Joe Hachem survived a record breaking field of 5,618 other players to win first place in the $10,000 + Buy-in Championship Event. Not only did Joe take home $7.5 million, he outlasted some of the best poker players in the world. And Joe took 10th place in the $1,000 buy-in NLH Event at the WSOP on July 4, 2005. Married and a father of four, 39 year old Joe is a native of Lebanon and now resides in Australia.
Joe has cashed in poker tournaments in The Land Down Under and had his own following at the final event. They were chanting, "Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi! Oi!" a cry repeated many times during Joe’s battle at the final table.
When Joe flopped a straight with 7-3 off suit to win all the chips, he wrapped himself in an Australian Flag and shouted, "Thank you, America!"
Joe got into this tournament the old fashioned way - he paid the entry fee and just bought in - unlike most players that try to qualify through satellites on the Internet and card rooms around the world. There were many other notables in this tournament but in the end, the person with all the chips is what it’s all about. CONGRATULATIONS, JOE!!!