poker Championships

Auckland Poker studs, Dan Sing and Martin Cardno, were unable to claim the Auckland Aniversary Poker Championship for their hometown fans, bowing out of the tournament in 7th and 5th place respectively. That left out of town poker player James Honeybone to come in and snatch the title for himself.


James Honeybone seen here with WSOP Champion Joe Haschem after a win on the APPT 

Brush up your play at Pacific Poker!

Cash Results:
1st James Honeybone – $36,030
2nd Oliver – $23,720
3rd Koray Turker – $14,280
4th Srdjan Mitrovic – $11,620
5th Martin Cardno – $9,200
6th Steve Quanborough – $5,930
7th Dan Sing – Auckland - $4,840
8th Mitch McClenghan – $4,240
9th Timothy Phillip – $3,510
10th Haiou Xu – $3,150
11th Paul Reid – $2,420
12th Thomas McDonald – $2,060

Skycity Casino's Auckland Aniversary Poker Champs 2010

This Sunday, January 31, is day one of the 2010 Auckland Aniversary Poker Champs Main Event held at the Skycity Casino in Auckland. Tournament entry is $1100 with a $50,000 guaranteed prizepool.

Satellites for this tournament are happening all week, as well as other cash tournaments all the long weekend.

Last years champion was local Skycity poker player, Matt Cheer, who took home over $35,000 for first place

2009 APPT Auckland Poker List of Winners and Payouts

With 263 poker players entered into the APPT Auckland Main Event, the total prize-pool amounted to NZD $789,000.

1 Simon Watt (New Zealand)  NZD $209,085
2 Gerome Guitteau (France)  NZD $142,020
3 Jason Brown (New Zealand) NZD $82,845
4 Ke Sijia (China) NZD $55,230
5 Richard Lancaster (New Zealand) NZD $42,606
6 Jens Walther (Germany)  NZD $31,560
7 Assadour Assadourian (Australia)  NZD $23,670
8 Lance Climo (New Zealand) NZD $18,936
9 Michael Shinzaki (USA) NZD $14,202
10 Shilton Smith (New Zealand) NZD $11,046
11 Ben Butcher (Australia) NZD $11,046
12 Oleg Epp (Germany)  NZD $11,046
13 Sam Hill (New Zealand) NZD $8679
14 Charlie Swan (USA)  NZD $8679
15 Mike King (New Zealand) NZD $8679
16 Ray Cook (Australia) NZD $8679
17 Rob Toleafoa (New Zealand) NZD $7101
18 Kani Edwards (New Zealand) NZD $7101
19 Eric Assadourian (Australia)  NZD $7101
20 Chris Tau (New Zealand) NZD $7101
21 Ronny Wijaya (New Zealand) NZD $7101
22 Jason Mui (USA)  NZD $7101
23 Sal Fazzino (Australia)  NZD $7101
24 Robert Browning (Philippines)  NZD $7101
25 George Moussa NZD $5523
26 Anibal Lee (New Zealand) NZD $5523
27 Joe Quinton (United Kingdom)  NZD $5523
28 Luke Edwards (Australia)  NZD $5523
29 Daniel Craker (New Zealand) NZD $5523
30 Arnaud Bulle (France) NZD $5523
31 Tamas Lendvai (Hungary)  NZD $5523
32 Mathieu Louisy-Gabriel (France)  NZD $5523

Local boy Simon Watt wins APPT Auckland Event and collects $209,085

Simon Watt, who qualified for this tournament on a sattelite on Pokerstars, was able to keep New Zealand's richest poker title in the hands of kiwis, when he was able to outlast other local players (such as Rick, Richard Lancaster and Jason Brown) and go face up with frenchman Gerome Guitteau.

For first place Simon collected a nice win of  $209,085.

Auckland Skycity's Festival of Poker 13/10/09

With the Auckland APPT Main Event's first flight starting tomorrow, today seems like being an action packed day for the keen poker players.
With a $330buyin deepstack NL tournament starting at lunchtime, a Mega Satellite tournament at 6pm and a $550 Buyin Omaha at 7pm. Dont forget about this evenings "Celebrity Event" and of course the Welcome Party to knock back a few drinks.

