Here is how some of the notable names are faring early here on Day 1a of the 2012 Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Queenstown Snowfest Main Event. As you can see, David "dave798111" Allan has had a great start to the day, seeing his stack more than double during the last level and a half.
Jackson Zheng has lost plenty of his chips early here on Day 1a, but has managed to pick up a few chips to sit with a much healthier stack.
We recently caught up with the action on a board, with Zheng, En-cheng Hung and one other opponent each committing 2,200 on the turn to see the dealer turn over a on the river.
This time all three players would check and Hung would table . His pair of nines was not strong enough for Zheng's tow-pair, holding , while the other player's went straight into the muck.
We picked up the action on a flop of where three players, including Cole Swannack, committed 800 chips each to see the fall on the turn. Action checked through to Swannack in position who bet 2,200. En-cheng Hung in the small blind quickly responded with a check-raise to 6,000 to force a fold from the third player. Swannack went deep into the tank, deliberating for several long minutes, before eventually matching the bet with a call.
The river was the and Hung quickly bet out 8,000 as Swannack wasted no time getting his last 10,200 into the middle. Hung made the pot-committed call but Swannack opened for the nut flush as his opponent quickly mucked.
Swannack is off to a fast start with an early double up to see his stack sit at 36,000.
One table was hidden on the main casino floor here at SKYCITY, but has quickly broken into the main tournament area. One player who started the day out there, but who we have noticed has already been eliminated, is Australia's Michael Egan. We aren't sure of the details, but we do know that Egan is keen to get out in the snow, walking around the tables telling some friends where he plans on spending the rest of his day.
Jackson Zheng calls this country his home, but might be saying goodbye to New Zealand's premiere poker tournament very soon if his chip stack keeps traveling in the same direction.
We recently caught up with a hand over on Zheng's table that saw him and one opponent involved in a pot with a board already out on the felt. There was 1,000 in the pot at this point and Zheng's opponent led for 500. Zheng casually flicked out a call and the dealer flipped over a to complete the board on the river. The player again opted to bet, placing another 500-denomination chip out on the felt.
"One thousand, nine hundred," said Zheng calmly.
"I call," his opponent replied.
"You got me," Zheng fired back as he flipped over .
Zheng was right, his opponent held - enough to rake in the pot and take some of Zheng's already dented stack.
Asia Pacific Poker Tour President and Tournament Director Danny McDonagh has just announced that 51 entries today has seen registration closed here on Day 1a. This amount means we will be on target for 150 total entries for the 2012 ANZPT Queenstown Snowfest Main Event - a huge effort that bests last year's field of 127.
A quick scan around the tournament floor and these are some of the players we have recognised. Among these players are some of the finest in Australia and New Zealand.
Just to mention a few, we have New Zealand's own Jackson Zheng, who finished in 10th place in this event last year; World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Andrew Hinrichsen; Mishel Anunu, who recently took down the Treasury Poker Masters in Brisbane, Australia; Tristan "SkunkDen" Bain, who won more than $750,000 for a six-way deal during the PokerStars 10th Anniversary Sunday Million; and former ANZPT final tablist Daniel Neilson, who has more than $1 million in tournament winnings on his resume.
There is currently a capacity five tables set up in the tournament area here at the ANZPT Queenstown Snowfest Main Event. That sees around 45 players currently entered on Day 1a, but we will have the official numbers posted as soon as it is made available.
For your information, this event saw 127 entries last year. This year is set to be even bigger, with more than 120 entries already confirmed, but only time tell just how many players will take to the felt here in 2012.
Each of the three Day 1 flights will play out just six one-hour levels, with a 10-minute break after each two levels. That will see the players who survive bagging up and out the door by around 7:00 PM local time - which gives everyone time to explore this beautiful city in the evening.
A warm welcome and introduction from the staff here at the SKYCITY Queenstown Casino has seen the beginning of the 2012 Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Queenstown Snowfest Main Event - say that mouthful three times as quickly as you can.
![[user162117]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
board, with Zheng, En-cheng Hung and one other opponent each committing 2,200 on the turn to see the dealer turn over a 
on the river.
. His pair of nines was not strong enough for Zheng's tow-pair, holding 
, while the other player's 
went straight into the muck.
where three players, including Cole Swannack, committed 800 chips each to see the 
fall on the turn. Action checked through to Swannack in position who bet 2,200. En-cheng Hung in the small blind quickly responded with a check-raise to 6,000 to force a fold from the third player. Swannack went deep into the tank, deliberating for several long minutes, before eventually matching the bet with a call.
and Hung quickly bet out 8,000 as Swannack wasted no time getting his last 10,200 into the middle. Hung made the pot-committed call but Swannack opened 
for the nut flush as his opponent quickly mucked.
board already out on the felt. There was 1,000 in the pot at this point and Zheng's opponent led for 500. Zheng casually flicked out a call and the dealer flipped over a 
to complete the board on the river. The player again opted to bet, placing another 500-denomination chip out on the felt.
.
- enough to rake in the pot and take some of Zheng's already dented stack.