2005 World Series of Poker - Recap of final table

Australian Joe Hachem is the new 2005 World Series of Poker Champion. The former chiropractor returns to Melbourne, Australia with $7.5 million and the coveted white-gold winner’s bracelet. Joe Hachem beat out a field of 5,619 players who were competing for a prize pool of over $56 million. Every player who made the final table left Las Vegas as millionaires.

   Joe Hachem wins the 2005 WSoP - © Las Vegas & PokerHundreds of media members, spectators, and family members converged on Benny’s Bullpen on the second floor of Binion’s Horseshoe to catch the final three tables of the main event. The first several days were hosted at the Rio Casino, but the final three tables’ action was held back at Binion’s for one last time. Next year the final table will be hosted at the Rio. Everyone packed themselves into the tiny room where people from ESPN production crew, skilled photographers, railbirds, members of the press, and current poker players all patiently waited fourteen hours to witness poker history.

Greg “Fossilman” Raymer failed in his quest to defend his title. He tried to become the first player to repeat since Johnny Chan. Raymer took 25th place and outlasted over 8,000 players over the last two years. That milestone might never be matched ever again. Phil Ivey also made the final 27. Unfortunately he couldn’t catch enough cards to advance to the final table.

Here’s who made the final table including starting chip counts:

• Seat 1: Joe Hachem (Melbourne, Australia) $5,420,000
• Seat 2: Andrew Black (Dublin, Ireland) $8,140,000
• Seat 3: Tex Barch (McKinney, TX) $9,330,000
• Seat 4: Daniel Bergsdorf (Umea, Sweden) $5,270,000
• Seat 5: Mike Matusow (Las Vegas NV) $7,410,000
• Seat 6: Aaron Kanter (Lodi, CA) $10,700,000
• Seat 7: Brad Kondracki (Kingston, PA) $1,180,000
• Seat 8: Steve Dannenmann (Severn, MD) $5,460,000
• Seat 9: Scott Lazur (Studio City, CA) $3,370,000

Mike Matusow was the best player and the biggest name at the final table. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow admitted he played the best poker of his life and avoided an infamous “Matusow Meltdown” and played with composure despite being penalized on several occasions for cursing at the tables. Steve Dannemann knocked out Matusow by a bad beat. He was finished in 9th place and won $1 Million.

Law student Brad Kondraki qualified online. He was eliminated in 8th place by Andy Black. He won $1.5 million. Sweden’s Daniel Bergsdorf finished in 7th place after he suffered a bad beat from Tex Barch. Bergdorof’s pocket jacks lost to Tex Barch’s pocket tens when Barch flopped a set. Bergsdorf won $1.3 million for seventh place.

Scott Lazur, a magician from California, was busted in 6th place by Andy Black. He won $1.5 million.

Ireland’s Andy Black was by far the best player at the table once Mike Matusow was eliminated. It took a couple of bad beats to knock him out. Andy Black played excellent poker for a week straight and proved why he’s considered on of the best players from Ireland. He held his temper for the duration of the final event and unfortunately was outdrawn and he ended up in 5th place. He won $1.75 million.

Aaron Kanter qualified online. He’s a professional poker player from California and made it to 4th place. He won $2 million after he was knocked out by Tex Barch. Third place went to Tex Barch, a bar owner from McKinney, Texas. Barch won $2.5 million.

When it got down to heads up play, Joe Hachem looked like the favorite with $40 million in chips to Steve Dannemann’s $16M. Dannemann is an accountant from Maryland and is one of the more superstitious players. It took only six hands to declare a winner. One hour after sunrise, after fourteen hours of play, Joe Hachem took down the final pot to win. Hachem’s 7-3o beat out Dannemann when he flopped a miracle straight. Steve Dannemann won $4.5 million for second place while Joe Hachem won $7.5 million, including his first he coveted gold bracelet.

Joe Hachem returns home to Melbourne, Australia as a World Champion and $7.5 million richer. He’ll now be able to take care of his wife, four kids, mother and brother. Due to some health issues, he retired from the chiropractor business to play poker full time. He’s now a part of poker history after winning the last ever Championship at Binion’s Horseshoe. Congrats to Joe Hachem on winning the biggest poker tournament of all time!