Australia New Zealand Poker Tour

Scott Kerr is ANZPT Final Champion

The debut Season of the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour has drawn to a close with Australian player Scott Kerr claiming the final tournament victory at ANZPT Queensland. A total of 249 players turned out at the Conrad Jupiters Casino and Conrad Treasury Casino in Gold Coast and Brisbane creating a prize pool of AUD$622,500, with Scott the last man standing after four days of action.

Scott, who is a card dealer by trade, was cheered on by family and friends at the final table and took home $168,075 for first place. He met Kiwi Phillip Willcocks in the heads-up finale, and the end came when Kerr called Willcocks’ all-in shove holding A-Q and saw his opponent table Q-J. A Queen on the board paired both players, but Kerr’s Ace kicker held to give him the title.

Season 1 Highlights

Season 1 of the ANZPT was a huge success with five packed-out tournaments staged across the two countries. In total AUD$2,982,436 in prize money was won during the six-month tour, as the ANZPT visited the hottest poker destinations that Australia and New Zealand has to offer.

The inaugural tournament was ANZPT Adelaide back in February where Karl Krautschnieder was victorious, pocketing AUD$170,215 for first place. Next up was ANZPT Sydney and the biggest tournament of the Season in terms of attendance and prize pool, with Paren Arzoomanian the winner at the famous Star City Casino taking home AUD$246,500. Then it was on to ANZPT Melbourne and the spectacular Crown Casino on the banks of the Yarra River, where Chris Levick triumphed, netting AUD$158,050.

The tour then visited the stunning location of Queenstown in New Zealand, which is a magnet to adrenaline junkies and poker players alike. It was Australian player and former Queenstown resident Danny Chevalier who collected the first place prize of NZD$87,435, and the honor of being the new ANZPT Queenstown Champion, before the tour moved on to Queensland and its conclusion.

Event	Date	Field Size	Champion	Prize
ANZPT Adelaide	February 4-7, 2009	215	Karl Krautschneider	AUD$170,215
ANZPT Sydney	April 30-May 3, 2009	493	Paren Arzoomanian	AUD$246,500
ANZPT Melbourne	May 25-May 27, 2009	218	Chris Levick	AUD$158,050
ANZPT Queenstown	July 20-25, 2009	134	Daniel Chevalier	NZD$87,435
ANZPT Queensland	August 5-9, 2009	249	Scott Kerr	AUD$168,075

For full details from all the tournaments on ANZPT Season 1, check out the PokerStars Blog.

Season 2

The Australia New Zealand Poker Tour will return for Season 2. The first tournament is scheduled for Adelaide and is due to take place February 9-14, 2010. Check back here regularly for qualification details and further information on the rest of the Tour.

Contact support@pokerstars.com if you have any questions about the ANZPT.