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SYDNEYSIDER TAKES OUT SYDNEY’S BIGGEST POKER TOURNAMENT

Martin Lowe becomes Australia’s newest millionaire

Sunday 7th December 2008, Sydney, Australia; Tonight 34 year old Sydneysider Martin Rowe pocketed a massive $1 million to become the newest PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Grand Final champion, outplaying 476 rivals over the past five days.

Cheered on in front of his by family, friends and a home crowd, Martin, a father of (almost) two from North Sydney commented directly following his win: “I cannot believe I have won tonight.  I felt on edge but not out of control the entire tournament and now to have the title I am just ecstatic – this will be life changing for my family.”

The Final Table began with nine players from an impressive starting field of 477, including the current 22 year old World Champion Peter Eastgate and past champions Joe Hachem and Chris Moneymaker, competing for a prize pool of over $2.8 million. 

With the final table made up of seven Aussies, it was fitting the title remained in Australia (a Pole and Canadian made up the remainder). Final table play lasted a gruelling nine and a half hours.  In the final hand of the tournament Martin raised and Jason went all in before the community cards were laid out – Martin called and tabled A Q and Gray showed 9 5 suited.  The board played out and Martin was crowned the champion of the PokerStars.net APPT Sydney Grand Final with two pair.

“It is fantastic to see an Australian champion in the APPT Grand Final for the second year in a row.  Amongst a great international lineup it represents the calibre of poker in this country,” commented APPT President Jeffrey Haas.

This tournament ends the second season of the PokerStars.net APPT.  Season 3 of APPT will be announced shortly.

The final standings and monies earned in Australian dollars are as follows:
1. Martin Rowe AUD 1,000,000
2. Jason Gray AUD 476,000
3. Tony  Basile AUD 266,000
4. Antonio Fazzolari AUD 182,000
5. Timothy English AUD 140,000
6. Frank Saffioti AUD 100,800
7. Daniel Kowalski AUD 72,800
8. Hai Bo Chu AUD 53,200
9. Tom Rafferty AUD 39,200

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Media contact:
Anna Reynolds
ICON Communications
E: areynolds@iconinternational.com.au
M: +61 432 328 085

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