Joe Hachem

Though few people outside of his home country of Australia had heard of Joe Hachem until his World Series Main Event Win in 2005, his poker career was already fairly established. A regular at Melbourne casinos and playing online at PokerStars had given Hachem the invaluable experience required to compete in the Main Event.

Upbringing

Born in Lebanon in 1966, Hachem’s family relocated to Australia when he was still young in 1972. Joe Hachem now considers himself an Australian, though has been quoted in the past as saying that his Lebanese blood has affected his play. “Blood at boiling point while at rest” was sited as an obstacle to overcome in order to become a successful poker professional.

Poker Beginnings

Hachem’s poker career was jump started when he developed a rare problem with blood vessels in his hands that forced him to quit his profession as a Chiropractor after 13 years of success in this area. Misfortune that has since been compensated for by reaching the number #2 spot in the all time tournament cashes list – with lifetime winnings approaching $10.5 million.

WSOP Win

Winning the 2005 World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Holdem Main Event involved beating a (then) record field of 5,872 players and resulted in scooping the first prize of $7.5 million, beating poker professional Steve Danneman into 2nd place by flopping a straight with the decidedly weak hand of 7-3 off-suit.

Earlier in the 2005 World Series Hachem had placed 10th in a smaller buy-in Texas Holdem event pocketing almost $28,000. Unlike the previous 2 winners of the main event Hachem paid to enter the tournament rather than winning a satellite on Poker Stars. During the 2005 World Series Hachem is credited with coming up with the catch-phrase “Pass the Sugar!” when winning a big pot.

Returning to the World Series in 2006 Hachem further proved his poker professional credentials with several large cashes. This included 2nd and 4th place finishes in the $2,500 short handed and pot-limit Holdem events respectively as well as a cash in the Main Event where he finished a respectable 238th place in a new record field.

Other Tournaments

Hachem is no stranger to tournament success outside of the World Series. Big wins include a 1st for over $2.2 million in the World Poker Tour 5-Diamond Classic at the Bellagio casino. This win means that Hachem joins poker’s elite who have won both a World Series and World Poker Tour title – others include Doyle Brunson and Dan Harrington. If this were not enough Hachem beat several other previous World Series winners in the Poker After Dark “World Series Of Poker Champions 2”.

Outside of poker Hachem is dedicated to his family and has been quoted as saying ‘Nothing is more important than family” in the past. The father of 4 children his considerable poker winnings now mean he is able to travel with them when attending prestigious overseas tournaments. Alongside previous World Series winners Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer, Hachem now represents PokerStars as a member of their ‘Team PokerStars’ pros. 

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