Craker Wins Poker Title

October 13, 2008

It was down to two – Daniel Craker, of New Zealand, and Australian Matthew Konnecke. At the end of four days however, it would be Craker who took the poker title.

The poker tournament was part of SkyCity’s festival of poker, and had more than 300 players enter the event. It is easily New Zealand’s biggest poker tournament ever. Craker, a plasterer, beat out all of the contestants – of which most were locals.

Craker sat at a final table that included participants from New Zealand, Finland, Australia, Britain and Singapore. This was interesting as the majority of players had been from the country, but the finals ended up being a multi-national sort of event.

Many thought that Konnecke might have a real chance at taking the title, but he was eliminated when he played the hand where Craker had pocket twos. This was a blow to those that wanted him to win, but a real victory for Craker.

Not that Konnecke went home without anything. He took $162,791 for his second place finish, while Craker took home $257,040 for first place.