We had barely entered Level 27 when Martin Rowe became the APPT Grand Final champ.

Jason Gray limped, Rowe made it $250k and Gray shoved.

Holding A Q and the big chip lead, Rowe made the obvious call and Gray had just 9 5.

The flop came A Q 5 and Rowe jumped way ahead until Gray grabbed some more outs with the 9 turn.

However, the river fell the 3 and while Gray takes $476,000, Sydney's Martin Rowe takes home the $1 million AUS first place prize and the glory of the 2008 PokerStars APPT Grand Final title.

That's all from Sydney for now, but you can still check out our final table recap here a little later.

Ripper!

Martin Rowe's foot is firmly planted on the gas pedal and he's not letting up.

He's raising almost every button, popping all Gray's limps and just came over the top of a $240k Gray button raise making it $600k.

Gray was forced to fold and Rowe's now got his massive lead back on over $7 million to Gray's under $2 million without seeing very many flops at all.

It looks like almost losing the chip lead to Jason Gray has woken up Martin Rowe.

Suddenly he seems to be raising more often and just pushed Gray off two big pots here.

The first one he fired $300k at a Q Q 2 9 board after raising pre-flop and checking the flop. He managed to get Gray to fold and show an ace there, then kept firing bullets after another pre-flop raise moments later.

He bet $250k at the A J 2 flop, then another $250,000 at the 6 turn. Gray flatted both times, but when the 8 river fell, he could not call the $500k lead from Rowe.

Martin is back in charge and continues to be aggressive in his hunt for the Grand Final title.

Jason Gray just picked up another big pot to pull to within $1 million or so of Martin Rowe.

Things are definitely tightening up here in Sydney as we enter Level 26!

Jason Gray just snatched a more than $1 million pot from Martin Rowe and is climbing back into contention here in Sydney.

This hand started with a limped pot and a 4 4 2 flop which Gray led out at with an $80k bet. Rowe flatted and the A turn was next, bringing a $225,00 Gray bet and another Rowe call.

The river came the 3 and without missing a beat, Gray made it $400k to see his holdings. Rowe looked him up, but mucked when Gray flashed K 5 for the rivered straight.

It's now at around $3 million for Gray as Rowe falls to a little more than $6 million.

Since Jason Gray's early double, it's been a tight affair heads up.

Chips have been changing hands, but they've been traded right back soon after and we're pretty much right where we stood after Gray hit that straight to stay alive.

Heads-up is now 40-minutes old and getting fairly tense with Gray on $2.5 to Martin Rowe's $6.9 million.

Jason Gray just took a bite out of Martin Rowe's chip lead with a miraculous turned straight that sent the Syndey crowd into a frenzy here moments ago.

He flatted a Rowe raise and they both watched intently as the J 9 7 flop rolled out. Gray checked, Rowe made it $225,000 and Jason simply pushed in.

Rowe made the call having flopped top pair-top kicker with A J and he was ahead against Gray's Q T. But before he could celebrate, the 8 turn came down to a roar from the crowd around the final table.

The river came the K and it's now $2.2 million for Gray to Rowe's $7.2 million.

After just the first hand three-handed, Tony Basile is out and we're heads-up for the title in Sydney.

Martin Rowe made it $150k from the button, Basile pumped it up to $450,000 from the big blind and when Rowe shoved, Basile called.

Rowe had made the move with K K and was miles ahead of the A K Basile put his tournament life on the line with.

The board rolled out J 9 4 6 Q and Basile was suddenly out third. The Canadian takes $266,000 for his efforts and heads-up will begin with Jason Gray on $1.4 million to Rowe's massive $7.8 million.

Antonio Fazzolari found himself with just $400k after chasing an open-ender that missed before he open shoved with A 2 from under the gun.

Martin Rowe made the easy call with A K and there was no miracle for Antonio on the J 5 7 8 T board.

He's out 4th cashing $182,000 and were three handed in Sydney.

Rowe has the lead on $5.2 million, Tony Basile has $2.6 million and Jason Gray is the shortest with $1.45 million.

The blinds are up again - Welcome to Level 25!