2009 PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final - Day 1a | 2009 PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final

PokerNews welcomes you to our coverage of the PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final, the fourth and final stop on Season 3 of the APPT. For a third consecutive year, the fight for the APPT's crown jewel will be held at the Star City Casino, only this year, Star City boasts a brand new, 25 table, state-of-the-art poker facility, situated next to the 36 Degrees bar.

Over the next three days, poker players from around the world will descend upon the "Land Down Under," to play in their choice of three Day 1 flights. Those lucky enough to survive their respective Day 1 flights will merge with the survivors of the other two groups to form one collective field for Friday's Day 2 play, at which time the remaining players will begin the home stretch toward the final table, scheduled for Sunday, December 6th.

Sydneysider Grant Levy, now a Team PokerStars Australia pro, took down the first APPT Grand Final back in 2007, earning an AUD $1,000,000 payday. In 2008, Aussie Martin Rowe claimed the title and USD $648,046 in prize money after besting a field of 477 players.

Will an Aussie take it down for a third straight year, or will one of the many PokerStars qualifiers swoop in and take the trophy back home with them? To find out, keep your browser pointed right here to PokerNews.com for up-to-the-minute live updates, chip counts, photos and exclusive video interviews direct from the tournament floor.

The action kicks off today 12:30 p.m. local time (GMT +11) when the first of our three Day 1 flights takes to the felt. We hope to see you then!