SkyCity's Festival of Poker

SkyCity has announced that some of the biggest poker players in the world are set to play in New Zealand's largest ever poker tournament.  The first ever SkyCity Festival of Poker will start on October 4th and will run until October 12th.  The tournament is expecting hundreds of players to enter in over the tournament period.

The prize pool for the Festival of Poker is expected to reach around $1 million dollars and could go higher.  Some of the top talent confirmed to attend are; Chris Moneymaker, Greg Moneymaker, Joe Hachem, Grant Levy, Lee Nelson, Emad Tahtouh and Eric Assadourian.

Over the week there are going to be single and multi table satellite tournaments at the Festival of Poker that will all end in the three day Main Event.

Executive Manager for SkyCity, Ejaaz Dean said, "The massive popularity of poker worldwide has taken its time reaching New Zealand. With the likes of international poker stars Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker here to inspire players in a local tournament of this scale the possibilities in New Zealand are endless – we're just at the very beginning of our own poker craze.

"We are committed to making SKYCITY the home of New Zealand poker. We want the SKYCITY Festival of Poker to become an annual fixture on the world poker circuit and an absolute must for all top poker players", continued Dean.

Lee Nelson, one of the players confirmed to attend the event said,  "I am thrilled to be able to play in a tournament of this quality on home soil. With the numbers expected for the event and the prize pool at stake there is a good chance that new local talent will be discovered and the title be taken by a New Zealander".