Congratulations to Danny 'Brotha D' Leaoasavaii, Winner of the PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Main Event ($123,058)!
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Following five days of intense tournament poker that featured twenty-eight levels, a grueling final table and a determined heads up battle; a champion has been crowned in the third stop of season four's PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour here in Auckland, New Zealand!
Earlier in the week, 218 players took to the felt to battle it out with some of Australasia's best, and most talented players. Previous PokerStars.net APPT Champions Aaron Benton (Sydney) and Victorino Torres (Macau), alongside ANZPT Champions Scott Kerr (Queensland), Julian Cohen (Queenstown), Nauv Kashyap (Gold Coast) and Tony Hachem (Perth) all took to the felt. However it would be defending champion and recent WSOP bracelet winner and durrrr-killer Simon Watt that would attract the most attention as he looked to establish himself as one of the best players in the Southern Hemisphere.
Australia and New Zealand supplied the majority of the field as players - both seasoned pros, online qualifier and amateurs alike - all made their way to the rail over the first three days until just nine remained on a Sunday that was highly stereotypical of New Zealand day; one involving cold rain and hurling wind!
One of the short stacks heading into the penultimate day of play, Danny 'Brotha D' Leaosavaii - the undisputed Godfather of New Zealand hip-hop - rode a wave of cards and lucky rivers to soar up the leaderboard to finish on top of a final table that was dominated by PokerStars Online Qualifiers; which included previous days chip leaders Tom Grigg and Noah Vogelman.
As the final table kicked off at an incredibly fast pace, it was when play reached heads up that everything slowed down as both Leaosavaii and Grigg would begin one of the most passive, but highly entertaining battles of New Zealand vs Australia, hometown favorite vs overseas rival and amateur vs near-seasoned pro. Both Leaosavaii and Grigg see-sawed back and forth for over four and a half hours as each captured the lead and relinquished it several times over. However, it would Leaosavaii who capitalized on his advantage as he applied continuous pressure before eventually taking control of the match and proving victorious to become the third consecutive Kiwi to capture the title!
Leaosavaii - or Brotha D as he is mainly known as - displayed traits of aggression, control, composure, timing and friendly table compassion on his way to besting the 218-player field to be crowned the 2010 PokerStars.net APPT Auckland Champion and proud owner of the coveted trophy and $123,058 (NZ$170,000) first prize!
As for the PokerNews Live Reporting Team based here in Auckland, New Zealand, we would firstly like to thank PokerStars, Toni Quedley and the SKYCITY Auckland Poker Room for their wonderful hospitality throughout the past five days. For you tournament junkies out there, make sure to catch all the coverage from the WSOP Europe as action extends till the end of the month as the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour goes on a short hiatus until November 12th-16th when the fourth stop of the fourth season in Cebu, Philippines kicks off.
Until then . . . may your Aces greet Kings . . . flushes best straights . . . and triple barrel bluffs go uncalled!