After a one year leave of absence from the APPT, Auckland 2006 WSOP Main event champion Joe Hachem is rumoured to be returning to Auckland for this years event.

Joe’s brother and ANZPT tour leader Tony Hachem will almost certainly make the trip to the City of Sails in September but not many expected to see the return of his much in demand brother. Pokerstars have recently narrowed their Australasian team to just Tony, Joe and New Zealander Lee “Final Table” Nelson dropping regular visitors Grant Levy, Emad Tahtouh and perenial crowd favorite Eric Assadourian.

Instead SKYCITY expects a swarth of Australia’s latest poker sensations to make the journey many of whom played just a month ago in The ANZPT Queenstown.