What Transpired with Sammy Farha?
Sammy Farha may not be a household name in poker based on his results alone, but he's certainly one of the most recognized faces from the past. Known for his quick wit and often seen with an unlit cigarette in his mouth, Farha quickly became a fan favorite around the world.
Farha first made a splash in the poker scene in 2003, playing a pivotal role in the legendary tale of Chris Moneymaker, sparking the poker boom. Farha was the final hurdle Moneymaker had to overcome to win the Main Event, and their heads-up battle was a classic David vs. Goliath match-up.
Farha had countless hours of experience and was used to dealing with high-stakes situations, while Moneymaker was a complete stranger to large tournaments with millions of dollars at stake. In the years following the 2003 Main Event, poker took off, with millions of people flocking to the tables hoping to replicate Moneymaker's incredible achievement.
Farha continued pursuing his passion and was frequently invited to participate in popular TV shows like "High Stakes Poker."
After the events of Black Friday, poker lost much of its momentum, especially in the US, and production slowed down considerably. As a result, Farha became somewhat of a mystery to fans, who wondered about his recent activities.
Sam Farha's Background
Born in Lebanon in 1959, Farha and his family moved to the US in 1975 when a civil war erupted in their home country. He ended up attending the University of Kansas, where he earned a degree in business administration. It's also worth noting that Farha was quite skilled at playing pool and made money from it during his time at college.
His first encounter with poker came in the 1980s when he moved to Houston, Texas. Spurred on by his competitive nature and the desire for new challenges, Farha fell in love with the game and recognized its potential as a source of income.
Resources for learning poker were scarce back then, so those who had the drive to succeed and natural flair tended to excel. Judging by Farha's Hendon Mob and the rest of his career, he primarily focused on cash games. Although he amassed over $2.8 million in live tournament earnings, Farha gravitated towards the side games.
Despite his focus on cash games, Farha managed to win three WSOP bracelets. The first one came in 1996, with two more arriving in 2006 and 2010. Interestingly, all three bracelets came from Omaha tournaments, a game that Farha always enjoyed more than Hold'em and was very good at.
It was his performance in this tournament that placed Farha on the radar of the wider poker community.
The 2003 WSOP Main Event: Sammy Farha vs Chris Moneymaker
The 2003 WSOP Main Event was a historical moment, with lasting impact on poker's future. While there have been many Main Events before and since, none has had the same haul.
The story is well known by now. An unknown accountant from Tennessee (appropriately nicknamed Chris Moneymaker) won a seat in the Main Event through a $100 online satellite on PokerStars. He then defeated every player in the field, which included both amateurs and professionals, taking home $2.5 million.
This victory laid the foundation for the poker boom that followed.
Poker legend Sam Farha won his 3rd #WSOP bracelet. On this date in 2010. All 3 have been won in Omaha. #raisydaisy pic.twitter.com/Z6r2GvXoJj— WSOPMemories (@WSOPMemories) June 14, 2015
Farha and Moneymaker met in a heads-up face-off before the Main Event champion was crowned. With $2.5 million on the line, it was a significant moment for both players, but more so for Moneymaker. Sammy, on the other hand, was used to playing for enormous stakes.
The final match included numerous altercations and saw Moneymaker pull off a notable bluff, making his victory all the more memorable. Had Farha made the call in that hand, the course of poker history might have been drastically different.
After pondering for over 20 minutes, Sammy laid down the winning player, Moneymaker gathered a massive pot and concluded the tournament within a few hands. Despite finishing as the runner-up, Sammy took home a substantial $1.3 million, which is his biggest single earning ever, making it an enjoyable day for him.
In later interviews, Farha mentioned that he barely recalls that moment nowadays. Regardless of its significance in poker history, Sammy says it's a memory he seldom revisits.
Perhaps losing that heads-up battle wasn't too terrible for Farha either. While he missed out on $1.2 million then, he could've made money from countless wannabe pros who ventured to Vegas in pursuit of fame and wealth.
As time passed, Farha became a renowned figure. He was invited to numerous televised events and poker shows, with "High Stakes Poker" being the most notable one. Although he didn't need a formal invitation to be part of the high stakes scene, it's possible that it benefited him.
Sammy Farha on "High Stakes Poker"
After the 2003 Main Event, Farha became a familiar face to a wider audience due to his appearances on "High Stakes Poker". Dressed in a suit, with a cigarette perpetually hanging from his lips, Farha competed in memorable hands against poker luminaries like Doyle Brunson, Eli Elezra, Jamie Gold, Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, and others.
Fans adored seeing Farha at the tables. He was generally cheerful and up for a conversation. However, he'd become sullen in rare instances, such as experiencing a terrible beat or a prolonged streak of unfortunate cards.
Winning or losing, he remained courteous and a true gentleman at the tables – a trait that endeared him to crew members and players alike.
Although he frequently went up against players with more significant achievements in poker, Sammy blended in effortlessly. He felt at home playing for such immense stakes.
As someone who had been played for decades before poker became mainstream, Farha was a genuine poker veteran. He rigorously adhered to table etiquette and despised any efforts to manipulate the game.
Sam Farha: Writer and Actor
Being proficient in Omaha, Farha's game of choice was emphasized in "High Stakes Poker". In 2007, he penned a book titled "Farha on Omaha: Expert Strategy for Beating Cash Games and Tournaments".
In this book, Sammy shares his Omaha strategies and provides comical anecdotes from his experiences at the felt. While it's not a top-notch poker learning resource like present-day PLO materials, it's still beneficial for novices eager to learn the basics.
Farha was also featured in the poker film "Lucky You". While the movie itself failed to achieve success, his cameo is considered one of its highlights.
Nevertheless, Sammy's had an impressive poker career. Although he managed to evade major controversies, avoiding drama has earned him notable praise. While several of his contemporaries were regularly appearing in forums for various reasons, Farha always maintained a low-key presence.
What Has Sam Farha Been Up to Recently?
Lately, Farha's presence in the poker world has been minimal. It's not just that he's absconded from the TV, but it seems he's practically stepped back from poker altogether.
According to Hendon Mob, his last recorded tournament cash dates back to 2014, although in the few years prior, he partook in only a handful of tournaments.
As Farha has always been private and uninterested in being a star, there isn't much information about his ventures beyond the felt. In 2017, however, he conducted an interview with PokerNews discussing his current pursuits and how he spends his time since he's not playing poker as much as before.
Although the days of high-stakes betting and huge stakes are behind him, Sammy still participates in poker in Houston, his current residence. He still finds pleasure in the game, just not as much as he used to.
The reason for this, as he explains, is that the drama associated with large games grew unbearable, and he decided he'd had enough and needed to move on.
In the same interview, he took the chance to criticize No-Limit Hold'em. Despite saying he enjoys the game, it becomes tedious for him sometimes. His primary reason for playing poker is amusement.
Thus, it's likely that Farha discovered some intriguing Omaha games in Texas.
It appears that Farha's days of playing poker on a grand scale have reached an end.
This is not because he can no longer afford it or is no longer welcome there, but simply because this is what he decided himself.
We'd be delighted if he returned to poker TV shows. However, whether or not he's open to that idea is an enigma at this time. We can only keep our fingers crossed!
Explore additional content in this series:
- Whatever Happened to Peter Eastgate?
- Whatever Happened to Annie Duke?
Lead image: Wikimedia Commons
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