Johnny Chan- Poker Legend

Though not having made any major poker headlines over the last few years, Johnny Chan is still considered to be one of pokers most famous names. His success is only matched by that of Doyle Brunson as both have won an unprecedented ten World Series of Poker gold bracelets.

Born in Hong Kong, Chan moved with his family to Phoenix in 1968. A later move saw them in Houston, Texas where his family owned some restaurants. In keeping with tradition Chan was expected to continue in the family business, but poker took him on a life detour. Who knew that when he started playing in the early eighties he would never look back?

His most impressive win has to be those two bracelets from back to back Championship events in 1987 and 1988. Remarkably he almost won in 1989 too, but unfortunately finished second to Phil Hellmuth. Not content with just being famous to other poker players, he also became a big name to movie goers for playing himself as in Rounders when the movie contained footage of Chan's victory against Erik Seidel in the 1988 World Series. Nicknamed "The Orient Express", Chan flopped a straight and got Erik to move all in with a pair of queens. Jackpot!

His ten gold WSOP bracelet wins read like a wish list for every poker player in the world and include Limit Hold’em in 1985, the two Championship events in 1987 and 1988, Seven-Card Stud in 1994, Deuce to Seven Draw in 1997, Omaha Pot Limit in 2000, No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Hold’em in 2003 and Pot Limit Omaha in 2005.

Many current poker professionals concentrate on Texas Hold’em as it is one of the most popular types of poker but looking at the range of games that Chan has one, he is definitely one of he great all-rounders with unparalleled success on the poker circuit and to top it all off he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.

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