Winner Gerry Fitt with his $40,000 earnings and $5,000 gold bracelet.
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Visitor Takes Out $40,000
NZ Poker Championship
Melbourne card player Gerry Fitt won the New Zealand Poker Championship and $40,000 in prizemoney to climax the 11-day event at the Christchurch Casino.
One of 65 Australians in Christchurch specially for the tournament, Gerry beat Sydney-based Martin Comer with a final winning hand of a pair of sevens.
The highest placed New Zealander in the no limit hold'em championship was Christchurch's Paul Taylor, who finished sixth from 54 entrants.
Tournament director Keith Sloan said Australian players took most of the top places in the championship, worth a total of $108,000 in prize money. (See results)
"To their credit, New Zealanders won four of the eight daily tournaments leading up to the three-day main event," he said.
Mr Sloan said the tournament was clearly a success as all games were fully booked out, with waiting lists for some.
Because of its popularity with players, plus families and friends who travelled with them, it would be repeated at the casino next year with even more overseas entrants.
"The unanimous feedback is that the New Zealand tournament is one not to be missed."
Runner-up Martin Comer, left, congratulates
winner Gerry Fitt at the casino.
Danny McDonaugh's Report | 
