Congratulations to Aaron Benton, APPT Season 3 Sydney Grand Final Main Event Champion! (AUD $594,000)

Eleven hours and 14 minutes after the first cards were dealt at the PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final Main Event Final Table, Aaron Benton raised two clenched fists in the air and let out a victory roar. The 32-year-old Aussie from Wollongong, New South Wales is your 2009 APPT Sydney Main Event champion.

2009 has been a year to remember for the former reality TV star. Benton qualified for all four APPT Season 3 stops on PokerStars and managed to make the most of this one, besting a solid 396-player field to claim his first major live title.

Benton told PokerNews' Lynn Gilmartin that he plans to buy his mother a house with some of the winnings during their post-match interview.

While coming runner-up generally carries a bittersweet taste to it, Ernst Hermans has to be pleased with his result here this week. Hermans was one of only two non-Aussies at the final table and qualified for his seat in the main event via a $22 rebuy satellite on PokerStars.

Congratulations is also in order for the other seven finalists for a tournament well-played. Here's a quick look back at our final results (all amounts listed in AUD):

1st: Aaron Benton (Australia) - $500,348 (adjusted for chop)
2nd: Ernst Hermans (Netherlands) - $475,000 (adjusted for chop)
3rd: Leo Boxell (Australia) - $213,840
4th: Wayne Carlson (Australia) - $166,320
5th: Tom Grigg (Australia) - $130,680
6th: Andrew Hiscox (Australia) - $106,920
7th: Barry Forrester (Australia) - $83,160
8th: David Formosa (Australia) - $65,340
9th: Thomas Slifka (USA) - $47,520

That concludes our coverage of the 2009 APPT Sydney Grand Final. Our live reporting team will be taking a short hiatus until January when we head down to the Bahamas for the much anticipated PCA. Thanks for sticking with us!

Until next time, from the Star City Hotel and Casino in Sydney, Australia, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, good night and good luck!

Tags: Aaron Benton