Johnny Chan
His nickname is "The Orient Express"; he has won twice at the World Series of Poker But he has not made any headlines in the poker world over the last 10 years. His name is Johnny Chan.
Biography
Chan was born in 1959 in Canton, China, and then he moved with his family to Hong Kong. He came to Phoenix in 1968 with his family and in 1973 they moved to Houston and owned a few restaurants. Later on he started to play poker and realized he will not continue to work in his family business. In addition to being a poker player e was also a bowler.
When he started playing poker professionally he was not taken very seriously. Player would take their guards down around him, an act that worked for his benefit. Chan described it as they were throwing money at him.
At the present he lives in Las Vegas with his wife and six kids.
Achievements
Chan is one of the only two players (the second one is Doyle Brunson) who won twice at the World Series of Poker. The first time was in 1987 and the second time he won, in 1988; He lost the biggest pot in the history of the tournament and then won the event. In 1989 he come in second after Phil Hellmuth. Chan has won ten gold bracelets from the World Series of Poker. The bracelets are from Seven-Card Stud in 1994, Limit Holdem in 1985, two victories in 1987 and 1988, Seven Draw in 1997, Omaha Pot Limit in 2000, Gold Bracelet Match Play in 2002, No Limit Holdem and Pot Limit Holdem in 2003 and Pot Limit Omaha in 2005.
In 2002 he entered the Poker Hall of Fame.
Poker Actor
Chan played himself in the movie "Rounders", as the best poker player in the world. The movie contains actual footage from Chan's second WSOP victory in 1988, playing against Erik Seidel and luring him into proceeding with a pair of queens when he himself had a straight.
Poker Writer
Chan had also released two books that he wrote with Mark Karowe. The first book is called "Play Poker like Johnny Chan" and contains strategies on casino poker. The second book is called "Million Dollar Hold'em" and contains strategies on winning big in limit cash games.
