By Sean Callander in Sydney

The Shane Warne Foundation is now $50,000 better off after the charity’s patron and Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem won the first PokerStars.net APPT Tournament of Champions.

Holding an 8:1 chip lead over fellow Team PokerStars Pro Greg Raymer, Hachem had been blessed with a run of cards after the dinner break, which continued when Raymer decided to take a stand on the fifth hand of heads-up play.

Unfortunately, his Qs Js was up against Hachem’s Ac Ks, and the board of 8h 8c 8s Kd 10h ensured the 2005 world champion would collect his first win on home soil.

The face of poker in Australia, Hachem said he was thrilled to end the year on such a high note and would take delight in delivering a cheque for $50,000 to the Shane Warne Foundation.




Joe Hachem - winner of the Tournament of Champions

“The Shane Warne Foundation distributes funds raised to established charities that provide essential help and services to seriously ill and underprivileged children. It’s a great cause and the foundation helps a lot of people. From a personal standpoint, it fills a gap that I’ve been looking for to give something back,” he said.

It’s been a great 24 hours for Australian poker, with Grant Levy winning the APPT Grand Final and Hachem triumphing over three other world champions and four APPT title winners in the Tournament of Champions.