Daniel Hachem is a few players away from winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet. That last name should sound familiar, and yes, he is the son of 2005 Main Event champion Joe Hachem.
The younger Hachem was, at the time of publishing, among the final four players in the new $1,500 Double Board Bomb Pot event. And his father has been in attendance inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas where PokerNews caught up with the father-son combo.
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Joe, the Australian poker legend who won $5 million in the Main Event 19 years ago, is proudly supporting his son in his quest for a first bracelet. If Daniel were to come out victorious in the 1,312-entrant tournament, he’d win $270,820, and the Hachem’s would be in some exclusive company as one of the few parent-child duos to each win at least one bracelet. The tiny list includes Todd Brunson and Doyle Brunson, and Eoghan O’Dea and Donnacha O’Dea.
Another Hachem Champion?
Daniel Hachem isn’t just the son of a world champion. He’s an accomplished pro, and his father even admits he’s the best poker player in the family.
“Now that he’s become quite an accomplished player himself, it’s just routine,” Joe Hachem said when asked if he felt nervous watching his son chase a bracelet. “But the first couple of times, I was very nervous.”
The younger Hachem nearly followed in his dad’s footsteps in 2019 when he ran deep in the WSOP Main Event. But he eventually busted in 79th place for a career-best $98,120.
Daniel got into poker at a young age, and his dad could tell early on that his son was destined for poker greatness.
“Daniel started playing poker immediately after I won the World Series,” Hachem explained. “He was a kid. He was 11 or 12, but immediately started playing. And then by the age of 15, I knew he was going to be an excellent player. He just had the right mindset for the way he broke down hands.”
Joe’s instincts about his son’s abilities were spot on.
Appreciative of the Support
Coincidentally, the bomb pot final table is taking place on Monday right behind the giant 2005 WSOP Main Event winner’s banner inside the Horseshoe Events Center.
“It’s amazing. I’m playing here and my dad’s photo up in the background, it’s just surreal. It’s very, very special,” Daniel Hachem said.
Although Daniel was young and “had no idea what poker was” in 2005, he vividly remembers following along in his father’s chase to become a world champion.
“We were just checking updates, I forget what it was, the poker website back then,” Daniel said of following Joe’s run in the 2005 WSOP.
“PokerNews,” Joe Hachem interjected.
“PokerNews, and I remember it like it was yesterday,” Daniel explained. “Time’s gone by real quick, but that genuinely feels like yesterday.”
Daniel’s grown up now, and the roles have been reversed. Dad is following his son’s quest to win a WSOP bracelet this time. Perhaps, those in attendance will hear a few “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” chants before it ends.
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