World Poker Champ Set To Compete In Christchurch

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The current world poker champ has confirmed he will be competing at the New Zealand Poker Champs in Christchurch this April.

Joe Hachem defeated 5,618 players to win the main event of the 2005 World Series of Poker in the USA – his victory earned him a record breaking $7.5 million.

He has now confirmed his entry into the New Zealand Poker Champs, where he will be taking on around 150 other poker players for the lion’s share of a $200,000 prize pool and a seat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Christchurch Casino’s Marketing Manager Simon Carter says his team is ‘absolutely stoked’ Hachem is entering the competition.

“Not only is this New Zealand’s only nationwide poker competition with the richest prize pool, it is one of only a few competitions in the world with a seat at the World Series up for grabs,” he says.

“We knew this would attract some of the best players in the world but to have the world’s reigning champ in town for the event is absolutely huge news,” he added.

Joe Hachem says he is looking forward to coming to Christchurch.

“I just love New Zealand, it’s such a picturesque country. I am looking forward to visiting New Zealand’s Garden City, seeing the sights and seeing what Kiwi poker players are made of,” he says.

Simon Carter says Hachem’s involvement adds to the excitement surrounding the champs.

“We have some of New Zealand’s biggest names competing in our celebrity tournament, some big name bands playing and now we get to see the current World Series of Poker Championworld’s greatest poker ace in action – this is going to be the best week in the Casino’s Poker history,” he concluded.

Background on Joe Hachem
Joe Hachem, an Australian of Lebanese desecent, lives in Melbourne where he is a husband and father of four. He was a chiropractor by trade until a rare blood disorder in his hands forced him to take time off work in 2001. It was then that he began playing poker as a sport.

Background on New Zealand Poker Champs
The New Zealand Poker Champs are being held at Christchurch Casino from 1 – 8 April 2006.

The week will begin with a “20k Celebrity Challenge for Charity” where some of New Zealand’s most famous faces will battle around a poker table. The winning celebrity will donate their $20,000 winnings to their selected charity.

The following day the Canterbury Championships will be held with the South Island Champs following on Wednesday, 5 April. The New Zealand Poker Championships will be held over Friday 7 and Saturday 8 April 2006.

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