Joe Hachem is genuinely one of the nicest blokes you could ever play cards with but, like any great man, he doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

‘I don’t mind people taking a shot at me at the table but when they want to get smart afterwards… I was playing a cash game in New Orleans and this guy doubled up his $600 through me on his first hand. He stood up and said, “I’ve beaten the world champ, what else can I do?” I didn’t say a word but as he left he said, “I think he’s on tilt now.”

That just set me off, so I said, “Why don’t you just piss off? You won the money but did I say anything? Good luck to you.”

As he walked away he got an earful from three or four people. He came back after 10 minutes to apologise. I was steaming but I wasn’t going to worry about it.

After all, I’m of Lebanese descent so my blood’s at boiling point at rest.

‘Anyway an hour later he came back to the table with $1,200. I got up to go to the toilet and when I came back he was broke. It was beautiful. The only way it would have been better is if I’d broke him myself.’