Poker chips, Check; Dealers, Check; International player, Check! One week to go until the inaugural Lee Nelson Deep Stack

The chips have been counted, seating cards shuffled, and with satellite events beginning today the countdown is on for the newest event on the 2010 SKYCITY poker calendar, the inaugural Lee Nelson Deep Stack Series.

With the main event beginning in five days time, players have started to arrive in Auckland for what is set to be an exciting tournament. Many of the local players will be seated at tables this week, taking part in smaller satellite events trying to win their way into the main event.

Over the next five days there will be Mega Satellite events, Main Event, Low Stakes No Limit Hold’em with re-buys and Lee Nelson Deep Stack satellite events. Making sure that satellite events are within all of the players budgets, buy-ins for these events range from a low, NZD $60.00 up to NZD $230.00.

The Lee Nelson Deep Stack Series Main Event will take place on Saturday 27 March at 12.00pm and with player numbers limited to 180, this tournament is sure to sell out!

There will be a minimum of ten levels played on Day 1, with the remaining players heading into Day 2 on Sunday 28 March at 2.00pm. The buy-in for the main event is set at NZD $1,100.00 with a guaranteed NZD $50,000.00 prize pool, which will increase as players enter the Main Event.

Tony Dunst, a rising star and prominent figure in tournament poker in the last few years has been confirmed to play in the Main Event for the Lee Nelson Deep Stack Series. Originally from the United States of America and now living in Melbourne, Australia, Tony has cashed in at prominent tournaments around the US and Australia and is looking forward to adding a New Zealand title to his poker CV.

“I'm stoked to be playing at SKYCITY Auckland Lee Nelson's Deep Stack Series. Lee is one of the best and most classy ambassadors poker has, and winning his inaugural tournament would be sweet as," says Dunst.

Seats are still available for the Lee Nelson Deep Stack Series, both in satellite events and in the Main Event.

See www.skycity.co.nz/poker for more details including registration forms, tournament schedule and, terms and conditions.