Asian Poker Tour

Kiwi local Daniel Craker became the first ever PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour Auckland Champion, outplaying 305 other players over three days to take home the trophy and over NZD$250,000.

The Final Table began with nine players from an original starting field of 306 who battled for a total prize pool of over NZD$850,000. The final table was made up of four locals and five poker tourists from around the world, including an Aussie, a Singaporean, a Dane and a Brit.

Final table play lasted a long and gruelling nine hours. In the final hand, second-place winner Aussie Matthew Konnecke called with As 9s against Daniel’s unsuited pocket twos and the board fell to the local’s favour, making Daniel Craker the APPT Auckland Champion. APPT Auckland

"I am so excited to take out New Zealand's biggest poker tournament. I felt confident throughout the day though now I have the title I think it will take at least until tomorrow morning for the victory to sink in," said Danie, who qualified through a $330 Mega Satellite two days before the tournament.

PokerStars APPT Auckland attracted a world-class field, with some of the sport's finest talent, including Team PokerStars Pros Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem and New Zealand-based Lee Nelson. Coming from 21 different nations, with as many as 67 players qualifying via online satellites at PokerStars, the 306-strong field was cheered on by hundreds of local fans at SKYCITY Casino, creating a high-energy tournament experience.

It was also the largest poker tournament ever in New Zealand, by both player numbers and prize pool.

The next stop on the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour's second season is Manila, Philippines, from November 13-16 at the Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila. You can qualify online at PokerStars.

The following are online poker room is where you can win your way to the Asia Pacific Poker Tour via Satellites, the following rooms have been reviewed by AsianPokerTour.com and are known to have the best in online poker software.