APPT Tournament of Champions | 2008 PokerStars.net APPT Grand Final - Sydney

12-08-2008 12:31 UTC+11

APPT PokerStars.net Tournament of Champions

[user67765]

After a huge night where we crowned a new Australian millionaire and Champion in Martin Rowe, the PokerNews crew are back at the Star City Casino poker room once again with an event that's a fitting finale to the 2008 PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour. It's the Tournament of Champions event where the winners of each of the APPT events will join a few PokerStars sponsored pros to duke it out in a single table sit 'n go with the prize money going to the winner's charity of choice.

We are expecting to see APPT Macau winner Eddy Sabat (fresh off his victory last night in the Heads Up side event), APPT Auckland winner Daniel Craker, APPT Manila champ Van Marcus and newly crowned APPT Sydney champion Martin Rowe. We believe that APPT Seoul champ Yoshihiro Tasaka has had to head back to Japan after crushing the cash games here in Sydney.

Our champions are likely to be joined by PokerStars sponsored players Joe Hachem, Eric Assadourian and Grant Levy, with possibly some international flavour thrown in with a mix of Chris Moneymaker, Chad Brown, Gavin Griffin or Vanessa Rousso likely to make up our table of ten. We'll have the list of players and seat draw for you shortly.

The action kicks off at 1:30pm which is in about one hour's time so stay tuned to PokerNews.com for all the live updates!

12-08-2008 13:43 UTC+11

Table Line-Up

[user22113]

Seat 1: Eric Assadourian -- 2007 APPT Macau High Roller Champion
Seat 2: Grant Levy -- 2007 APPT Sydney Champion
Seat 3: Van Marcus -- 2008 APPT Manila Champion
Seat 4: Joe Hachem -- 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion
Seat 5: Chad Brown -- Team PokerStars Pro
Seat 6: Eddy Sabat -- 2008 APPT Macau Champion
Seat 7: Martin Rowe -- 2008 APPT Sydney Champion
Seat 8: Lee Nelson -- Team PokerStars Pro
Seat 9: Vanessa Rousso -- Team PokerStars Pro
Seat 10: Daniel Craker -- 2008 APPT Auckland Champion

12-08-2008 13:45 UTC+11

What They're Playing For

[user75032]

The Tournament of Champions is a charity tournament. The ten assembled players are here by the APPT's invitation to play for a $45,000 first prize that will be donated to the charity of the winner's choice. The charity of the runner-up will receive $5,000. During the course of play, each player's charity will be announced.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

12-08-2008 13:47 UTC+11

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user75032]

Cards are in the air.

12-08-2008 13:56 UTC+11

Assadourian Just Wants The Chip Lead

[user22113]

In the first hand of the day Eric Assadourian raised to 325 out of the small blind following the pre-flop limps from Chad Brown, Lee Nelson and Vanessa Rousso. All three made the call and a flop of {A-Clubs}

fell down.

With action on Assadourian, he fired out 1,200, which was followed by folds from the remaining players in the hand.

As Assadourian tabled {6-Hearts}

he stated, "I just had to make sure I was chip leader" as he raked in the pot to jump out to the early lead.

Tags: Eric Assadourian

12-08-2008 14:03 UTC+11

Rowe Wins Battle With Levy

[user22113]

Only 12 hours after taking down the APPT Sydney Grand Final Martin Rowe opened to 200 from middle position and was met with four callers.

On a flop {K-Hearts}

he made a bet of 800 and only found action from Grant Levy on the button. The turn of the {3-Hearts}

fell and Rowe again led strongly for 1,500 which was followed by an immediate call from Levy.

When the {4-Diamonds}

landed on the river Rowe checked the action over to Levy where he layed out a bet of 2,600 into Rowe. As Rowe sat there pondering for over a minute he eventually made the call. Levy tabled {10-Hearts}

for a busted flush and straight-draw while Rowe tabled {A-Clubs}

for top-pair and the 10,800 pot.

Tags: Grant Levy Martin Rowe

12-08-2008 14:05 UTC+11

Rousso Cracks Hachem's Queens

[user22113]

Grant Levy opened to 225 following limps from Martin Rowe and Vanessa Rousso. Joe Hachem call behind as well as Rowe and Rousso.

On a flop of {10-Spades}

Hachem led for 1,100 and found one caller in Rousso. The turn fell the {K-Diamonds}

and Hachem led 1,400 following Rousso's check. Rousso contemplated for a while before raising to a total of 3,500, which was followed by a call from Hachem.

The river landed the {8-Diamonds}

and Rousso led for 2,500 which was met with a call from Hachem. Rousso tabled {A-Diamonds}

for the nut flush as Hachem tabled {Q-Diamonds}

.

With that pot Rousso moved up to over 17,000 in chips as Hachem is now down to below 3,000.

Tags: Joe Hachem Vanessa Rousso

12-08-2008 14:09 UTC+11

Hachem Reeling

[user75032]

After a big loss to Vanessa Rousso, Joe Hachem lost the next two pots -- one to Lee Nelson and one to Martin Rowe. In each case Hachem was the preflop aggressor, but surrendered upon meeting resistance after the flop. Hachem's down to 2,500 and has gone for a walk.

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0