$2,750 NZPC Main Event [Day 3]
Structure Chip counts Prizepool
Photo Gallery Players Left: 1 out of 72
"Champion Soren Eriksen"
April 18, 2010
Congratulations to Soren Eriksen, Champion of the New Zealand Poker Championships Main Event (NZ$60,000)!
Following four action-packed days of tournament poker, plenty of bad beats and lucky river cards, we have now had the last card of the New Zealand Poker Championships Main Event dealt with Soren Eriksen being crowned Champion for the second year running!Three days ago seventy-two players handed over NZ$2,750 to take part in the New Zealand Poker Championships Main Event. Professionals, amateurs, inter-island and internationals alike took their seat to mix it with some of the best.
Local players Constantine Harach, James Honeybone, Jack Efaraimo and a handful of others were joined by previous Champions Soren Eriksen, David Borg and Eric Assadourian as well as ANZPT and APPT Champions Tony Hachem, Simon Watt and Aaron Benton.
However many came and went as even the best were unable to stay alive as a tough day two was had by all until a final nine was reached.
Joseph Allis headlined the final table but was closely trailed by Michael Spilkin. Local tournament regulars Mike King, James Honeybone and Richard Lancaster also stood a chance while everyone favoured the reigning Champion Eriksen who sat in the middle of the pack.
King was two-outered to the rail and was soon followed by Alfred Saliba and Andrew Middleditch before overnight chip leader Allis hit the rail. Spilkin began to ride a wave of cards and knocked out Honeybone next to hold over sixty percent of the chips in play.
Lancaster fell next when he was unable to gain any momentum with his short stack as a long stale mate began between Eriksen, Spilkin and Cole Swannack.
Chips road back and forth between the three with Spilkin again launching into the chip lead when he won a race against Eriksen to leave the relocated Swede down to just six big blinds. Eriksen however kept his composure, found some luck and began his climb back up the leaderboard eventually dispatching of Spilkin in a battle of the blinds with top pair versus middle pair.
With Eriksen taking virtually a two-to-one chip lead into heads-up play against Swannack, the two would steal each others blinds over a few hands before Eriksen gambled with his pocket sevens against Swannack's Ace-Queen.
The walking sticks would hold up to send Swannack to the rail and see Eriksen crowned an amazing back-to-back New Zealand Poker Champion and proud recipient of the coveted trophy, NZ$60,000 first prize and title of one of New Zealand's finest adopted tournament players.
PokerNetwork would like to congratulate Soren Eriksen on playing such a fantastic tournament and joining only a handful of people before him that have claimed back-to-back Main Events.
For the PokerNetwork Live Reporting Team, we would like to say many thanks to the Christchurch Casino and their wonderful staff for their hospitality and assistance as we prepare for the next stop on the tour - the ANZPT Sydney live from the 20th - 25th of April.
Cole Swannack Eliminated in 2nd Place (NZ$33,000); Soren Eriksen Wins!
Cole Swannack opened to 26,000 from the button and Soren Eriksen followed it up with a re-raise to 65,000.With the action back on Swannack, he moved all in for roughly 310,000 and after a few moments of deliberation Eriksen made the call.
Swannack:
Eriksen:
"This might be the first race I win all tournament" stated Eriksen as he waited for what may become of the hand.
The flop landed
to keep Eriksen in the lead, and when the 
landed on the turn, Swannack was left drawing to just six outs to stay alive in the tournament.Although the river fell a paint-card, it was unfortunately the
to see Swannack eliminated in second place for a NZ$33,000 payday as Soren Eriksen is crowned back-to-back Champion!
Same Each Time
So far the heads up duel has been fairly uninteresting.A button raise has been enough to take the pot down on several occasions by each player, and we have yet to see a flop.
Heads Up Counts
With play now back underway, here are the updated counts.Soren Eriksen - 705,000
Cole Swannack - 375,000
Quick Break
The final two players - Soren Eriksen and Cole Swannack - are taking a little unscheduled break.Michael Spilkin Eliminated in 3rd Place (NZ$24,000)
Soren Eriksen limped in from the small blind and Michael Spilkin checked his option.Eriksen fired out 16,000 at the
flop and as Michael Spilkin announced an inaudible raise amount, Eriksen quickly moved all in. Just as quickly Spilkin made the call for his tournament life.Spilkin:
Eriksen:
The turn landed the
to change little, and when the river fell the 
, Spilkin exited in third place for a NZ$24,000 collect.
Swannack Back In Contention
After finding a double through Soren Eriksen holding
against pocket sevens, Cole Swannack is back in contention.Recently after facing a 36,000-button raise from Michael Spilkin, Swannack moved all in to force a Spilkin fold.
Swannack is now up to 340,000 in chips.
Soren . . . Doubles Once Again
Soren Eriksen limped in from the small blind and Michael Spilkin bumped it to 32,000 from the big, only to be met with an immediate all in for 286,000 from Eriksen.Spilkin quickly made the call and tabled his
to be dominated by Eriksen's 
.The board ran out
to see Eriksen double through to 595,000 and leave Spilkin on 366,000.
Soren Doubles Again
Soren Eriksen pushed all in for 110,000 from the button and Cole Swannack made the call.Eriksen:
Swannack:
The board ran out
to see Eriksen doubled through to 230,000 and see Swannack slip to 185,000 in chips.