Johnny Chan

Johnny Chan was born in China in 1957 before moving to Hong Kong and then on to Phoenix, Arizona, as he approached his teenage years. When he first arrived on American soil, Chan could speak no English. In 1973 he moved to Houston, Texas, where his family owned restaurants and for a while he seemed to be heading into the family business.

Indeed, Chan had enrolled in the University of Houston to major in hotel and restaurant management but, aged 21, he dropped out. The reason was that he was set on making his way in life with cards in his hand.

Chan learnt the game as youngster in his local bowling alley and soon began playing with his father’s friends at weekly underground games. Even as a teenager, he was winning on a regular basis and he was soon told not to come back.

His first major dally with poker came as a 16-year-old when he visited Las Vegas with $500. He duly turned his initial bankroll into $20,000 but, as is so often the case with young gamblers, he lost it all the following night.

At the time, Chan was seen as a talented player who was not in control and he swung from the highs to the lows; at times he took up a part time job or hocked jewellery to fund his playing.

Chan knew he had to makes changes and he drastically altered his lifestyle. As well as giving up drinking and his four packs a day smoking habit, Chan got his body in shape with a healthier diet and more regular exercise. A healthy mind soon followed and brought him success at the table.

Also present at the table was a piece of fruit. This orange was originally used to help disguise the odours produced by other smokers in a game but has since gone on to become a lucky charm.

Still a relatively unknown player, Chan entered Bob Stupak’s America’s cup Tournament and knocked out 13 of his 16 opponents within half an hour, earning him the nickname The Orient Express. He feels that players were not used to playing against an Asian and so underestimated his talent. Since his prominence in the game, many more Asians have taken to the cards table.

His first World Series of Poker win came in the 1985 Limit Hold ‘em tournament and after consecutive wins in the main event – in ‘87 and ’88 – many other players began to mimic his tradition by bringing fruit to the table.

His 1988 winning hand (against Erik Seidel) has gone down in poker folklore after it was used in the film Rounders.

He almost won a third consecutive title the following year – a feat which would have seen LA Lakers boss Jerry Buss give Chan an NBA championship ring – however, he was beaten in the final as Phil Hellmuth claimed his first WSOP bracelet. Hellmuth has gone on to win 11 bracelets – the current record – with Chan and Doyle Brunson just behind with 10 apiece.

Chan is the last player to win the WSOP main event two years running and, with the hugely increased entry numbers, this is an achievement that may stay with him.

The 2002 inductee to the Poker Hall of Fame last won a bracelet in 2005 to show he still has the desire to add to his collection.