Joe Hachem Named As Asian Poker Tour's Latest Ambassador
January 23, 2012 11:30 amBack in 2005, Aussie poker pro Joe Hachem joined PokerStars after taking down the WSOP Main Event that year for $7.5 million. Then in December 2011, after six years of service with the world’s largest online poker room, Hachem and PokerStars parted ways.
At the time, the 45 year-old said he wanted to spend more time with his family, which includes his wife Jeanie and their four children. It now appears he will have just that opportunity after agreeing to be the latest ambassador for the Asian Poker Tour (APT). Commenting on his deal, Hachem said:
“After many years working extensively around the world, I made the decision that my next venture would keep me closer to home, allowing me to spend more time with my family and was something that presented me with a wider range of opportunities.”
The Asian Poker Tour is the biggest poker tour in the whole of Asia, and helps to promote and organize events in such top destinations as Macau, Philippines and Singapore. It was also acquired by AsianLogic Limited (ALL) in 2008, which is a group specialising in operating online and land-based gambling in the Asia Pacific market. Elaborating further on his new role with the Tour, Hachem stated:
“I am delighted to announce that I have decided to partner with a consortium comprising the AsianLogic Group and some of their contemporaries. I will be working with the Group in several areas, initially as a new ambassador for the Asian Poker Tour to further the growth of poker and to assist them with several strategic opportunities in Australia and the Asia Pacific Region.”
There is no doubt Joe Hachem is a major boost to the APT, as the top pro is currently listed as number 9 on Poker’s ‘All Time Money List’ with $11,342,509 in live career earnings. The Lebanese born pro now becomes the Asian Poker Tour’s fourth ambassador, the others of which include J.C. Tran, Quinn Do and Nam Le.