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Johnny Chan

The skilled poker player, Johnny Chan, was born in 1957 in Guangzhou, China. He, along with his family, relocated from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in 1962, then to Phoenix, Arizona in 1968, and finally settled in Houston, Texas in 1973. Chan's family owned their own eateries, and it was evident to him that he would be working in the family business. Later in life, while studying hotel and restaurant management at the University of Houston, he made the decision to pursue his dream of becoming a professional gambler by going to Las Vegas. This aspiration was sparked by a trip he took at the age of 16. As of today, Chan continues to reside in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has made his dream a reality.

WSOP achievements

Chan didn't rise to prominence as a professional poker player until the late 1980s. It was during the World Series of Poker (WSOP) that he claimed victory in the championship tournaments of 1987 and 1988. In 1989, Chan fell short at the WSOP, finishing in second place behind Phil Hellmuth and missing out on securing a third consecutive WSOP title. Nevertheless, he still holds the distinction of winning two WSOP Main Events in a row, a feat that many believe will remain unmatched for years to come due to the ever-increasing number of competitors vying for this coveted title.

In 2002, Chan had the privilege of being inducted into the prestigious Poker Hall of Fame, which added a touch of grandeur to his overall poker achievements. A remarkable feat was accomplished by him in 2005, becoming the first player to win ten WSOP titles. In terms of WSOP bracelets, he shares the second spot with Doyle Brunson. Chan and Brunson trail only one spot behind Phil Hellmuth in terms of WSOP bracelets. During the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament in early 2005, Chan secured the second position, narrowly missing out to Gus Hansen. Later that same year, he emerged victorious in Poker Superstars II but fell short in his attempt to maintain his leading position when he only reached the semifinals in Poker Superstars III.

In 2008, Chan experienced the stroke of luck, striking it big at the WSOP Main Event, marking the first occurrence since 1992. Furthermore, Chan emerged victorious at the WSOP Main Event in 2010, securing an impressive 156th position and walking away with a substantial sum of $57,102. Over the course of his career, Chan has amassed a staggering 43 WSOP cashes, propelling his total earnings from tournament victories to a remarkable $4,298,550.

Further career and personal achievements.

Chan participated in NBC's Poker After Dark and won four times in his six appearances. He also made appearances on High Stakes Poker. In 2007, Chan launched his own online poker room called ChanPokerOnline.com. However, this venture proved to be short-lived as the poker room was shut down in August 2008.

Chan, owner of a fast-food franchise business based in Vegas at the Stratosphere Hotel, has expressed his desire to have his own casino in the future. He has also served as a consultant for numerous gaming manufacturers and casinos. Furthermore, Chan co-authored the book "Poker Like Johnny Chan" in 2005, followed by the release of another book titled "Million Dollar Hold'em: Winning Big in Limit Cash Games" in the winter of 2006. Prior to this, Chan wrote for the magazine "Card Player" and regularly contributed columns to "Trader Monthly" magazine. In 2009, Chan made an appearance as himself in the film "Poker Kong," showcasing his skills as a film star. Nonetheless, this was not his first foray into the world of cinema, as he had already acted in the 1998 movie "Rounders."

Dubbed "The Orient Express," Chan earned his nickname in 1981 when he effortlessly defeated nine consecutive players within a tight hour at Bob Stupak's American Cup Poker Tournament. Chan still has one outstanding achievement left to accomplish, which is reaching the final table at the World Poker Tour (WPT). Despite numerous attempts, he has yet to achieve this feat.