Johnny Chan, a professional poker player hailing from America, boasts of 10 World Series of Poker bracelets to his name, including back-to-back victories at the main events of the 1987 and 1988 World Series of Poker.
Originally from China, Chan and his family immigrated to the United States in 1968, settling in Arizona. After a few years, they moved to Texas, where they owned a restaurant in Houston. In line with family tradition, Chan intended to take over the family business and thus attended classes at the University of Houston. However, at the age of 21, he chose a different path and relocated to Las Vegas to pursue a career as a professional poker player.
In order to build his bankroll, Chan took on various temporary jobs. His poker career took off after he won the 1981 American Cup, hosted by Bob Stupak, where he outplayed 13 out of 16 opponents in little over 30 minutes. This victory earned him the nickname ‘The Orient Express’
At the age of 21, Chan left the University of Houston, where he was pursuing a degree in hotel and restaurant management, and relocated to Las Vegas to embark on a career as a professional gambler.
Nevertheless, his initial encounter with live casino gaming occurred prior to his 21st birthday. At the tender age of 16, while on a trip to Las Vegas, Chan was able to participate in a cash game, reportedly transforming $500 into $20,000 in a single night, only to lose the entire $20,000 the following day.
Chan attributes a portion of his initial accomplishments to the unfamiliarity of many competitors with Asian players. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s, clinching the championship title at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) for two successive years (1987 and 1988). A recording of the 1988 WSOP final heads-up match is showcased in the film Rounders, where Johnny Chan features in a brief cameo. He was on the brink of securing a third consecutive title but was ultimately defeated by Phil Hellmuth in 1989, finishing in second place. He remains the last player to secure back-to-back WSOP Main Events, a record that many predict could potentially remain unbroken due to the ever-growing participant numbers. Jerry Buss, a passionate poker player and the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, vowed to present Chan with an NBA championship ring should he succeed in winning three consecutive titles.
Chan is recognized for his habit of placing a “fortunate” orange on the table in front of him, a practice that led other players to start bringing fruit to the table, hoping to boost their own luck after his second consecutive WSOP victory. Chan explains that he only kept an orange with him due to its appealing aroma, as he was often disturbed by the tobacco smoke, which was prevalent in many tournaments at that time. Despite being a former smoker, Chan currently abstains from both smoking and drinking alcohol.
In the year 2005, Chan secured his tenth World Series of Poker title by outperforming Phil Laak in a Texas hold ’em game. He shares the second position with Doyle Brunson for winning 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, trailing behind Phil Hellmuth, who has 11. Chan was honored with an induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.
