Former Local Wins ANZPT Queenstown

Former local Danny Chevalier won the inaugural Queenstown leg of the Australia New Zealand Poker Tour on the weekend.

Chevalier, 46, who lived in Queenstown for 11 years before moving back across the Tasman to Melbourne last November, returned to his former place of residence to beat 134 opponents and claim the NZ$87,435 first prize at SkyCity Queenstown.

Chevalier defeated another Australian, Andrew Hinrichsen, with a seven and ace of hearts on the last hand to give him a nut flush.

He was quoted by the Otago Daily Times as saying his grandmother Regine, who died at age 99, had given him his love of poker.

More than 40 of the starting field were from Queenstown, and six of the final nine competitors were New Zealand-based players, the Otago Daily Times reported.

Several professionals competed in the tournament, including New Zealand's own Lee Nelson.