Joseph Hachem

Joseph (Joe) Hachem (born 3 November 1966 in Lebanon) is an Australian poker player. On July 16, 2005 he won the World Series of Poker Main Event, outlasting the largest field in WSOPhistory, 5,619 players, and winning $7.5 million (USD).

The winning starting hand was 7♣ 3♠, one of the weakest hands in hold’em. However, after calling a pre-flop raise from $300,000 to $700,000, the flop came 6♥ 5♦ 4♦, giving Hachem a straight. When the turn brought the A♠, his opponent Steve Dannenmann made top pair (with anup-and-down straight draw) with his starting hand of A♦ 3♣. Hachem bet, Dannenmann raised, Hachem moved all-in, and Dannenmann called. In the end Dannenmann could only tie if theriver brought a 7 (giving him the same straight), but the 4♣ ensured Hachem the win.Hachem survived an all-in when on the money bubble earlier in the Main Event with pocket 3s,and hitting another 3 on the flop.

Hachem, a native of Lebanon who moved with his family to Australia as a young child in 1972, gave up a career as a chiropractor in 2002 due to a rare blood disorder in his hands, and decided to concentrate on poker. He is just the fourth non-American winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event since its inception, joining Carlos Mortensen (Spain), Noel Furlong (Ireland)and Mansour Matloubi (Wales).Hachem is married and has four children. He also runs a small broking business in Pascoe Vale, and enjoys playing golf.As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $7,640,000.