Johnny Chan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnny Chan |
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Johnny Chan at the 2008 World Series of Poker
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| Nickname(s) | Orient Express |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Born | 1957 (age 67–68) Guangzhou, China |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 10 |
| Final table(s) | 27 |
| Money finish(es) | 45 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish |
Winner, 1987, 1988 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 6 |
| Johnny Chan | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 陳金海 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 陈金海 | ||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 陳強尼 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 陈强尼 | ||||||||||
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Johnny Chan (born in 1957) is a famous Chinese-American professional poker player. He is a legend in the game, known for winning 10 World Series of Poker bracelets. A bracelet is the top prize for a poker player. He famously won the World Series of Poker Main Event two years in a row, in 1987 and 1988.
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Early Life and First Games
Johnny Chan was born in Guangzhou, China. In 1962, his family moved to Hong Kong. Six years later, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States. Finally, in 1973, they settled in Houston, Texas, where they owned restaurants. It was here that Chan first started playing card games with the restaurant staff.
When he was 21, Chan decided to leave the University of Houston. He was studying hotel and restaurant management. He moved to Las Vegas to become a full-time professional poker player.
Chan had his first casino experience when he was only 16. During a trip to Las Vegas, he played a cash game. He reportedly turned $500 into $20,000 in a single night. However, he lost it all the very next day. This taught him an important lesson about the ups and downs of the game.
A Legendary Poker Career
Johnny Chan is one of the most successful poker players in history. He earned the nickname "The Orient Express" after winning a tournament very quickly.
World Series of Poker Champion
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest poker tournament in the world. Chan won his first WSOP bracelet in 1985.
His biggest achievement was winning the WSOP Main Event in 1987 and again in 1988. Winning this huge event back-to-back made him a poker superstar. He is the last player to ever accomplish this amazing feat. He almost won for a third time in a row in 1989 but came in second place to Phil Hellmuth.
Over the years, Chan continued to win. He collected a total of 10 WSOP bracelets by 2005. This made him the first player to ever reach 10 bracelets. Today, he is tied for third place for the most bracelets ever won. In 2002, his incredible skill earned him a place in the Poker Hall of Fame.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
This table shows all the WSOP bracelets Johnny Chan has won.
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $1,000 Limit Hold'em | $171,000 |
| 1987 | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $625,000 |
| 1988 | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $700,000 |
| 1994 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud | $135,600 |
| 1997 | $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw | $164,250 |
| 2000 | $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | $178,800 |
| 2002 | $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Gold Bracelet Match Play | $34,000 |
| 2003 | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em | $224,400 |
| 2003 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | $158,100 |
| 2005 | $2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em | $303,025 |
Success on TV Poker Shows
Chan also became a star on television. He appeared on the show Poker After Dark, where he won four times, more than any other player. He also competed in the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament. In one tournament, he made an amazing comeback to finish in second place. In another, he beat 22 other top players to win the $400,000 first prize.
Life Outside of Poker
Besides playing poker, Johnny Chan is also a businessman. He owns a fast-food restaurant in the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. He also works as a consultant, giving advice to casinos and game makers.
Chan has shared his knowledge in books. He co-wrote Play Poker Like Johnny Chan to teach others how to play different types of poker. He also wrote another book about a specific poker style called limit hold'em.
Chan believes in living a healthy lifestyle.
Johnny Chan in Movies and Culture
Johnny Chan's fame reached Hollywood. He appeared as himself in the popular 1998 movie Rounders. In the movie, there is a famous scene where the main character, played by Matt Damon, plays against Chan. His victory in the 1988 WSOP is shown in the film.
He also had a role in the 2009 Hong Kong movie Poker King, where he again played himself.
