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Johnny Chan
Professional Poker Player and Poker Legend
Born In Guangzhou, China 1957
Chan attributes some of his early success to the fact that many players had not previously played against many Asian players before, if any. He shot to fame in the late 1980s, winning the championship event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in two consecutive years (1987 and 1988). A videotape of the 1988 WSOP final heads up match is featured in the movie Rounders, in which Johnny Chan makes a cameo appearance along side Ed Norton and Matt Damon, Considered to one of the Top 10 Poker Movies.
Poker Clip - Johnny Chan V Eric Seidel
Johnny Chan almost almost made it hat-trick, but finished in 2nd place in 1989 to Phil Hellmuth.
Chan is the last player to win back-to-back WSOP Main Events, a feat many prognosticators think he could hold forever given the increasingly larger fields. Jerry Buss, an avid poker player and owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, promised Chan an NBA championship ring if he could win three in a row. Which he nearly pulled off. Three consecutive WSOP Championship Final Table Heads up, Marks him to be one of the best poker players ever.
Chan is known for keeping a "lucky" orange in front of him on the table, and after the second consecutive WSOP title other players began bringing fruit to the table in hopes of increasing their luck. Chan says he only had an orange with him because of the pleasant scent, as smoking, which was allowed in many tournaments then, bothered him. Chan himself was once a smoker, but now he neither smokes nor drinks alcohol. It was after he gave up those vice and living a healthier lifestyle that his poker play also improved.
In 2005, Chan won his tenth World Series of Poker title, defeating Phil Laak in a Texas hold 'em event. He is now tied with Doyle Brunson and behind Phil Hellmuth for the record of 11 World Series of Poker bracelets.
Chan was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
Year |
Tournament |
Prize |
|---|---|---|
1985 |
$1,000 Limit Hold'em |
$171,000 |
1987 |
$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship |
$625,000 |
1988 |
$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship |
$700,000 |
1994 |
$1,500 Seven Card Stud |
$135,600 |
1997 |
$5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw |
$164,250 |
2000 |
$1,500 Pot Limit Omaha |
$178,800 |
2002 |
$2,500 No Limit Hold'em Gold Bracelet Match Play |
$34,000 |
2003 |
$5,000 No Limit Hold'em |
$224,400 |
2003 |
$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha |
$158,100 |
2005 |
$2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em |
$303,025 |
Poker Clip - Chan Folds A Moster Hand
Poker Stars
Chan competed in the $400,000 Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament in February 2005. He finished second place to Gus Hansen after have only $20,000 in chips at one stage. Chan later competed in Poker Superstars II during the summer of 2005. He defeated 22 of the best players to make it to the finals. Then he defeated Todd Brunson in the finals after three matches to win the $400,000 first prize.
Other Tournaments
Chan has yet to make a final table on the World Poker Tour (WPT), despite playing in numerous events.
Chan also featured in the 2004 and 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions events and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship in the same years.
Personal Life
In addition to playing poker, Chan owns a fast-food franchise in the Las Vegas Stratosphere Hotel and is a consultant for various casinos and game makers. He has aspirations of opening his own casino. Chan has also written for Card Player magazine.
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