WATCH: Joe Hachem Folds Kings Near WPT World Championship Bubble
The bubble phase is always tense in any poker tournament, especially when there's at least a five-figure sum waiting around the corner in one of the richest live poker tournaments of all time.
Whether you're an amateur on a fabled Cinderella run or a seasoned vet like, say, a WSOP Main Event champion, decisions can be difficult, definitely when you're on the shorter stack.
With players on the cusp of the hand-for-hand phase in the 2023 WPT World Championship, Joe Hachem was dealt pocket kings in second position and facing a raise from under the gun.
What happens next? Watch it below or keep reading to find out what transpired.
https://twitter.com/WPT/status/1736288168381673485
The Hand
From under the gun, chipleader at the table Ben Bianco came in with a raise to 40,000 holding A?A?. Hachem three-bet to 120,000 with the K?K? to his left, keeping 385,000 behind, and action folded back to Bianco.
"Oh my goodness, oh no," commentators Henry Kilbane and Ashley Frank chimed in unison.
While the American was displaying his acting chops, Hachem playfully chirped to get him to fold, only to be met by a four-bet shove mere seconds after. Hachem's face quickly turned sour and after a minute, he decided to let it go.
"Are you kidding me?" Kilbane said in disbelief. Bianco indicated to Hachem he'd show if the Australian champ would show, and Hachem complied by flashing the cowboys.
"You are sick man," Bianco complimented him while tabling the blades. "You had more time chips, you should've waited!" he chuckled. The rest of the table just looked in stunned disbelief as Bianco raked in the pot.
Shortly after, the bubble burst �� with cracked aces no less �� to guarantee all remaining players, including Hachem, at least $18,700.
Who are the confirmed players for the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop?
'Beriuzy' Man of his Word, Jumps in Pool
Poker players were glued to the action on the WPT live stream and needless to say, the hand caused waves among the poker fans. Popular poker streamer Rayan "Beriuzy" Chamas was among the thousands watching the action concurrently.
Confidently, while Hachem was in the tank, "Beriuzy" said he'd jump in a pool if Hachem would fold the hand.
https://twitter.com/beriuzy/status/1736280542096838763
True to his word, Chamas followed suit and, shortly after, jumped clothed and all into one of the lavish (and ice-cold) pools over in Sin City.
Follow along with live updates of the WPT World Championship over at WPT.com
In this Series
- 1 Award-Winning WPT World Championship Returning to Wynn in December
- 2 WPT World Championship at Wynn to Set Record w/ $40 Million Guarantee
- 3 Tennessee Home Game Grinder Qualifies Into WPT World Championship
- 4 Iraq War Veteran Qualifies for WPT World Championship on ClubWPT
- 5 Here's How to Qualify for the $40 Million Guaranteed WPT World Championship
- 6 Alaskan Gold Miner Among Latest To Qualify For WPT World Championship
- 7 Premier Meet-Up Game with Phil Ivey Will Kick Off the WPT World Championship at Wynn
- 8 World Poker Tour Reveals Live Streaming Schedule for WPT World Championship
- 9 Women in Poker Initiatives Will Be at the Forefront During WPT World Championship
- 10 Over $55M in Guarantees for WPT World Championship Series at Wynn from Nov. 29-Dec. 23
- 11 Cancer Survivor Qualifies for WPT World Championship In Las Vegas
- 12 "Johnnyhaha" Riesterer Wins Seat Into WPT World Championship In Las Vegas
- 13 ClubWPT Qualifier Luis Gutierrez Ready to Take on WPT World Championship
- 14 PN Pod Special Edition: Phil Ivey & Gus Hansen at 2023 WPT World Championship; Everything You Need to Know
- 15 Phil Ivey & Gus Hansen Drop Down to Low-Stakes Poker (For One Day)
- 16 Mexican Pro Jacobo Montoya Seeking Another Score in WPT World Championship
- 17 Multiple Big Winners Already Crowned at WPT World Championship Festival
- 18 Mike Leah, George Tomescu Among Latest Big Winners in WPT World Championship Festival
- 19 Did Wynn Figure Out the Perfect Bubble Stalling Solution During WPT Prime Championship?
- 20 Alan Keating Bags Big Stack on Day 1a of WPT World Championship
- 21 Lynn Gilmartin Spins Up a Stack on Day 1b of WPT World Championship
- 22 Meet Some of the ClubWPT Qualifiers Playing the WPT World Championship
- 23 $40 Million Guarantee Within Reach as WPT World Championship Approaches Day 1d
- 24 Kristen Foxen Turns a Full House But is Drawing Dead in WPT Ladies Cash Game
- 25 Class of 2023 Reflect on Joining the WPT Champions Club
- 26 "WPT's Long-Term Plan Playing Out" says Pliska After World Championship Overlay
- 27 Class of 2023 Reflect on Joining the WPT Champions Club
- 28 "WPT's Long-Term Plan Playing Out" says Pliska After World Championship Overlay
- 29 Garrett Adelstein Books Another Six-Figure Win in WPT Cash Game
- 30 What Players Should You Expect for the WPT $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop?
- 31 Aces Cracked to Bust the Bubble on Day 2 of WPT World Championship
- 32 Will the WPT World Championship Have a Repeat Winner?
- 33 Defending Champ Eliot Hudon Out; Naj Ajez Leads WPT World Championship
- 34 WATCH: Joe Hachem Folds Kings Near WPT World Championship Bubble
- 35 WPT x Daniel Arsham Celebrity Invitational Features Actor Neil Patrick Harris
- 36 Reality TV Star Princess Love Among 45 Left in WPT World Championship
- 37 Phil Ivey Busts on Day 1 of $1M WPT Big One for One Drop
- 38 Dan Smith Bags Chip Lead w/ 6 Left in WPT Big One for One Drop
- 39 Ben Jacobs Leads WPT World Championship Final 16; Moorman, Lichtenberger & Sepiol Alive
- 40 Mikita Badziakouski Ships $1 Million Buy-In WPT Big One for One Drop ($7.1 Million)
- 41 Daniel Lowery Caps Off Career Year With WPT Seniors Win Just Weeks After His 50th
- 42 PN Podcast: MI Player Kidnapped & Zip-Tied & Dan Sepiol Talks Winning WPT World Championship
- 43 Ren Lin Wins $50k WPT Alpha8 for $1,045,781; Jason Koon Runner-Up
- 44 Dan Sepiol Wins WPT World Championship ($5.3 Million) w/ Brilliant Final Table Performance
- 45 Lucky Chewy Catches Fire to Lead Stacked WPT World Championship Final Table
- 46 2023 WPT World Championship Hands of the Week: WSOP Champ Felted By Hall of Famer
- 47 Gamble, Weng & Coleman Win at WPT World Championship Festival; Leah Claims 2nd Trophy
- 48 Calvin Anderson Wins WPT Prime Championship for $1,386,280
- 49 Actor Neil Patrick Harris Takes Brutal Cooler in WPT Celebrity Poker Tournament
