APPT Auckland Main Event | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Auckland

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 9: Michael Mariakis (262,000)

[user66118]

Michael Mariakis is a 48-year-old Logistics Manager for Harvery Norman. He lives in Sydney, Australia and is happily married to his lovely wife. Poker is Mariakis' passion, and he plays on PokerStars under the nickname 'smmmooth'. He says he plays mostly online, but does enjoy the occasional live game. This is his first major tournament, and he tells us that he has had the time of his life. When he's not at the tables, Mariakis loves to play golf, though it seems he was made to play poker. He begins the final table with 262,000 in chips.

Tags: Michael Mariakis

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 8: Dan Sing (198,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Dan Sing is an actor who won his way into the tournament by playing in the celebrity event here in Auckland. Dan has been playing poker for five years, and says he tries to get down here to SKYCITY as often as possible. Sing's heritage is Chinese, Malaysian, and Samoan, but now he is a proud New Zealander, making Auckland his home base for the time being. Cheering him on are the 'Leveeda Poker Boys’. Sing comes into the final table with 198,000.

Tags: Dan Sing

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 7: Jani Karke (49,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Jani Karke is a 36-year-old poker pro from Finland. He is travelling with his girlfriend, fellow pro Teresa Nousiainen. Jani began his poker career playing cash games, but has been travelling around Europe playing tournaments for the past few years. He has played a number of major tournaments, but this is his best finish to date. Karke also plays a good bit of online poker, but says he really enjoys the challenge of playing live.

The final table will be one such challenge for him; he comes in on the short stack with just 49,000 chips.

Tags: Jani Karke

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 6: Luke Stanford (860,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Luke Stanford comes into the day as the massive chip leader, holding 860,000 chips. He too is a native New Zealander. In fact, he lives just a block away from SKYCITY. Luke is 26 years old, and works in risk management. He enjoys playing the live cash games here at the casino and puts in a lot of time playing online as well. This is Stanford's first major tournament.

Tags: Luke Stanford

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 5: Wang Che Jung (373,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Wang Che Jung is a 33-year-old businessman and a resident of the South Island of New Zealand. He was born in South Korea and moved here seven years ago to start a new life for himself. He is married and has a 3-year-old daughter. This is his very first live tournament and he managed to win his way in on an $80 satellite here at the casino. Jung says that even though he has only been playing poker for about two months, it is his new favorite pastime. He starts with a very healthy 373,000 chips.

Tags: Wang Che Jung

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 4: Matthew Konnecke (80,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Matthew Konnecke is 27-years-old and hails from Sydney, Australia. An Office Administrator, Matthew has been a dedicated online poker player for the last four years. Deciding to cross the Pacific this month and try his skills on the felt, he is playing in his first live tournament this year. He is one of the two Aussies left in the field, and he begins with 80,000 in chips.

Tags: Matthew Konnecke

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 3: Wai Yuen (162,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Wai Kwan Yuen resides in Birmingham, United Kingdom. She qualified for APPT Auckland on PokerStars for just $4 one week ago. Yuen has been playing poker for several years, and she now plays full time. She is the last lady remaining in the field, and she begins play with 162,000 in chips.

Tags: Wai Yuen

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 2: Nathanael Seet (348,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Nathanael Seet is a 24-year-old poker pro who resides in Singapore. He prefers to play high stakes cash games, and can usually be found in the biggest game in the room. Nat made a name for himself playing online about three years ago, but says the live game suits his style better. Seet doesn't play many tournaments, making this his biggest result to date. When Seet is away from the felt, he enjoys playing World of Warcraft and soccer, and is a big Manchester United fan.

Seet begins the final table in third place, sitting on a stack of 348,000.

Tags: Nathaniel Seet

10-11-2008 11:54 UTC-12

Final Table Bios: Seat 1: Daniel Craker (447,000)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

[user66118]

Daniel Craker is a 30-year-old plasterer from Wellington, New Zealand. He says he hopes not to have that occupation for much longer though. Craker flew up from his hometown and won his way into the tournament in a single table satellite. He plays a lot of online poker and has a weekly home game with the “Wainuiomata Boys”. Craker begins play with 447,000 chips.

Tags: Daniel Craker

10-11-2008 11:53 UTC-12

Eric Mutrie Eluminated in 10th Place ($10,281)

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

donpeters

After losing almost all of his chips on the previous hand to a straight by Dan Sing, Eric Mutrie moved all in for his last 11,000 from the small blind after Matthew Konnecke raised to 16,000. Michael Mariakis called from the big blind as well.

The flop came down {K-Hearts}