The Australian Professional Poker community is grieving the death of Shane Warne,with pro Australian player Tony Hachem paying tribute to his close friend of over 20 years.
“He was my brother,he was my daughter’s godfather. We loved him,I’m shattered,” said a tearful Mr Hachem,who would have been on holiday in Thailand with Warne if it had not been for family commitments.
“He invited me to go with him.”
Mr Hachem was gathered on Saturday with some of Warne’s closest poker player friends in Melbourne including his brother and fellow professional poker player Joe Hachem.
“He just enjoyed the professional competition of poker and he loves his home games with[us] his close friends,” said Mr Hachem,
“We’re all lost,we’re all dumbfounded at the moment - we can’t believe what’s happened.”
Poker was an important part of Warne’s life. On his website he dedicated many words to his love of the game and its similarities to cricket.
“Each are long and gruelling events that can be broken down into many smaller contests,” he wrote.
“In cricket,I’m focusing ball-by-ball,over-by-over,session-by-session,one batsman at a time. In poker,you can only play one hand at a time,one opponent at a time. If you can win more than your fair share of the smaller contests,over time,they will add up to success in both endeavours. Patience is the key.”
Warne was once signed as a professional player with 888poker and won more than $100,000 in his career.
Mr Hachem said aside from poker and cricket he would remember Warne as an incredibly loyal friend,and father and philanthropist.
“What attracted us to Warney was not only his love for his kids,but for all kids in general,” he said.