Poker Player - Raymond Rahme
 |
The World Series of Poker tournament held in Las Vegas, Nevada had a distinctly international flair this year. The Main Event, which started July 6, 2007 and came to a smashing conclusion in the early morning hours of July 19, has a diverse field of participants representing 50 countries. Players at the final table represented Russia, England, Denmark, Canada, the United States, and for the first time, South Africa.
Raymond Rahme came to the main event after winning a $10 satellite event. From that modest investment Rahme has made over $3 million. Coming in third at the WSOP, Rahme feels that he did his country proud. He didn’t win a bracelet this year but will be in WSOP Europe later in the year and probably back to Las Vegas next year. The precise amount of his win is $,048,025.
Rahme was born in 1945, is married to a lovely woman named Teresa and has six children. He was the owner of a bread and breakfast inn before he retired and has enjoyed innumerable hours at the gaming tables improving his skills. Rahme has played stud poker for thirty years, and Hold’em for only about two years. Entered in the All Africa Poker Championship, Rahme placed 4th. This tournament was the largest poker tournament ever held in Africa. Part of his prize was a travel package to Las Vegas and entry into the 2007 Main Event. His skill level improved with every poker game he played in South Africa, developing the controlled and aggressive style he created which helped him to play first and second in tournaments in South Africa. He has been playing hold’em for only about two ears.
Going to the table fourth in chips, Rahme is convinced that he only made one fatal error in playing the hand that disqualified him. When asked if he had any regret about pushing in with Kings with an Ace on the board, Rahme responded, “I read him for the Ace there and I shouldn’t have gone all in, but I checked on the flop… I read him for Ace-small and if I go all in there he doesn’t call.” He goes on to say that he should have folded when Jerry Lang bet $10 million. During a session with Lang in the early stages of the tournament, Lang told him if he didn’t call he would show his hand. Ruefully, with all the pain that hindsight can bring, Rahme knows he should have told Lang he wasn’t playing on a draw and offer to show his hand. It’s possible that Lang would have folded then, but not certain.
Disappointed in himself, Rahme still has much he can look to with pride. He was the only person considered to be in his senior years at the table and the first person to play at the last table from Africa. Future plans include going back home and taking care of his family. He has indicated that he will attend the WSOP Europe event and wants to return for another shot at a bracelet next year.
Even though Rahme did not perform as well as he’d have liked, he acknowledges that he has accomplished a great deal. He planned and programmed himself to get to the final table and feels everything went according to his plan except for the last hand. His mates from South Africa agree. His supporters, wearing “Everybody Loves Raymond” shirts, cheered him on each time he played the winning hand. They also provided the day-to-day support he needed, whether it was taking him out to dinner or getting a cab for Rahme and his wife.
|