Sam Farha
Currently a resident of Houston, Texas, Sam Farha is originally from Beirut, Lebanon, where he was born in 1959. A classic poker player, Sam is known for his aggressive play and cunning moves. His characteristic confidence is evident almost every time he plays, irrespective of whether it is a game of Texas Hold’em or Pacman.
The uncertain political climate and years of civil war in troubled Lebanon, when he was growing up, resulted in Sam ‘Sammy’ Farha shifting base to the United States in 1977.
An intelligent student, he began to attend the famed University of Kansas. He soon took his degree in Business Administration from the university. His search for a career after the completion of his degree took him to Texas. He along with his brother found the going tough and very soon doing many odd jobs to make ends meet. Pretty soon, Sam Farha, found that his true calling lay on the poker table. There was literally no looking back after this.
It all started as a weekend pastime, where he would win a few dollars in games with his close friends. The fierce competitor in Farha was evident even then. He would fight to the end and not yield an inch even if his opponents were to be his friends. It did not take long before Las Vegas beckoned him.
By 1990 he had become a full time professional poker player. Even during his early days as a pro he had earned a reputation of being a tough opponent who won’t budge that easily. His real big breakthrough came when he won the prestigious World Series of Poker event in 1996. He grew from strength to strength as a player from here onwards. He is also known for his strange superstitions. One good example is his habit of having a cigarette dangling from his mouth when playing even though he doesn’t smoke.