Newly anointed Aussie Millions ambassador Joe Hachem says his career can never be considered complete unless he adds an Aussie Millions Main Event victory to his resume.
Despite enjoying rare air in the poker world as a former WSOP Main Event champion – as well as having a WPT Five Diamond title to his name – Hachem told PokerMedia Australia that winning the Aussie Millions in his hometown of Melbourne remains the one glaring career ambition yet to be fulfilled, making the return of this once revered poker series in 2026 even more significant.
“Anything less than a victory in the Aussie Millions and my career is not complete,” Hachem said as he prepares to return to the felt.
“It’s that simple. And I know it’s obviously getting harder and harder. I’m getting older, the game’s getting faster and I don’t play anywhere near as much I used to – I’m probably one of the lowest volume players out there.
“So, it’s probably not going to happen, but a young boy can dream, can’t he?”
Like many Australians, Hachem has watched the post-COVID poker boom reverberate around the country to the point where poker in Australia has never been as popular as it is today. It is a unique model propped up by mid-tier operators like the Australian Poker League (APL) and Australian Poker Tour (APT) – the latter owned by his brother Tony – plus a handful of highlight casino-based series around the country throughout the year.
But the annual poker schedule hasn’t felt truly complete without the Aussie Millions as its flagship. That’s all set to change this year, with the Aussie Millions returning to Crown Melbourne from 24 April to 10 May in a series boasting 18 ring events.
For Hachem, being part of the festival was never in question.
“We’ve kind of all been holding our breath for so long [for the Aussie Millions to return] and the fact that it’s finally here … when [Crown] reached out to me and told me they were doing it, it was a no-brainer for me to accept the offer to be part of it.
“I know others have tried but there’s something about the Aussie Millions – it’s really the crown jewel and has been for so long. So, it’s great to see it resurrected.”
Alongside his own breakthrough victory in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, it was, Hachem notes, the Aussie Millions that really put Australia on the international poker map – a series that traditionally stood out for its welcoming nature and attractive structures, not to mention Melbourne’s fine January weather and the nearby Australian Open tennis taking place at the same time.
While the series return has seen a shift away from its traditional January timeslot, Hachem expects the new-look Aussie Millions will soon speak for itself.
“People will learn to come to the event simply because it’s such a great event,” he states with confidence.
While main event victory remains Hachem’s ultimate goal, he also recognizes the challenge he faces given the gargantuan evolution the game of poker has undergone in the two decades since his WSOP glory days. Australia has its own crop of emerging stars making waves in this era of solvers and precise math-driven decisions, but Hachem is comfortable admitting his game is “still instinct play, man” – one built on decades of top-level international experience.
“I do like watching on YouTube or Instagram – or reading a good article about hand breakdowns where they utilize all of those tools,” he explains.
“But I’ve always been someone that just likes to understand the broad concept. If I understand how it works, I can then make decisions within that framework. I’ve never studied the minutia of it all – you’ve got to have a particular type of personality for that – and my argument has always been that I don’t play online poker so I have no volume. So how am I going to realise all these little spots?
“For me, it goes family, then business, then poker. Obviously there was a time when I was sponsored [by PokerStars after winning the WSOP] and at that time poker was business. I played a lot because I needed to make hay while the sun was shining. But these days I’m happy just to pick and choose what I play.
“To be honest, I don’t get a kick out of playing $100 or $500 tournaments, whereas I have friends who just love being at the table, any table. I do like to compete but whether you play a $100 event or a $10,000 event, it’s the same amount of effort – so I like to be more selective these days.”
It’s why Hachem is so motivated to make the most of the opportunities the Aussie Millions brings – both on and off the felt. As an Aussie Millions ambassador, he sees his role as trying to represent Australian poker and getting the word out to the world about the unique experience this series has always offered.
But he is also excited about playing in Crown’s recently relocated poker room. No longer consigned to the famous “Las Vegas Room” basement that once hosted the world’s elite, the new-look space on Level 1 is lighter and brighter with a generously spacious floor plan, a sizeable bar and better access to restaurants and other food options.
One of those options, coincidentally, will be American-style burger restaurant Royal Stacks – located a floor below the poker room at Crown Melbourne and of which Hachem is a co-owner – with a special Aussie Millions collaboration already in the planning. More on that soon.
“I’m just really looking forward to the series,” Hachem explains.
“The Crown Poker experience is legendary and the venue itself, Crown Melbourne is iconic. It’s a true resort where you can do anything you want from watching a movie to dining in some of the world’s finest restaurants or sitting outside and having a drink.
“If you’re looking for a cool place to come and hang out for a week and scratch your poker itch, there’s no better place to be honest.”
Be the first to comment