Rami Hammoud's Strategy for the WSOP Main Event

Rami Hammoud arrived in Las Vegas on June 18 with $20,000 for the World Series of Poker, but by early July, he was down to his last $1,000. "I was getting crushed," Hammoud commented. He was ready to go home without even playing the Main Event. However, a chance encounter at Paris Casino changed everything. A friend from Montreal convinced him to take his last $1,000 and try a satellite.

A Change of Fortune

After speaking with his friend, Hammoud decided to have some confidence in himself. With that last push, he entered a satellite and won his entry to the Main Event without having to sell part of his stake. Although he is not a full-time professional, Hammoud, who considers poker more than just a passion, now has the chance to win $9 million.

Final Table and Statistics

• Chips: 79,000,000 (2/9)
• Country: Canada
• Career Earnings: $1,512,438

Despite nearly leaving without participating, this is Hammoud's fourth attempt at the Main Event, and for the first time, he has reached the final table.

Playing on His Own Terms

Hammoud decided to change his approach after years of trying to maximize profits. This year, he decided that enjoying the game was more important. "The mindset was completely different," stated Hammoud, who prepared himself each day to leave Las Vegas if he lost.

The Unusual Approach

Daily, Hammoud would leave his hotel room, drop off his luggage at storage, and play all day. "I booked my hotel at the end of each day because my mantra was to be ready to leave at any moment." This mindset allowed him to play more aggressively, reaching the final table of the WSOP Main Event.

Performance in the Main Event

• Day 1C: 62,000
• Day 2ABC: 281,000
• Day 3: 697,000
• Day 4: 1,490,000
• Day 5: 2,630,000
• Day 6: 17,400,000
• Day 7: 41,500,000
• Day 8: 79,000,000

Hammoud's Mindset

This carefree approach is new for Hammoud, who decided to stop studying poker strategies in 2025. "I don't study the game because I wanted to maximize fun, not profits." With this change in focus, he is getting ready to enjoy the final on August 3, regardless of the outcome.

Hammoud's strategy reflects his commitment to balancing fun and performance, showing that even in high-level poker, personal enjoyment can be more valuable than simply chasing profits.