Wednesday, December 20, 2006

WPT Win For Hachem

Well I said I was prepared to be proved wrong, and I was. Joe Hachem has become only the fourth person in history to win both a WSOP Main Event bracelet and a WPT title.

The Bellagio must have been absolutely electric. I do wonder if those same ‘AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE’ railbirds were there again.

It’s a shame these two didn’t meet heads up, for that would have surely made for some entertaining viewing. Negreanu busted in 3rd, a cash that saw him gain the title of biggest WPT all-time money winner.

Hachem overcame a small chip lead to take the title. For most people now surely he has proved that he has the talent and skill required to play at this level, unlike some others who may have not received much respect since WSOP Main Event wins…

This is a quote on the PokerStars website from one of the final 27 players due to play the final of the ‘Moneymaker Millionaire’ in the Bahamas this January:

[i]Leonard "malibu44" Lawrence

Quote: "Chris has just shown that anyone, no matter how much or little skill you have, can win a poker tournament. The reason it has been such a big success over the past few years, is because anyone, and I mean anyone can just walk into a poker tournament, go on a nice run of cards and walk away a millionaire."[/i]

What makes me laugh is that this got up on the website without anyone questioning what was said about someone they are clearly paying plenty of money to promote the site for them. This is on top of the fact that the actual tournament this guy is potentially going to take home a nice payday from is named after the player he’s giving such a generous opinion of.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Joe Hachem makes WPT final table

It seems Hachem isn’t another one hit WSOP Main event wonder. He’s at the final table of the 2006 Five Diamond World Poker Classic championship event. Daniel Negreanu has also made the cut. Not surprisingly in this age of ever more popular live events the final table is going to be televised. It should be a good show as these two and the other players battle it out for the a WPT title.

I always though that Hachem was a great player, but he’s also entertaining and throughly marketable. Pokerstars did a good job on getting hold of him. I think Negreanu has the slight edge here and if you add his stack I don't see how he doesn't take it down. I'm prepared to be proved wrong though.

Negreanu has a slight chip lead over Mads Anderson and has Hatchem outchipped nealry 2:1. I think there is destined to be plenty of action on this 6 handed final table, I’m just gutted I won’t get to see it live…