Auckland Skycity's Festival of Poker Day 3: Lee Nelson Event

Today, Monday 12 Oct, at the Auckland Skycity Casino, starting at 6pm is the Lee Nelson No Limit Texas Holdem Event with a $1100 buyin.
$240 Single table satellites will be run on demand for this tournament and there will also be a Mega Satellite Event @4pm for the Auckland APPT Main Event.

The Lee Nelson Event is named after NZ based, Team PokerStars Pro, Lee "Final Table" Nelson. Nelson is well known for winning the 2006 Aussie Millions Main Event, cashing for AUD$1,295,800, and for co-authoring on the highly rated Poker tournament Ssrategy books "Kill Phil" and "Kill Everyone".

Kill Everyone: Advanced Strategies for No-Limit Hold 'Em Poker, Tournaments, and Sit-n-Gos: Revised and Expanded Edition

Disappointing WSOP Main Event satellite at Auckland Skycity

After running two successful tournaments these past two years, the Auckland casino definitely dropped the ball on this one. With an increase in the entry fee and poorly run satellites, only 14 entrants showed up to play.
With the lack of numbers in this event, it was agreed upon amongst the players to play for a cash prize instead of a trip to play in this years WSOP Main Event, held in Las Vegas. And in the end it was Kevin Clark who outlasted everyone and received $12k for first place.
I suggest anyone wanting to go to Vegas, your best bet is to try and qualify online for the WSOP Main Event.

APPT Is Coming To Auckland!

Auckland Skycity Casino will be hosting the Auckland section of the Asian Pacific Poker Tour from Oct 9-12.

The buy-in for the Event will be $3000. Look for a few big overseas stars to be visiting

Auckland Skycity's Poker Regulars

If you decide to go play some no limit texas holdem at the Auckland Skycity Poker Zone. You'll get the chance to chat and play some poker with alot of very interesting poker players.
Some of the more interesting poker regulars at the skycity casino are:

"The Unlucky Redhead"- Always moaning how unlucky he his, when he calls an allin bet after the flop, with his pocket queens, with an ace king showing on the board.

"The Pornstar Grinder"- With his unbuttoned top, exposing his hairy chest and small gold chain, combined with the "Magnum PI" moustache, gives this regular skycity poker player that 70's pornstar look -which makes you wonder if he makes his own "movies"

"The Greasy Cheat"- This Auckland skycity poker pro (who has been caught cheating but has been allowed back at the casino), with the gelled back hair and imposing size, likes to verbally abuse his opponents into calling his raises. He gets paid off by players, who dont like him, trying to bust him out and manages to bluff others who show him too much respect.

"The Aggro GF" - This girlfriend of the "Greasy Cheat", although small and petite, has a bite of a hungry pitball. Her spitting verbal attacks, when she has been bluffed or sucked out on, can be vicious.

"The Chinese Teddy Bear"- This young asian poker player, with no known job and seemingly unlimited bankroll, plays poker with such a reckless style that his massive swings seems suicidal. Although a very good player, other poker players invite him to play at their tables because of the action he brings.

"The Foul mouthed Drunk"- This self-proclaimed NZ's best tournament poker player is probably one of the biggest cash game donkeys at the casino. He can be mildly amusing or incredibly offensive, when he's drunk and playing poker.

But along with all of these regulars there are the casual punters who enjoy the odd game of chance. The Auckland Skycity casino is open seven days a week and run poker tournaments every weekend starting at midday.

Auckland Skycity Casino Poker Zone

Auckland Skycity, has it's poker room situated on the 3rd level of the casino, with eight tables available.

The games offered are mostly No Limit Texas Holdem, with Pot Limit Omaha available on Saturdays if there enough interest.

Tournaments are held regularly each weekend starting at midday on both Sat and Sun.

Auckland Skycity Hours:

Mon-Thurs: 5.30pm - 2.30am

Fri: 5.30pm - 3.30am

Sat: Midday - 3.30am

Sun: Midday - 2.30am