PokerStars.com Signs Poker Champion
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LOS ANGELES, California - (PRESS RELEASE) -- Joe Hachem, the 2005 World Series of Poker champion, signed an agreement with PokerStars.com, the world's largest tournament poker site. Hachem, who won the record $7.5 million top prize at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas in July, will represent PokerStars.com as a sponsored player and ambassador.

The signing of Hachem gives PokerStars.com a triple crown. Currently, 2003 WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker and 2004 WSOP champion Greg Raymer both serve exclusively as PokerStars.com representatives. The addition of Hachem means that PokerStars.com has locked up the last three world poker champions. In addition, Tom McEvoy, 1983 WSOP Champion and renowned poker author, is also a part of Team PokerStars.

Joseph Hachem, age 39, was born in Lebanon. He emigrated to Australia as a child, and now lives in Melbourne with his wife and four children. Hachem worked as a mortgage broker and chiropractor before taking poker seriously, first as a hobby and then as a semi-professional. He has played actively at PokerStars.com since 2001. In the past four years, Hachem has entered hundreds of poker tournaments at PokerStars.com and has played many thousands of hands.

While former champions Moneymaker and Raymer won their way into the WSOP directly through PokerStars.com, Hachem's road to fame and fortune was paved by a close friend. Hachem decided to attend the 2005 WSOP when a fellow Australian won his seat at PokerStars.com. Hachem paid a $1,000 entry into his first event at this year's WSOP and walked away $28,000 richer with a 10th place finish overall. Hachem's wife then encouraged him to enter the world's most prestigious poker tournament, the $10,000 No Limit Texas Hold'em at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Hachem blitzed through an all-time record field of 5,618 players and won the largest prize in poker history.

"Joining Team PokerStars is a natural decision for me," said Hachem at a press conference held recently in New York City's Times Square district. "PokerStars.com is the site where I really picked up on the intricacies of tournament poker. The wide selection of tournaments and games is so great that I become a skilled player within a relatively short time-frame. The truth is -- I never would have even have come to the World Series of Poker if my Aussie friend not qualified online at the site. PokerStars.com is the gateway to making poker dreams come true and becoming a world champion."

Since Hachem's victory, he has become an international celebrity. Hachem appeared as a guest on The Jay Leno show and has been featured in hundreds of media outlets throughout the world. During his year-long reign as the champion, Hachem plans to continue playing in major poker tournaments, making public appearances, and sharing his unique personal story with journalists. At least one thing will not change for Hachem, he says he will continue playing and developing his skills at PokerStars.com.

"This entire experience has been a dream come true for me," said Hachem. "To join Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer is a real honor. I hope that my association with PokerStars.com will encourage others out there to pursue their goals in life, whatever they might be. It sure worked out for me."