APPT Grand Final | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final - Sydney

12-07-2008 13:30 UTC+11

Seat 9: Hai Bo Chu (781,000 in chips)

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Qualifying on PokerStars for just $11, this marketing executive from Templestone in Melbourne will be cheered on from the stands by wife Bomi. Hai Bo has been playing poker for the last five years, however it has really started to pay off in the past 12 months – 186th in the WSOP Main Event, pocketing USD $38,600 for his efforts and taking out the Melbourne Champs Main Event last year for $100,000. Heading into the final table as the short-stacked player, Hai Bo will be looking for chips early in the day in order to become the next PokerStars.net APPT champion.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Hai Bo Chu

12-07-2008 13:29 UTC+11

Seat 8: Antonio Fazzolari (1,775,000 in chips)

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Claiming to “invent the game,” Antonio is no newcomer to poker. The 58-year-old Melbourne resident, who owned a poker club in Jersey where Phil Ivey used to play, is chip leader heading into the final table. The retired engineer moved to Australia eight years ago and is looking forward to the chance to take out Sydney’s biggest poker tournament.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Antonio Fazzolari

12-07-2008 13:28 UTC+11

Seat 7: Tom Rafferty (1,101,000 in chips)

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Originally from Canberra, Tom Rafferty now calls Sydney home. This 24-year-old has been playing poker professionally for 16 months and is celebrating his tournament debut in perfect fashion – with a final table appearance and enough chips and determination to go all the way to the title. Tom is part of the new online poker generation and is excited to potentially become the next PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final Champion.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Tom Rafferty

12-07-2008 13:27 UTC+11

Seat 6: Frank Saffioti, Australia/Italy (790,000 in chips)

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This 37-year-old Australian born Italian has been playing poker for three years. A local of Sydney beachside suburb Seaforth, Frank owns a traditional Italian Restaurant in Sydney. Considering himself a poker enthusiast, Frank won his seat in a satellite on PokerStars and lies sixth in chips heading into the final table.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Frank Saffioti

12-07-2008 13:26 UTC+11

Seat 5: Daniel Kowalski, Poland (959,000 in chips)

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Not to be confused with the Aussie swimming great, 35-year old Pole Daniel Kowalski has been playing poker for a mere six months. In his first major tournament, Daniel is fifth heading into the final table having won his seat to Sydney on PokerStars. A self-employed businessman, Daniel resides in England. The APPT Grand Final in Sydney is his first tournament down under.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Daniel Kowalski

12-07-2008 13:25 UTC+11

Seat 4: Timothy English (945,000 in chips)

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This 23-year-old science student from Melbourne’s Glen Iris qualified online at PokerStars in a Last Chance Qualifier last Monday. In his first big tournament he is ecstatic to have made the final nine and will be cheered on by his mates who flew up from Melbourne on Sunday morning, ensuring he has plenty of support to take the title. He currently sits sixth in chips heading into the final day.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Timothy English

12-07-2008 13:24 UTC+11

Seat 3: Tony Basile (863,000 in chips)

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A 39-year-old racehorse owner from Canada bought in directly to this year’s PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final. Playing poker for the last 15 years, his career highlight was placing 309th from a field of 6844 in this year’s World Series of Poker Main Event. Heading into the final table seventh in chips, he hopes to make the APPT Grand Final his first major win.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Tony Basile

12-07-2008 13:22 UTC+11

Seat 2: Jason Gray, Sydney (1,188,000 in chips)

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Don’t let the calm exterior or quiet demeanor of this poker pro fool you. He’s been playing poker full-time for three years but has featured in the nation’s biggest cash games for more than two decades. His best tournament results have come in the past 18 months – he won the $15,000 buy-in event at the 2007 Victorian Championships for more than AU$125,000, then placed third in the $10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo Split World Championship at the 2008 WSOP for more than USD$200,000.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Jason Gray

12-07-2008 13:20 UTC+11

Seat 1: Martin Rowe, Australia (995,000 in chips)

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A self-employed local from North Sydney, this 34-year-old insurance worker has been playing poker for three years. In his first PokerStars.net APPT event, Martin goes into the final table third in chips. A regular at Star City, Martin has also played and cashed in preliminary events at the Aussie Millions.

- Player profile courtesy of PokerStars.net

Tags: Martin Rowe

12-07-2008 13:11 UTC+11

A Millionaire Will Be Made Today

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The Australians have a strong presence at the final table

Welcome back to the Star City Hotel and Casino in lovely Sydney, Australia. It's summertime in this part of the world, and the action will be heating up today as we play out the final table of the APPT Sydney Grand Final. 477 players entered this AU$6,300 event; nine remain.

The average stack is 1,044,00 chips. Hai Bo Chu is the short stack at 781,000 chips; Antonio Fazzolari is the chip leader with 1,775,000. With the chips as evenly spread as they are and the clock rewound to 45 minutes remaining in Level 21 (blinds of 10,000 / 20,000 / 3,000), the AU$1,000,000 first prize is anybody's to win. With seven of the nine final table players being Australian, the home team has a clear advantage in taking down the trophy.

The action begins in about a half hour. PokerNews will be on hand to provide updates on every hand and bring you video interviews throughout the day. See you then!