Plasterer Wins News Zealand's Biggest Poker Tournament

Oct 14, 2008 - 11:26:31 AM

A Lower Hutt plasterer has snapped up a cheque for more than $250,000 after winning New Zealand's biggest poker tournament. Daniel Craker was crowned champion by outplaying 305 rivals over four days.

Despite not going to bed until 6am he was happy to return to the poker table for 3 News cameras today – and the intensity and confidence that saw him beat players from 21 countries was still there for all to see.

“I just felt something was just telling me - before I'd even started - that I was going to have a good go at it,” says Craker. “On day two I played probably my best poker of the tournament which got me up there.”

Craker took out the championship title and the $257,000 winner's cheque by betting 1.7 million chips on a pair of twos.

“It was heads up and I had pocket twos. I was pretty tired and my strategy was to play aggressive and I raised it. He re-raised, I went all in... and they held up.”

His strategy impressed those watching at the casino as well as poker buddies watching on line from his home town.

“The final table was sensational,” says Skycity Auckland Executive Manager of table games Ejaaz Dean. “The crowd participation, the quality of the players and the quality of the hands was second to none.”

“It was pretty intense,” says Craker’s mate Bruce King. “My heart was racing - and I wasn't even playing.”

“Wainui is buzzing and the boys are buzzing around here. He's just done a great thing really and I can't wait for him to get back and see him and get him on the table and beat him.”

Craker does not expect his new found fame and fortune to change him too much. He says he will use his winnings to buy a house but definitely has not forgotton his day job as a plasterer.

“I'm actually in the middle of a job at the moment,” says Craker, before telling his boss: “I'll get to that job eventually!”

Craker's win means he has qualified for the Sydney championship in December – its top prize is one million dollars.

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