Jamil Dia is a poker enigma. In 2004-05, he won national championships on either side of the Tasman in capturing the 2004 NZ Poker Championships Main Event crown and 2005 Aussie Millions Main Event title. He cashed in a handful of regional events in 2005-06, but has rarely been sighted on the Australasian poker circuit in the past five years.
Like the city of Christchurch emerging from the ruins after the devastating impact of earthquakes in September and February (which killed 181 people), Dia returned to the felt to contest the 2011 NZ Poker Champs Main Event, where he joined Soren Eriksen as a multiple champion.
Dia, from Wellington, bested a field of 90 including Eriksen (the 2009 & 2010 Main Event Winner), “Kiwi G” Graeme Putt and Mike King to claim the coveted Main Event title.
The 2011 NZPC, hosted by Christchurch Casino, represented a landmark week in NZ poker history. Not only was more than NZD $330,000 up for grabs, the event (which was postponed in April), created an escape for locals while encouraging visitors back to the city.
Christchurch Casino Poker Manager, Warren Wyllie, said the NZ Poker Champs surpassed all expectations. “This year has really shown us what a strong legacy the NZPC has; we are most definitely the home of New Zealand poker,” Wyllie said.
With more tournament series planned and regular events each week, keep up to date at Christchurch Casino – Home of New Zealand Poker on Facebook.
Results: 2011 New Zealand Poker Championships
$1650 New Zealand Poker Championships Main Event
1 Jamil Dia $35,700
2 Doug Giles $23,000
3 Jeff Bucher $15,000
4 Kevin Clark $13,000
5 Shane Hicks $10,000
6 Martin Cardno $9000
7 Fern Webber $7500
8 Steve Smith $6400
9 Selina Smith $5100
10 Soren Eriksen $3800
11 Andrew Yee $2500
12 Aaron Peters $2500
$775 Wellington Main Event
1 Mike King $11,000
2 Graham Freeman $8400
3 Graeme Putt $6000
4 David La $4000
5 Bob Sova $2500
6 Jackson Chan $1700
$220 NZPC Women’s Championship
1 Ranae Baker $2500
2 Richenda Kennett $1800
3 Kirby Mackay $1100
4 Connie Cootes $600
$330 NZPC Minh Tran Two-card Manila Championship
1 Chul Hoon Lee $3120
2 Marco Zdrenka $2340
3 Kanniga Morgan $1560
4 Carl Nolan $780
$330 NZPC Deep Stack Turbo
1 Graeme Putt $6700
2 Hayden Jackson $4400
3 Lui Fai Cheung $2900
4 Tuan Mai $2500
5 Elie Sawma $2000
6 C J Driver $1700
7 Tolu Tuilagi $1500
8 Benjamin Sloane $1200
9 Shane Ching $1000
10 Ryan Peters $700
$550 NZPC Pot Limit Omaha Championship
1 Andrew Dimock $7500
2 Lyndon Armstrong $5000
3 Jeremy Kay Wah $3500
4 Joe Chiu $2000
5 Andrew Yee $1000
$660 NZPC Canterbury Championship
1 Adrian Robinson $14,000
2 Aaron Peters $9100
3 Kanniga Morgan $6200
4 Geoffrey Newman $5100
5 Dan Foote $4100
6 Andy Domigan $3500
7 Paul Bielby $3000
8 Geoff Smith $2500
9 Nick Hood $2000
10 Duane Ruru $1500
$775 NZPC South Island Championship
1 Shane Foglietta $16,200
2 Kevin Clark $11,000
3 Jeff Bucher $7200
4 Geoff Yee $6000
5 Yun Zhang $4800
6 Marco Zdrenka $4200
7 Daniel Bates $3600
8 Jamil Dia $3000
9 Dan Foote $2400
10 Greg Familton $1800
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