Hun Wei Lee defeated Joe Hachem and won the main event of the Victorian Poker Championship 2026

Hun Wei Lee defeated WSOP champion Joe Hachem in the final of the Victorian Poker Championship 2026 Main Event in Melbourne.

The main event of the Victorian Poker Championship 2026 with a $2,500 buy-in has concluded in Melbourne, where two of the strongest final table players — Hun Wei Lee and 2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem — faced off in a tense battle for the title. The tournament finale, held at the famous Crown Melbourne, was a spectacular end to the series and gave spectators a thrilling showdown between two Australian pros. Final Table: Battle for the Title and Game Dynamics On the last day of the tournament, the final table brought together the top nine players out of 715 entrants. The total prize pool was AUD 1,573,000, and at stake were not only large cash prizes but also the prestigious trophy of one of Australia’s most significant poker events. Hun Wei Lee started the final day as a solid chip leader, but the start was tough — all nine players survived the first three levels without any eliminations. This is a rare situation for final tables, where bustouts usually happen faster. Early on, Lee lost part of his advantage, surrendering the lead after an unsuccessful hand against Joe Hachem. In one of the key moments, Hachem doubled up with pocket kings, allowing him to get back into the fight for the title. Lee himself admitted that a failed call with pocket nines against Hachem’s all-in was a serious blow, and he had to adjust his game, showing patience and discipline. The Road to Heads-Up: Key Hands and Eliminations The first three eliminations at the final table happened without Lee’s involvement, as he watched the action unfold. The turning point came in a hand against Nektarios Dimitrakis — a big win put Lee back in the lead and gave him his first knockout of the day. After that, Hun Wei Lee managed to score two more knockouts from the next three, which allowed him to reach the final heads-up against Joe Hachem. By this point, both players had already exchanged the chip lead several times, and the tension at the table was at its peak. Joe Hachem, despite several critical situations, managed to double up twice, including once when he had only two outs left on the turn — but the river brought the card he needed and kept him in the tournament. Both sides took the chip lead multiple times, making the duel especially tense and unpredictable. The Decisive Hand and Hun Wei Lee’s Victory The heads-up between Hun Wei Lee and Joe Hachem lasted more than two hours, during which the players traded the lead and demonstrated a high level of skill. In the final hand, it seemed Hachem might survive again, but on the river Lee made a set, securing the win, the title, and the tournament’s top prize. This victory was especially meaningful for Lee: just six months earlier, he had won the $25,000 Challenge at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship 2026, also held at Crown Melbourne. However, according to him, this latest success surpassed even that result, as the final match was against his idol — Joe Hachem, whom Lee calls “the godfather of Australian poker” and the person who inspired him to take up the game. Lee noted that simply having the chance to play heads-up against Hachem was already a great honor, and winning such a duel was a true dream come true in front of poker fans. Tournament Results: Payouts and Final Placings Below are the official results of the final table of the $2,500 Victorian Champs Main Event 2026: 1st place — Hun Wei Lee 2nd place — Joe Hachem 3rd place — Nektarios Dimitrakis 4th place — Ben Richardson 5th place — Bobby Zhang 6th place — Higor Seibel 7th place — Jyrki Hilakari 8th place — Zac Miravet 9th place — (name not specified in the source) The total prize pool was AUD 1,573,000, with 715 players participating. The buy-in for the main event was $2,500. Winner Hun Wei Lee took home the largest share of the prize money and the prestigious trophy of one of Australia’s most high-profile poker tournaments. Context: The Victorian Poker Championship Series and Crown Melbourne The Victorian Poker Championship is one of Australia’s key poker series, traditionally held at Crown Melbourne. After a long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the absence of the Aussie Millions, the return of major live tournaments has been a significant event for the local poker community. Crown Melbourne is an iconic venue for Australian players, having hosted many historic tournaments, including the Aussie Millions. For Hun Wei Lee, this venue has truly been a lucky one: in one year, he managed to win two major tournaments, underlining his status as one of the region’s strongest players. Joe Hachem — a legend of world poker and the 2005 WSOP Main Event champion — has had a huge impact on the development of poker in Australia. His participation in the final and battle for the title once again drew attention to the tournament and made the final especially significant for fans of the game. Key Moments and Winner’s Quotes Hun Wei Lee shared his emotions after the victory, noting that returning to Crown Melbourne after a long break was an important event for him. According to him, winning two tournaments in one year at this venue is a unique experience, and the final victory over Hachem holds a special place in his career. Lee admitted that he faced difficulties at the start of the final day, losing the chip lead and making an unsuccessful call with nines. However, he managed to keep his composure, showed patience, and waited for the right moment to get back in the game. The key hand was the win against Nektarios Dimitrakis, after which Lee regained the chip lead and confidently made it to the title. What mattered most to Lee was the fact of facing Joe Hachem heads-up: he emphasized that it was Hachem who inspired him to take up poker, and beating him was, for Lee, “the cherry on top” and the fulfillment of a dream. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great example of how discipline, patience, and the ability to adapt to changing table dynamics can lead to success even in the toughest tournaments. Hun Wei Lee showed that even after making mistakes and losing the lead, you can get back in the game if you stay calm and pick the right spots for aggression. An important lesson for players is the need for honest self-assessment and adjusting your strategy during the tournament. Lee openly acknowledged his mistakes in the early stages of the final table but managed to adapt and take advantage of the opportunities that came his way. This approach is also relevant for online tournaments in PPPoker clubs, where the game dynamic often shifts and it’s important not to lose focus after setbacks. This result also highlights the importance of live experience and psychological resilience. The final heads-up between Lee and Hachem lasted more than two hours, which requires not only technical skills but also endurance. Regular participation in PPPoker club tournaments helps develop these qualities, which are useful both in online play and in live events of this level.