button in SafariWorld Champ Joe Hachem Talks WSOP, Poker Today, & the One Title He Still Wants
More than 20 years have passed since the man from Down Under earned his place among poker's immortal few by winning the 2005 WSOP Main Event, yet memories of that electric night at Binion’s remain as vivid as ever.
Hachem's was a victory that helped define a golden era. Riding the shockwaves of the Chris Moneymaker-inspired Poker Boom, another charismatic, relatable world champion had emerged — the first, and still only, Australian to win the game's greatest prize.
If poker fans could borrow Doc Brown’s DeLorean for a night, there's no doubt July 16, 2005 would be a popular destination.
However, sweet as nostalgia can be, Hachem's focus is firmly on the road ahead. The Aussie Millions has finally returned after a 6-year hiatus, and Hachem— the Godfather of Australian poker — couldn’t be more excited for the grand homecoming.
Catching up with PokerNews, the former world champion reflected on two decades in the spotlight, his strong views on the 'poker owes me nothing' crowd, family, legacy, and a burning desire to 'pass the sugar' once again.