In a press release that was released Friday afternoon, the number one online poker site in the industry, PokerStars, and one of its most recognizable faces have decided to part ways.
In that press release from the London offices of PokerStars, 2005 World Series of Poker Championship Event winner Joe Hachem and the poker site officially announced the end of their six year relationship. After becoming the World Champion in 2005 in what was, at that time, the largest Main Event field in history (5619 players) and still ranks as the sixth largest Main Event in WSOP history, Hachem promoted PokerStars around the world as poker’s goodwill ambassador.
“It’s been a great run with PokerStars and I’m proud of my association with the people and the company,” Hachem said in the official announcement. “But it’s time for me to pursue other career opportunities and it will be fun to have some down time to spend with my family. I look forward to the future with much excitement and anticipation and will always have fond memories of my time at PokerStars.”
“Joe has been a terrific endorser for PokerStars over the year and, while we are sad to see him leave the Team, we are looking forward to continuing to watch him play,” the head of Corporate Communications for PokerStars, Eric Hollreiser, stated in the announcement. “We thank him for all he’s done for our brand, and for poker, and we wish him all the best at the poker table and in life.”
The departure of Hachem comes on the heels of several key cuts from the Team PokerStars Pro roster. Back in September, 1983 World Champion Tom McEvoy, two time WSOP bracelet winner Bill Chen and 2008 WSOP “November Niner” Dennis Phillips were a part of a purge from the PokerStars sponsored player rolls. These departures were quietly done, with no announcement from PokerStars as to why, but it is figured that the after effects of “Black Friday” were at least in part the reason for letting the American pros go.
Earlier this year, arguably one of the most high profile members of the Team PokerStars Pro roster also announced his surprising departure. When negotiations broke down on an extension of his sponsorship deal, 2004 World Champion Greg Raymer and the company parted ways. Unlike Hachem’s departure, there seems to have been some acrimony with the Raymer situation, as PokerStars allegedly wanted him to take less money in a new deal than what he had previously earned.
Although he earnestly discussed wanting to spend more time with his family as a reason for leaving PokerStars, Hachem would be a key free agent, if he wanted to obtain another sponsorship deal. After winning the World Championship in 2005 (and its $7.5 million bounty), Hachem proved to be one of the best ambassadors that poker has seen. He traveled the world following his WSOP victory and, as time passed, proved that he wasn’t a “one hit wonder.”
In 2006, Hachem would earn four cashes at the WSOP, including two final tables, a runner up finish in the $2500 Six Handed NLHE event and a 238th place finish in pursuit of defending his World Championship. As 2006 came to a close, Hachem would add a World Poker Tour championship to his mantle, taking down the WPT’s Doyle Brunson North American Poker Classic at the Bellagio for another $2.2 million. He has barely missed becoming one of poker’s “Triple Crown” holders as, in 2008, he missed the final table at the European Poker Tour’s Grand Final by finishing in eleventh place.
Hachem’s career numbers are stellar and, as he plays poker on his terms, promise to get even better. Along with his WSOP and WPT championships, Joe has earned 51 cashes around the world, with 25 of those finishes at the final table. In a nod to his consistency, Joe has been able to earn a six figure score from tournament poker each year since his World Championship victory in 2005. As of the end of the 2011 tournament poker season, Joe has lifetime earnings of $11.4 million, placing him in the Top Ten in poker history in that subject.
