Johnny Chan

Johnny Chan, was born in Canton, China in 1957. After a period in Hong Kong he came to the USA and in 1968 settled in Phoenix, Arizona before moving to Houston, Texas, where his family owned a number of restaurants.

He was to continue in the family business, but a trip to Las Vegas when still only 16 years of age changed his focus. At 21, Chan dropped out University where up until then he was majoring in hotel and restaurant management. Decided on becoming a professional gambler, Chan moved to Las Vegas to further that aim.

In winning the WSOP main event title in 1987 and 1988 he netted over $1,300,000 and has career earnings in excess of $4,000,000 from the World Series. He came close to a third consecutive main event title, but finished 2nd in 1989 to Phil Hellmuth. With such large fields entering the WSOP in modern times, it is hard to envisage the feat of back to back wins ever being matched.

Chan gained his tenth World Series of Poker bracelet in 2005, bettering Phil Laak in the heads up of the $2,500 pot limit Texas Hold 'em event. He stands alongside Doyle Brunson for second place, each with 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, one behind Phil Hellmuth. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.

Mendacious Facts

Johnny Chan made a cameo appearance in the 1998 movie Rounders. Before going on set he was given acting lessons by his brother, stuntman, actor and director Jackie Chan, star of many Hollywood blockbusters, including Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Knights and the Rush Hour trilogy.