The best of Australasian poker talent was on display at Christchurch Casino last week. Thousands of poker fans traveled from all over Australia and New Zealand to compete in the New Zealand Poker Championship. The contest provided some top poker play and a nail-biting finish between an Aussie and a Kiwi at the final table.

Poker professional Eric Assadourian eventually came out on top, winning the title and $100,000 from his opponent Kiwi househusband Richard Grace. He also received sponsorship to the 2007 World Series of Poker event as part of the main prize, while Wellington resident Grace was awarded $60,000 for second place.

Assadourian told media that he'd needed to call on all his poker experience to beat Grace. “I was made to really work for it,” he said. “When I made it to the final table, I only had one thing on my mind and that was to win the tournament. People kept folding around me and I was able to build up a decent amount of chips.”

Mick Ryan, Poker Operations Manager for Christchurch Casino, said that his team were glad to be part of the week's exciting events. "There were people trying to knock each other out right from the start,” Ryan said. “It was great to see a Kiwi there at the end, but Eric 'The Voice' Assadourian has shown throughout the tournament he is a very shrewd player and knows when to take a risk.”

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