Johnny Chan Biography

	Date of Birth: 1957 (52 years old)
	Place of birth: Canton, China
	WSOP:10 Bracelets (29 final tables, 42 Cashes)
	WSOP ME best result: 1st in 1987, 1988 and 2nd in 1989
	WPT: 0 Championship (0 final tables, 4 Cashes)
	WPT tournaments played: 40
	Total tournament earnings (16th): $8,067,792

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Johnny Chan: Biography

Johnny arrived in America (Pheonix in 1968), when he was 11 years old. His parents ran restaurant. First he thought that he would continue the business of his family but everything changed when he visited Las Vegas for the first time. He was 16 years old and played illegally with a $500 bankroll. He managed to transform his $500 into $20,000 but then he lost it all the next night.
Dolyse Brunson said about him: “Johnny was a hot-headed kid with some talent. But he didn’t know when to keep his temper under control or know when to quit playing.”

But Johnny Chan grew up. He quit Houston University at 21 years old to live in Las Vegas. He wanted to become a professional poker player. Although he was an excellent player able to get away from very dangerous traps, Johnny Chan himself recognizes that his first victories were due to the lack of experience of American players at that time.

The way he got his famous nickname is a good example of this inexperience. Johnny, as a young player, entered Bob Stupak’s America’s Cup Tournament, and eliminated 13 of 16 opponents in about 30 minutes. He was instantly dubbed “The Orient Express.”

Johnny Chan: “Orient Express”

More than a man, Johnny is a legend. He has probably inspired every poker player and it is impossible to miss this guy. During the peak of his career in the late 80’s, Johnny Chan was the only professional poker player who seemed unbeatable. The film “Rounders (1998)” a reference for poker fan, with Matt Damon pays tribute to this legend by making his character an invincible player. In the film we see the last hand of the WSOP 1988 that he played against Erik Seidel.

Johnny Chan is the first player to hold 10 WSOP bracelets, two of which are World Champion Titles. He is ranked second with Doyle Brunson. Only » Phil Hellmuth and his 11 bracelets are ranked better.

Johnny realized an extraordinary streak winning consecutively the title in 1987 and 1988 before only reaching second place in 1989 against Phil Hellmuth! Johnny is the last player to win the Main Event twice and given the number of players today, we can guess that this record will not be broken.

Anecdote

Johnny Chan brings an orange with him to the table whenever he plays poker. It’s his lucky fruit. It started when he quit smoking four packs of cigarettes a day. He preferred the smell of the orange rather than smoke. It inspired a lot of players after his victories in the WSOP who came with their own lucky fruits.

WSOP bracelets

2005 : $2,500 Pot Limit Hold’em $303,025
2003 : $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha $158,100
2003 : $5,000 No Limit Hold’em $224,400
2002 : $2,500 No Limit Hold’em Gold Bracelet $34,000
2000 : $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha $178,800
1997 : $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw $164,250
1994 : $1,500 Seven Card Stud $135,600
1988 : $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship $700,000
1987 : $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship $625,000
1985 : $1,000 Limit Hold’em $171,000