Aussie Poker Pros Cant Stand Each Other

It seems that there's no love lost between Joe Hachem and the newest Australian poker sensation Mark Vos.

Joe Hachem was the 2005 WSOP winner and is also a participant this year out to defend his title. Vos recently won $1.08 million in a WSOP event. The two are arch-enemies and hardly have one word to say to each other.

"We don't really get along," Vos has been quoted as saying. "It's complicated."

Hachem has similarly just finished with a $345,000 prize after coming out second in a different event in the WSOP.

The dispute between Hachem and Vos reportedly began when a message was posted on an Internet poker site, which resulted in heated exchanges between the two over the past few months.

Vos reportedly hasn't shown any respect to Hachem despite him being the current Main Event title-holder, winning more than $10 million at last year's WSOP.

"Vos has got a big mouth," one source said. "Joe can't stand him." Unlike the more vocal Vos, Hachem declined to comment. The two are expected to be facing off several times in the next few weeks while the WSOP is ongoing.

Vos, The 22-year-old Brisbane University dropout, said he was exhilarated with his first major title.

"It feels really good to have that win when you're so young and can use the money to do things for the rest of my life."

August 24, 2006
John Tucker