Naturally, the vast majority of WSOP bracelets go to American players. However, the World Cup of poker brings together competitors from various parts of the planet. During Event #1 (US$ 550 Mini Mystery Millions), Jalil Houssain almost put Palestine on top of the podium for the first time in the series’ history.
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Thus, the player finished in an honorable 2nd place among 20,488 entries, in a dispute that ended with Philip Chun’s title. Born in the United States, but of Palestinian origin, Houssain chose to identify himself this way in the WSOP app. Furthermore, he told PokerNews about the pride he felt in representing the Palestinian people.
In this way, Jalil Houssain explained that his father is Palestinian and his mother is Dutch. Both met in the United States and decided to build their lives in the country. “Representing Palestinians, a people who have collectively suffered immensely in recent years in Gaza and the West Bank, is very important to me. And it is part of my essence”, the player told PokerNews.
In addition, the competitor received a prize of US$ 265,000 for the runner-up finish. Furthermore, the result gained even more relevance because he competed in a WSOP tournament for the first time. If the bracelet didn’t come this time, the representativeness achieved by Houssein had an even greater meaning than any jewel delivered by the series.
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Strong ties with a devastated country
In this way, Palestine faces a long conflict with Israel. In recent years, clashes have intensified and worsened the humanitarian crisis in the region. Furthermore, millions of people face difficulties related to food, while a large part of the population had to leave their homes in search of safety.
However, Jalil Houssain has not visited Palestine since 2020. As he explained to PokerNews, he faced a rare complication after Covid-19 vaccination. Even so, the player emphasized that he always maintained close contact with family members in the Middle East, as he has more than 50 cousins on that side of the family.
Finally, Houssain revealed that he thought of these relatives throughout the WSOP final table and that he would love to win the bracelet to represent them. However, he believes that the dream was just postponed for another opportunity. “My determination to include Palestine as one of the nations that hold a WSOP title is strong, and this was just the first of many opportunities to come”, he concluded.
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