[5][6] Around 1995,[7] while taking time off to consider his future, Hachem started to play poker with greater frequency, mostly in casinos, as well as online.
[4][6] Hachem spent another five years playing regularly on the Melbourne tournament circuit before setting his sights on the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada.
[4] Just prior to entering the 2005 World Series of Poker, Hachem visited the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California, to play in a no-limit Texas hold 'em game.
[3] Hachem won the 2005 World Series of Poker $10,000 no-limit Texas hold 'em Main Event, outlasting 5,618 other players.
He took the chip lead with three players remaining and after going heads-up against Steve Dannenmann, it took Hachem only six hands to win the game.
When the turn brought the A♠, Steve Dannenmann made the top pair (with an open-ended straight draw) with his starting hand of A♦ 3♣.
Hachem was the first Australian to win the World Series of Poker Main Event, and he immediately developed a strong fan base in Australia.
[1][13] In 2008, it was announced that there would be a documentary film produced that was focusing on Hachem's 2005 World Series of Poker victory as well as the eight other players at the main event final table.
Hachem was the chip leader during much of the final table, but he suffered a crippling setback against Kido Pham, who went all in with Jack-Ten.
[15] At the 2006 World Series of Poker, Hachem finished second in the $2,500 short-handed no limit hold 'em event, which drew 1,068 players.
[17] Hachem won $256,800 from the second-place finish,[6] but was nevertheless visibly disappointed by the outcome, and was comforted by his wife Jeanine and friend Greg Raymer, the 2004 World Series of Poker champion.
[17] Also in the 2006 World Series, Hachem finished fourth in the $2,500 pot limit hold'em tournament, which had a starting field of 562 players.
[18] In the final table, Hachem eliminated Lee Grove with a pair of kings and Alex Jacob with three queens.
[4] Hachem won the "World Series of Poker Champions II" tournament on NBC's Poker After Dark on a table consisting of Main Event winners Doyle Brunson, Greg Raymer, Jamie Gold, Huck Seed, and Johnny Chan,[4] whom he defeated heads up to win $120,000.
[6] Hachem finished in 103rd place in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, which drew a field of 6,494 players,[25] earning himself $40,288.
Hachem said he rarely bluffs without any outs, and only does so when "you're confident the other guy can't stand the heat of a raise.
[1] Hachem has said he likes playing at featured tables in televised poker tournaments because, "Everyone wants to be on TV, and they are afraid to do anything silly so they don't get ridiculed.
"[12] Hachem's talent and personality has drawn him a large fanbase, and people often surround his table to watch him during tournaments.
[citation needed] He operates a mortgage company[5] and enjoys playing golf, especially with friends and other poker players.
[32] Damon said of Hachem, "Poker can bring out the worst in people, but when you see somebody who's just winning with grace and class and dignity, it's nice.