Harry Kazazian

Harry Kazazian is a poker player from Irwindale, California, USA, with total live career earnings of $233,355 and a largest single cash of $146,970. He is primarily active in the World Series of Poker (WSOP), consistently cashing with solid performances.

In 2009, Kazazian entered the WSOP Main Event ($10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em), advancing to Day 6 out of 6,494 players, finishing 179th for $36,626. During the late stages, he clashed with French professional David Benyamine: Kazazian re-raised from the small blind, Benyamine called; after the flop both checked, on the turn Kazazian checked again, Benyamine bet, and Kazazian quickly folded, admitting "You had me crushed." In a subsequent hand, Kazazian shoved all-in from the button and was called by Billy McMahon in the big blind with A♠Q♠. Kazazian held K♠J♠, and the board came A♦9♣Q♦J♦8♦, eliminating Kazazian.

In 2007, Kazazian played the WSOP $2,500 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event (382 entrants), finishing 8th for $17,964. On Day 3, in a key hand, Kazazian shoved all-in on the flop with only ace-high and a gutshot straight draw, while opponent Walter Browne held a pair of nines. The river miraculously completed the straight, allowing Kazazian to double up to about 52,000 chips, while Browne dropped to 175,000.

During the same H.O.R.S.E. event, Kazazian was involved in a controversy. With a board of 8♠5♥4♠3♠2♣, Ali Eslami bet 8,000 from the blind, Matt Russell called from under the gun, and Kazazian, on the button, accidentally pushed some chips past his hand while stacking them. Eslami interpreted this as a call and turned over Q♠J♠ (a queen-high flush), but Kazazian immediately denied it. The floor ruled that the chips had crossed the "line" and that Eslami had already acted, forcing the call. Ultimately, Eslami won the high hand, and Kazazian and Russell split the low pot. Kazazian was emotional afterward but eventually accepted it calmly.

Kazazian is not a high-profile figure in the poker world but is known as a live regular who frequently appears in major tournaments in Las Vegas. His career illustrates the importance of sustained effort and discipline in large events.