Kassem Deeb

Kassem Ibrahim "Freddy" Deeb was born on 27 November 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon. He moved to the United States to study mechanical engineering at Utah State University. When the Lebanese Civil War broke out in 1975, he lost contact with his parents, who had been sending him money for his education, for two years. Unable to work due to student visa restrictions, Deeb turned to gambling to support himself. He eventually left school just 12 credits short of earning his degree and pursued poker full-time.

Deeb's first major breakthrough came at the 1996 World Series of Poker, where he won the $5,000 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw event for $146,250. The final table included notable players such as Mickey Appleman, Gabe Kaplan, David Grey, and Doyle Brunson. He later described not fully appreciating that first bracelet at the time.

His crowning WSOP achievement came in 2007 when he won the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship, defeating a star-studded field to claim $2,276,832 and his second bracelet. During five-handed play, Deeb was down to just $365,000 in chips before mounting a remarkable comeback. He stated afterward, "This is the bracelet that means the most of any of them. These are the toughest players in the world." The event is considered one of the most prestigious in poker.

Deeb also has deep runs in the WSOP Main Event, finishing 17th in 1995 and 13th in 2003. Overall, he has 15 WSOP final tables and 41 in-the-money finishes, with WSOP earnings totaling $3,723,334.

On the World Poker Tour, Deeb has won two titles. His first came in Season 4 (2005) at the Ultimate Poker Classic, where he earned $1,000,000. He added a second WPT championship later in his career. He also has multiple deep WPT runs, including a runner-up finish at the 2006 Mirage Poker Showdown ($864,610) and a third-place finish at the 2006 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic ($587,175).

Beyond the WSOP and WPT, Deeb has cashed in numerous high-profile events. In 2019, he finished 4th in the partypoker MILLIONS Vegas $10,300 Main Event for $319,200. He also placed 11th in the 2022 WSOP $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. His total live tournament earnings exceed $9.2 million, ranking him among the top Lebanese players of all time.

Deeb is known for his aggressive, fearless style at the tables. He is comfortable in both no-limit hold'em and mixed games, particularly H.O.R.S.E. and Omaha variants. His trademark patterned shirts and colorful table talk made him a recognizable figure during the poker boom. He appeared on popular television shows such as High Stakes Poker and the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, where he mingled with the game's biggest names. His outgoing personality and willingness to take risks have endeared him to fans.

Deeb continues to compete in major tournaments. In recent years, he has been a regular at the WSOP and other events. In 2020, he cashed in several online WSOP bracelet events, and in 2022 he made a deep run in the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship. He remains active on the tournament circuit, maintaining a presence in high-stakes mixed games. As of 2023, his career live earnings stand at over $9.2 million.

Kassem Deeb is commonly known by his nickname "Freddy" and also referred to as "Fast Freddy". He resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. His full name in Arabic is قاسم إبراهيم ديب. He was born on 27 November 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon, and turned 70 in 2025.

As of June 2026, Deeb holds a Global Poker Index (GPI) rank of 65,842. He is ranked 181st on the All Time Money List according to The Hendon Mob. His total live tournament earnings exceed $9.2 million, with a best live cash of $2,276,832. He has achieved the $9,000,000 milestone in career earnings.