WSOP Main Event: Tony Hachem Looks to Bring Another Main Event Title to Family

Chants of “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi” could soon be heard again on poker’s biggest stage, as poker pro Tony Hachem looks to bring another main event bracelet to the family, just six years after older brother Joe secured $7.5 million for his no-limit hold’em championship title.

Tony, who has been a poker enthusiast for more than a decade, didn’t start to take the game seriously until his brother’s victory increased the game’s popularity in Australia, and after his late uncle Vince advised him to help Joe with his career. “I thought the only way to stand beside [Joe] was to play as well, and that way I would get to travel with him.”

Tony and Joe have been texting quite a bit on the breaks, but for the most part Joe has let his brother play his own game, as he has a lot of confidence in Tony’s skills on the felt.

With a focus on grinding it out and finding the right spots, Tony has gone on to win the PokerStars Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Player of the Year award for both 2009 and 2010. Despite the nearly $200,000 worth of cashes over the past 18 months, including a ANZPT no-limit hold’em main event win last year, Tony said he has still been playing in Joe’s shadow. However, the shade could disappear in the next few days should he make it to a tenth day of action.

Tony said that he tries to prevent his mind from drifting to thoughts of a final table in November. However, when the fantasy does start to creep into his head, he said he begins to feel a little emotional. “The thought of making the final table is unbelievable,” he said. “It gives me goosebumps, and it would be quite the honor. I still need the stars to align.”

Tony, like everyone else, still has a long field of land mines to traverse in order to make the November Nine. He will begin day 6 at the Rio this afternoon with nearly 2.1 million in chips, good for 30th out of the 142 remaining.

Stay tuned to Card Player for more updates from the goosebump-inducing event, and to see if the Hachem brothers can keep the dream alive, as well as beat the Mizrachi family’s unofficial record of more than $15 million in combined tournament earnings.

Related Articles

Player Skips Main Event Day 5 For Religious Reason

Ben Lamb Wins Card Player POY Award

Tournament Poker Year in Review: January To June

Most Viewed Articles