Awada moved from Lebanon to the United States in his early teenage years, working as a juggler, eventually touring with the Harlem Globetrotters.

After a car accident, he began working as a casino dealer and eventually became a regular on the poker tournament circuit.

Later in the same WSOP, Awada won a gold bracelet in the $5,000 seven-card stud event, defeating Marcel Lüske.

[5] Three months later, he made the final table of the World Poker Tour (WPT) third season event won by Doyle Brunson.

The final table included John Phan, Chip Jett, Keith Sexton and eventual champion Jan Sørensen.