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

12-07-2008 14:19 UTC+11

Saffioti Plays Kings Softly

Frank Saffioti gave Timothy English all of the chances he could to catch up. English raised to 52,000 from the cutoff and was called by Saffioti out of the small blind. The action checked all the way down on a board of {Q-Diamonds}

. At showdown, English announced, "Just a pair of nines," and showed {8-Hearts}

for two pair, queens and nines. Saffioti stunned the gallery by turning over {K-Diamonds}

for two pair, kings and queens.

Tags: Frank Saffioti Timothy English

12-07-2008 14:15 UTC+11

Saffioti Recovers

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Frank Saffioti has recovered some of his lost chips, courtesy of Tony Basile. Basile raised to 60,000 from the cutoff and was called by Saffioti out of the big blind. On a flop of {10-Clubs}

, Saffioti check-called a bet of 80,000 made by Basile. Both players checked the {9-Hearts}

turn. When the river fell {3-Clubs}

, Saffioti led out for 60,000. Basile called and mucked his hand when Saffioti showed {K-Hearts}

for two pair, fours and threes!

Tags: Frank Saffioti Tony Basile

12-07-2008 14:12 UTC+11

English Joins the Party

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Timothy English has won his first pot of the day. He raised to 52,000 preflop and was called by Frank Saffioti. On an all-spade flop, {A-Spades}

, English made it 80,000 to go. Saffioti called.

The turn was a fourth spade, the {6-Spades}

. English checked to Saffioti, who made an 80,000-chip bet of his own. English called to a river of {4-Clubs}

, which both players checked. Saffioti showed down {A-Clubs}

for top pair, top kicker, but he had been out-flopped by English's {A-Diamonds}

.

English is up to 1.1 million; Saffioti has slipped to 520,000.

Tags: Frank Saffioti Timothy English

12-07-2008 14:06 UTC+11

Tom Rafferty Eliminated in 9th Place (AU$39,200)

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It didn't take long to find our first all-in confrontation of the day. Tom Rafferty raised in late position to 55,000 and was called by Antonio Fazzolari in the cutoff. The two men were the only players to see the {10-Diamonds}

flop. Rafferty led out for 70,000. Fazzolari, as has quickly become his custom, announced, "Raise," and made the price of poker 270,000. Rafferty quickly moved all in and Fazzolari quickly called. It was a three-million chip pot, with Rafferty at risk of elimination.

Rafferty: {K-Clubs}

Fazzolari: {A-Diamonds}

Fazzolari had flopped top two pair; Rafferty showed a naked flush draw. The turn bricked {9-Spades}

. With Fazzolari standing near some supporters and shouting "Red!" the river fell {7-Diamonds}

.

Rafferty was eliminated in ninth place, walking away with AU$39,200. Fazzolari is now the far-and-away chip leader, with about 3.5 million chips.

"Give me a bed and I'll go to sleep for a while," joked Fazzolari.

Tags: Antonio Fazzolari Tom Rafferty

12-07-2008 13:58 UTC+11

Fazzolari Turning the Screws

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Antonio Fazzolari is playing very aggressive poker to start the day. He called a raise from Jason Gray out of the blinds. On a board of {2-Diamonds}

, Gray bet 175,000. Fazzolari quickly check-raised to 400,000, producing a fold from Gray and another winner for Fazzolari.

Tags: Antonio Fazzolari Jason Gray

12-07-2008 13:57 UTC+11

Rafferty Takes One From Fazzolari

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Tom Rafferty raised from the small blind to 60,000 and Antonio Fazzolari made the call in the big blind.

The flop came down {J-?}

and Rafferty fired 65,000. Fazzolari made the call.

The turn {9-?}

and river

were checked down and Rafferty showed down pocket eights to collect the pot.

12-07-2008 13:49 UTC+11

Fazzolari Starts Well

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Overnight chip leader Antonio Fazzolari has taken down the first three pots of the day, without too much resistance, to increase his lead.

12-07-2008 13:45 UTC+11

The Cards Are in the Air!

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The official formalities are out of the way and the cards are in the air! A makeshift media area has been set up for us at the final table, but at the moment we're without any screen to see details of the table itself. We'll try our best to bring as much information as possible.

Level: 21

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 3,000

12-07-2008 13:43 UTC+11

Player Introductions

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Tournament Director Danny McDonagh is currently introducing the players to the crowd that have gathered in the final table area. We expect play to kick off momentarily.