APPT Auckland 2010 Won By Kiwi Hip-hop Star Brotha D
September 20, 2010 7:44 amNew Zealand’s Brotha D has just won the Asia Pacific Poker Tournament (APPT) Auckland 2010, after defeating a field of 218 players over five days to claim the title, and the NZD $170,000 (US$124,000) first place prize.
The 40 year-old Kiwi, known as the “Godfather’ of New Zealand hip-hop” describes himself as a music mogul, entrepreneur, and activist but now might have to add poker champion to his impressively expanding résumé.
Commenting on his famous victory after winning New Zealand’s biggest poker tournament, Brotha D said:
“This is awesome, you know. There are some really good poker players in New Zealand…This is the ultimate competition for us in New Zealand. We look forward to this every year.”
Holding the overnight chip lead in the NZ $3,250 buy-in event, Danny “Brotha D” Leaoasavaii took his seat at the nine player final table in a commanding position and continued to maintain his lead throughout the day.
Four handed Brotha D then eliminated Danny Silk in 4th place and after Srdjan Mitrovic was sent to the rail in 3rd by Tom Grigg, the heads-up phase of the tournament begun.
Roughly even in chips, the New Zealand/ Australian duo battled away for more than four hours while the partisan crowd cheered almost every hand.
Eventually, Tom Grigg pre-flop shoved with Jh-Ts only to walk into Brotha D’s As-Ks, and with both players missing on a 3c-4d-9d-6s-Qs board Grigg was relegated to the runner-up spot, while Brotha D was crowned APPT Auckland 2010 Champion.
Although disappointed, Grigg will take comfort from the fact that his NZ$107,900 prize money came from an initial investment of just $22 from an online re-buy satellite.
Heaping praise on the winner, the 25 year old Melbourne pro said: “He (Brotha D) played really, really well I think. I kind of felt like I could wait for spots and get it in. I didn’t have to bluff, really, to win. That was my thought process. In the end, obviously it didn’t work out, but he played really well.”