Who are the leading Aussie pro poker players in 2023?
IMAGE: https://www.vecteezy.com/photo/2410755-stacked-casino-tokens-and-royal-flush-on-green-background
Whether competing at sit-down tournaments at famous casino venues around the globe, chancing their hands in regional tournaments or playing online, Australian poker players have certainly made their mark on the professional circuit over the years.
Regularly featuring in the money at major events, three in particular have gained fame and fortune at the tables, and they are the focus of our attention, as we take a closer look at Aussies who still continue to fly high in the top 100. For reference, we have used the Hendon Mob database of rankings and All-Time earnings.
Michael Addamo
While this year may have been slower in terms of major tournament wins for Michael Addamo, he still remains the highest-ranked Australian poker player on the All-Time Money List published by The Hendon Mob. According to their latest update for November 2023, he ranks 34th and has earned $22.03 million USD (around $34.03 million AUD) during his career.
Addamo was an accomplished chess player in his youth, and was also studying to be an actuary, which is a profession requiring advanced mathematical skills to measure risks and probabilities. Turning his attention to poker, the Aussie has focused his talents for problem solving and strategic thinking to great effect.
Akin to many professional players, Addamo began his rise to prominence by playing online poker for real money, honing the skill and cunning needed to become successful by competing in multi-table tournaments (MTTs) from 2012. By 2015 he was regularly winning five-figure payouts, then enhanced his reputation by cashing at seven events at the 2016 WSOP.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aKLANt9l2II?si=8TWsOIg9YvMJApTp" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Often seen playing under the name of imluckbox, Addamo came second in the Super High Roller Bowl Online in 2020, scooping just over $1.18 million USD for his biggest individual cash winnings. He also won the two final cash events at the 2021 Poker Masters, donning a Purple Jacket as the series champion, and going home with a cool $1.16 million USD in winnings.
Kahle Burns
One of the most accomplished Aussie players on the pro poker circuit, Kahle Burns has racked up more than $13.1 million in earnings, based on the Hendon Mob stats. This puts him second only to Michail Addamo in the Australian rankings for All Time winnings. He was inducted into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame (APHoF) in 2020, founded in 2009 by Maurie Pears.
Since bursting onto the professional scene in 2009, Burns has thrived and thoroughly enjoyed his poker adventures around the globe, making him a regular feature at live events and tournaments. Often seen under a variety of usernames including ROFLShove and DuuuuMaaaa when playing online, Burns is often a big hitter and both online and offline tournaments.
85th on the international All Time money list rankings this year, the biggest individual scoop for Burns came at the 2022 Triton Mediterranean Poker Party in Cyprus. After defeating 88 rivals in the $75,000 no-limit hold ‘em event, he pocketed $1.73 million USD, which is just a fraction shy of $2.7 million AUD.
Joe Hachem
Widely considered to be a legend among fans and fellow poker players, while he is no longer top of the Australian All Time Money List, there’s no doubting that Joe Hachem remains one of the most famous poker stars from Down Under. Regularly cashing at events around the world, his career earnings passed $12.8 million USD (almost $20 million AUD) in November 2023.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DjaW-lQz6W4?si=sdA7cuQvtZzEg5aZ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Still a regular on the poker circuit in Australia, 57-year-old Hachem is also known as “Diamond Joe” for the sparkling skill with the cards. But he really shot to fame back in 2005, winning the World Series of Poker $10,000 no-limit Texas hold ‘em Main Event, becoming the first Aussie to do so, landing a $7.5 million prize ($11.6 million AUD) that was poker tournament record at the time.
Joe regularly cites discipline and control as his main poker attributes, and his personality is greatly admired. “Poker can bring out the worst in people, but when you see somebody who’s just winning with grace and class and dignity, it’s nice,” said American actor Matt Damon once, having enjoyed watching and learning from Hachem.