Hun Wei Lee Beats Hachem for A$350K Crown Trophy
Lee tops 715 entrants at Crown Melbourne, defeating WSOP champ Joe Hachem for major prize
Hun Wei Lee defeated a field of 715 entrants at Crown Melbourne this week — beating 2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem along the way — to claim a major poker trophy and A$350,000 in prize money, per PokerNews.
Why It Matters
A$350,000 (approximately US$225,000 at current exchange rates) represents a life-changing score for a non-professional player, and the victory carries extra narrative weight given that Hachem remains Australian poker's most iconic figure. Beating a former world champion in a live field of 715 signals that Crown Melbourne's tournament series continues to attract elite competition, not just recreational volume. For players evaluating where to invest buy-in dollars in the Asia-Pacific region, results like this reinforce Crown's standing as the premier live poker destination in the southern hemisphere. As of October 2026, live poker tournament fields across APAC have trended larger post-pandemic, making a 715-entrant result relatively strong for a regional stop.
Context
Joe Hachem won the WSOP Main Event in 2005, taking home US$7.5 million and becoming the first Australian to claim poker's most prestigious title. Crown Melbourne has hosted major international poker festivals for over two decades and regularly draws a mix of global touring pros and sharp local talent. Lee's win adds his name to a short list of players who have beaten Hachem heads-up or in a final-table setting at a televised or major recorded event.
What's Next
Lee will likely defend or build on his ranking points within the APAC circuit, with Crown Melbourne's next scheduled festival series expected in early 2027. Whether he transitions to a more active tournament schedule — a common post-major-win pattern — remains to be seen.
Gambling involves risk. Tournament poker results do not guarantee future outcomes.
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