He will take $67,050 in chips through to today's second round after amassing the highest chip count after the three-day first round.
Queenstown's Paul Chisnall is also in the top 10 of 66 players to qualify for the second round.
The local players are up against top New Zealand and international professionals.
Other top players who will compete in the second round today are former international cricketer Craig McMillan and top Australian player Celina Lin.
The Melbourne woman is in the top spot on the Macau Cup leaderboard for both tournament points and winnings and won $400,000 in the latest Macau event.
"Having a tournament like this in such a beautiful resort, where players can hit the slopes or do some shopping as well as playing poker, makes Queenstown the perfect location," she said.
Big-name players in yesterday's field were Kiwi competitors Lee Nelson, TV personality Brooke Howard-Smith and comedian Mike King.
Mr King was the first knocked out yesterday, despite winning the celebrity tournament on Wednesday.
Mr Howard-Smith said he was knocked out of the celebrity game by his wife - television presenter and former Miss World New Zealand Amber Peebles.
Eric Assadourian, one of Australia's top players was knocked out in the first round.
New Zealand Poker Tour commissioner Danny McDonagh said the tournament was "going great".
He had received good feedback from players - both about the SkyCity Casino and Queenstown as a destination.
He said 140 players from 10 countries were taking part, with 40 from around New Zealand, including 14 from Queenstown.
The final will be held tomorrow, when 18 players will compete for a prize pool of more than $300,000.
The top player will get about $90,000, Mr McDonagh said.
It cost $2500 to enter the tournament, which is open to the public.
