Last year's winner, Danny Chevalier, is back to defend his title.
The $87,500 win was the biggest in his professional poker-playing career.
"I'm here to defend my title. I'll give it a red-hot shot," he said.
The tournament will be held at the Skycity Queenstown Casino from today until Sunday.
Based on full participation of 200 players, the expected total prize pool will be $450,000.
Queenstown Skycity spokeswoman Michelle Bailey said there were 100 confirmed players yesterday.
Players had until noon tomorrow to buy in.
Eight Queenstown players had been confirmed.
Ms Bailey said the casino had held satellite tournaments since March.
About 40 overseas players were due to arrive in the resort today.
The 15 remaining players in the Auckland leg of the tour qualified on Sunday to play off against players who made it through to day three at Skycity Queenstown, she said.
The Auckland leg started on July 17 with a mixed field of 38 international and domestic players from nine countries including Australia, Singapore, Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
Of the 38 on day one, 13 players had won their way through to the main event by playing in Skycity's satellite tournaments, with some players winning a main-event ticket from as little as $30.
