After three long, gruelling days the APPT Melbourne Main Event has been reduced to our final nine. They are currently finding their seats on the feature table here in the Crown Poker Room and unbagging their chips in preparation of a potentially life-changing day ahead.

They’ve already guaranteed themselves $16,650 for their efforts so far, but that almost pales in comparison to the potential pay day of $217,000 should they outlast their eight opponents this afternoon.

The man in the driver’s seat is the UK’s Ashley Mason. A fearsome online player, Mason is now starting to make some waves on the live tournament scene. Mason won the Six-Handed side event during the week and now will be keen to carry his chip lead all the way to his second trophy of the week. Mason now resides in Perth, Western Australia after following his girlfriend out here, so we get the feeling we’ll be seeing more of him on the local tournament circuit regardless of what happens today.

David Yan is another young gun with a big stack who will be a real threat this afternoon. The Kiwi finished 6th in the Aussie Millions Main Event in January this year, and he brings a dangerous, aggressive game to the table. Between Yan and Mason, you get the feeling that the others are going to have a tough time getting in on the action today.

However a few of them have seen it all before with Aussie Millions runner-up Joe Cabret, Australian Poker Hall of Famer Billy Argyros and Robert Damelian, who went very deep at this year’s WSOP Main Event, bringing plenty of experience this afternoon.

The media photographs and final introductions are out of the way and the cards are in the air as we look to crown our APPT Melbourne champion!

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Photos provided by Kenneth Lim Photography

Heath “TassieDevil” Chick is a Freelance Contributor for the PokerStars Blog.

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