Poker Stars Announces Newest Down Under Tour

In an attempt to satisfy the increasing global interest in poker, Poker Stars has announced its latest venture, the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour (ANZPT).  The tour will premier in Adelaide, Australia with a $3,000 AUD event on February 4.  Qualifiers are already running on Poker Stars with cash satellites and daily freerolls for as little as $8.80.

“Following the success of the APPT (Asia Pacific Poker Tour) earlier this year, we are excited to be expanding poker further throughout this region. The ANZPT will provide Australian and New Zealand poker players with a professionally executed tour in their own backyard.” Danny McDonagh, an ANZPT spokesperson said.

The Australia New Zealand Poker Tour is joining a growing Poker Stars sponsored poker tour line up.  Along with the Asia Pacific Poker Tour, the online site also sponsors the European Poker Tour, the new Russian Poker Tour, the expanding Latin American Poker Tour and the Filipino Poker Tour.

Poker is nothing new to the region, Melbourne’s Aussie Millions is a highly regarded tournament series which has been running since 1997.  The game’s popularity received a huge boost when Australia’s native son Joe Hachem won the World Series of Poker main event in 2005.  Poker Stars recent Asia Pacific Poker Tour events in Auckland and Sydney have brought in large crowds.

The full 2009 schedule of the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour has not yet been released, tournaments are planned in up to six locations.  Poker Stars Team Australia members Tony Hachem, Grant Levy, Celina Lin, Erica Assadourian and Emad Tahtouh are all expected to be in attendance at one or more of the events.