Simon Watt Wins APPT Auckland

Watt a victory.... The honours and the NZ$209 085 cash main prize in the 2009 PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour Auckland Main Event stay in New Zealand this time around following the news that Kiwi software developer Simon Watt (26) had bested the best in the final table over the weekend. When InfoPowa left the virtual rail (see previous InfoPowa report) the action was down to a three-handed tussle between Watt, French player Gerome Guitteau holding the chip lead on 1 204 000 and (at that stage) second stack Jason Brown, also on home territory. However, Brown got into trouble soon after in a confrontation with Watt over a pot worth 2 million which saw him exit in third place, clearing the way for a heads up between Watt and the French player, with the latter holding a slim advantage in chips. It was a heads up that did not last long, thanks to the aggressive play of the remaining New Zealander, who overwhelmed his Gallic opponent to win the trophy and the cash. Guitteau, who had given a good account of himself throughout the game, collected a cheque for NZ$142 020 for his second placing.