What can you say about Joe Hachem?
The boy is proving that he is the real deal.
These days, with the poker explosion burgeoning the crowds of hopefuls at the World Series of Poker, winning a tournament has become not only more lucrative, but also a true test of endurance. On the flip side, however, as every fresh, new face picks up one of the coveted bracelets, there is also a certain stigma. No longer can a person win one tournament and be considered a poker genius, because all too often we see people stumble their way to the top of the mountain, never to be heard from again (see: Robert Varkonyi, Chris Moneymaker).
You can't say that about Joe Hachem, winner of last year's main event. Last year, if I recall correctly, in just his first or second tournament after capturing the championship, he made the final table of a WSOP Circuit event, finishing fifth.
Two tournament final tables within a year is pretty good, and it starts to establish a person as maybe knowing a little bit about the game. It becomes less likely that the first big win was a fluke, the product of a lucky run of cards.
What, then, about three?
Hachem not only made another World Series final table the other day. He came within a whisper, one terrible beat, of taking home his second bracelet in the $2,500 short-handed hold'em event.
Personally, I like seeing these types of stories. It proves that poker is a game that can be won with the right combination of intellect and courage.
What can you say about Joe Hachem? After three final tables in big tournaments, it's still too early to say very much. Champions prove themselves over the long term, and one year is still very, very short term. But you can start to say that last year was no fluke. And maybe, if he continues to prove himself with a few more of these high finishes, you can just maybe start to say that Joe Hachem was not only once just a champion, but also that he was one of the best tournament players of his day.
Time will tell.
These days, with the poker explosion burgeoning the crowds of hopefuls at the World Series of Poker, winning a tournament has become not only more lucrative, but also a true test of endurance. On the flip side, however, as every fresh, new face picks up one of the coveted bracelets, there is also a certain stigma. No longer can a person win one tournament and be considered a poker genius, because all too often we see people stumble their way to the top of the mountain, never to be heard from again (see: Robert Varkonyi, Chris Moneymaker).
You can't say that about Joe Hachem, winner of last year's main event. Last year, if I recall correctly, in just his first or second tournament after capturing the championship, he made the final table of a WSOP Circuit event, finishing fifth.
Two tournament final tables within a year is pretty good, and it starts to establish a person as maybe knowing a little bit about the game. It becomes less likely that the first big win was a fluke, the product of a lucky run of cards.
What, then, about three?
Hachem not only made another World Series final table the other day. He came within a whisper, one terrible beat, of taking home his second bracelet in the $2,500 short-handed hold'em event.
Personally, I like seeing these types of stories. It proves that poker is a game that can be won with the right combination of intellect and courage.
What can you say about Joe Hachem? After three final tables in big tournaments, it's still too early to say very much. Champions prove themselves over the long term, and one year is still very, very short term. But you can start to say that last year was no fluke. And maybe, if he continues to prove himself with a few more of these high finishes, you can just maybe start to say that Joe Hachem was not only once just a champion, but also that he was one of the best tournament players of his day.
Time will tell.
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