The Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia hosted the Asia Pacific Poker Tour Grand Final, which would be won by a local, Martin Rowe, who would walk away with AUD $1,000,000.
The first to exit the final table would be Tom Rafferty, who got into an intense battle with the chip leader, Antonio Fazzolari.. After seeing a flop of [Ac][10hd][2c]. Rafferty threw out a bet and then moved all-in after Fazzolari raised. Fazzolari revealed [Ad][10c] for top two pair, while Rafferty showed [Kc][5c] for a nut flush draw. No club would fall for Rafferty as the turn fell [9s] and the river fell [7d]. Tom Rafferty exited in ninth place for a payday of AUD $39,200.
Hai Bo Chu of Melbourne would fall in a hand that saw three players heading to the flop. After the flop fell [10s][7d][2h] Martin Rowe threw out a bet, causing Fazzolari to fold and Chu to shove all-in. Rowe called to reveal pocket queens, while Chu had a gutshot straight draw with [Jc][8d]. Chu received more outs when the turn card fell [8c] as he could now win the hand with a jack, nine, or eight. However, the river was the [Ah], eliminating Chu in eight place. Chu’s performance was rewarded with AUD $53,200.
Daniel Kowalski would finish in seventh place after falling in a big hand. Kowalski, Fazzolari, and Frank Saffioti all saw a flop fall [Ac][7s][4h] and Saffioti bet out while the others called. After the turn fell [3s] Saffioti check-raised Kowalski all-in, and Fazzolari quickly ducked out of the way. Kowalski called all-in and showed [As][9c], but Saffioti held the better kicker with [Ad][Qc]. The river brought another ace, the [Ah], and Daniel Kowalski collected AUD $72,800 for his seventh place finish.
Martin Rowe took the chip lead from Fazzolari in a huge battle, and with his new chip lead he would eliminate Frank Saffioti. Jason Gray bet out after the flop fell [Ac][7s][6s] and Saffioti shoved all-in. Rowe decided to call and Gray got out of the way. Saffioti revealed top pair and a nut flush draw with [As][Qs]; however, Rowe had made a set on the flop. The [Qc] on the turn gave Saffioti more outs, as he could now win the hand with an ace, queen, or spade. The river of [9d] was none of these, and so Frank Saffioti headed for the exits in sixth place, having earned a payday of AUD $100,800.
Martin Rowe would soon claim another victim in Timothy English. English moved in on the flop of [10c][9h][4c] and Rowe made the call, showing [Qh][Jc] which was behind English’s [Ah][Kd]. English would not stay ahead for long, as the turn of [Jc] gave Rowe a pair. The river would not help English as it was a lowly [4h]. Timothy English exited in fifth place, richer by AUD $140,000.
The once powerful chip leader, Antonio Fazzolari, was now the short stack and he exited after shoving all-in with [Ah][2s] and Martin Rowe called with a dominating [As][Kc]. The board was utterly unhelpful for Fazzolari as it rolled out [Jh][7c][5h][8s][10s], eliminating Antonio Fazollari in fourth place for a payday of AUD $182,000.
It would not be long before Tony Basile fell in third place. After several raises and reraises preflop Basile was all-in with [Ad][Kh], but Rowe had picked up pocket kings and held the advantage. Basile needed a lot of help, but would receive none on the board of [Jd][9h][4c][6c][Qc]. Tony Basile’s third place finish was rewarded with AUD $266,000.
Martin Rowe and Jason Gray entered heads-up play with Rowe holding a nearly 5:1 chip lead. Gray was undaunted though and survived for more than two hours before Rowe was finally able to put Gray away for good. In the final hand Gray limped in with [9h][5h], which was unsurprisingly followed by Rowe making a raise. Gray then moved all-in and showed [9h][5h] after Rowe made the call. Rowe revealed [Ac][Qh] and Gray needed to hope his live cards would hit the board hard. Instead it was Rowe who hit the board hard as the flop landed [As][Qc][5s] for two pair while eliminating all hopes Gray had for a straight or flush. The [9s] fell on the turn to keep Gray alive, as he could now make a winning full house with a nine or five. The river card was neither a nine nor a five, as it was the [3s], ending the tournament.
Jason Gray’s second place finish awarded him AUD $476,000 while Martin Rowe was awarded the grand prize of AUD $1,000,000 for his victory.