Celebrities chip up to the poker table, by Rachel Glucina - The New Zealand Herald - 8th October 2008

I almost didn't make it to SkyCity last night for the poker festival. I was running late from Newmarket in heavy traffic and pouring rain where I'd been hobnobbing at Kemp Rare Wines sipping the most expensive and exclusive wines from around the country. Yeah, ok, I'm bragging.

We finally got to SkyCity; parked in the maze they call a car park; ambled through the complex into the room where the celebrity festival was being played, when I got stopped by a security guard and harassed for ID. Apparently I looked too young to be in a casino. I'm thirty-five! I fished out my driver's licence, while Norrie, my pint-sized photographer was chortling with laughter. Finally, the guard ushered us through and into the room for the celebrity tournament.

(Here's some photos from last night's Festival of Poker at SkyCity.)

There were ten tables crammed full of well-known faces: Otis Frizzell and Dave Fane in fedoras were at the far table cavorting with horse racing couple Bridgette and Lance O'Sullivan; Aja Rock who was sporting some dramatic cleavage and a fascinator (maybe she thought she was at the races) was playing with Simon Doull; Neil "The Waka" Waka (what is it with Kiwi blokes and not-so-original nicknames?) was there looking like a poker ace donning a baseball cap and sunglasses - the only time you're legitimately allowed to wear shades inside, apparently - only he's not an ace. Nice bluff, Neil.

But Mike King is. He was on the same table as Nick D, Che Fu and Ali Williams, only unlike the awkward sports star, King looked like he knew what he was doing. He's a pro. He's won poker tournaments here and in Australia and has been playing the game for over 20 years. He looked the part last night, wearing dark sunnies and earphones so the chit chat around him wouldn't prove distracting. Not that he's opposed to the odd distracting tactic himself. "I pity anyone who sits at my table," King once said about the NZ Poker Championship at Christchurch Casino. "Whether I'm winning or losing, I'm constantly ribbing the other players - riding them like a horse." I didn't see much evidence of that last night. King was concentrating intently, and the only thing riding seemed to be his reputation. This was one celebrity competition Mikey couldn't afford to lose.

Ex-All Blacks AJ Whetton and Steve Devine were at another table; Auckland Blues flanker Daniel Braid (who's relocating to Queensland to play for the Reds) was at a table alongside - the same one Craig Parker, Phil Bostwick and Elemeno P's Dave Gibson were at.

Dean Lonergan admitted he didn't know how to play, though I suspect he wasn't alone. I'd heard from a poker tell-tale that Vicky-Lee, who was at the same table, had been up to 4am the previous morning learning the tricks of the trade, though if I was being honest, she didn't look like much of an apprentice. Perhaps, like King, she was opting instead for distracting tactics, if that's what you can call her not-so-subtle cleavage on display.

By contrast, Brooke McAlister (Luke's ex-wife) opted for the smart girl's guide to winning poker: sidling up to a professional by the name of Lee Nelson - the 2006 Aussie Millions Champion. It's no wonder, then, she's dumped the WAG role and moved into the entrepreneur arena and on to the arms of Eric Watson and Peter Huljich, respectively. Why expose your boobs, when a buddy in the business can be more helpful and less degrading?

Here's some photos from last night's Festival of Poker at SkyCity, but for all the piccies and a complete gossip rundown - including who won - check out Spy in the Herald on Sunday.

Rachel Glucina

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