Johnny Chan
Johnny Chan is a Chinese-American professional poker player born in 1957 in Guangzhou, China, widely regarded as one of the greatest tournament poker players of all time due to his ten World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, including consecutive WSOP Main Event victories in 1987 and 1988.[1][2] Born to Chinese parents amid political turmoil, Chan moved with his family to Hong Kong in 1962 at age five and then to Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States in 1968 at age eleven, where he began learning English while attending school.[2] In 1973, at age sixteen, the family relocated to Houston, Texas, where his parents opened the Hoe Sai Gai restaurant, and Chan started playing poker as a teenager in local games behind the family business and other spots.[2][3] He attended Lamar High School in Houston and later enrolled at the University of Houston to study hotel and restaurant management, but dropped out to pursue poker full-time after moving to Las Vegas in 1984.[4][3] Chan's professional poker career took off with his first WSOP bracelet in 1985 in the $1,000 Limit Hold'em event, earning $171,000, followed by his landmark back-to-back Main Event wins: the 1987 $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship for $625,000 and the 1988 edition for $700,000, feats that established him as a dominant force in the game during its pre-boom era.[5][1] He nearly achieved a three-peat in 1989 but finished second to Phil Hellmuth in the Main Event, and continued his success with additional bracelets in diverse events, including Seven Card Stud (1994), Deuce to Seven Draw (1997), Pot Limit Omaha (2000), No-Limit Hold'em (2002 and 2003), and Pot Limit Hold'em (2003 and 2005), bringing his total to ten and tying him for third all-time behind Phil Hellmuth (17) and Phil Ivey (11).[5][6][1] His WSOP achievements include 53 cashes, 29 final tables, and over $4.6 million in series earnings, contributing to his total live tournament winnings exceeding $8.7 million as of 2025.[1][7] Beyond the tables, Chan was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002, appeared as himself in the 1998 film Rounders, and is known for his signature habit of eating oranges during play, symbolizing focus and superstition.[1][3] He has diversified into business ventures, including founding Chan Poker for training and consultations, owning the Chan restaurant in Las Vegas, and investing in gaming properties, while maintaining a low-key personal life as a family man residing in Las Vegas.[8] Despite fewer recent deep runs amid larger fields and younger competition, Chan's legacy as "The Orient Express" endures as a bridge between poker's underground roots and its modern prominence.[6][9]Early life
Family background and childhood in China
Johnny Chan was born on October 1, 1957, in Guangzhou, China, also known as Canton, to a modest family of Chinese parents.[2] He spent the first five years of his life in this historic port city near the Pearl River Delta, a region steeped in cultural and commercial significance.[2] In 1962, amid political turmoil in China, Chan's family relocated to Hong Kong to escape the instability.[2][10] The family resided there for six years, during a period marked by escalating unrest, including the 1967 Hong Kong riots fueled by labor disputes, pro-communist activism, and anti-colonial protests that involved bombings and violence.[2] As a child in these environments, Chan showed an early affinity for games, particularly chess and bowling, where he honed competitive skills and occasionally engaged in small-stakes gambling.[2] He won modest amounts, such as $5 to $10, in chess matches against peers, fostering a sense of strategy and risk-taking influenced by his surroundings.[2]Immigration to the United States and early education
In 1968, at the age of 11, Johnny Chan immigrated to the United States with his family from Hong Kong, seeking stability amid the political turmoil of the Cultural Revolution's influence and the 1967 riots in Hong Kong.[2] The family initially settled in Phoenix, Arizona, where Chan's father aimed to restart their business endeavors after financial setbacks from the unrest in China.[2] [3] Upon arrival, Chan encountered substantial challenges adapting to life in the U.S., particularly language barriers, as he spoke no English.[2] Despite these obstacles, he attended local public schools in Phoenix, where he quickly adjusted, learned English, and maintained strong academic performance.[2] In 1973, the family relocated to Houston, Texas, to join relatives and establish a new restaurant, Hoe Sai Gai, in a middle-class neighborhood near Shepherd and Alabama streets, which helped rebuild their economic footing.[2] [3] In Houston, Chan continued his education at Lamar High School, from which he graduated.[3] He then enrolled at the University of Houston, majoring in hotel and restaurant management with the expectation of entering the family business.[3] [11] However, at age 21, Chan dropped out to focus on his growing interest in gambling.[11] [10] Chan's initial exposure to poker occurred around age 16 while assisting at the family restaurant in Houston, where he participated in informal nickel-and-dime games in backrooms of local establishments.[3] [2] That same year, using a fake ID and $500 in savings, he made his first trip to Las Vegas, igniting his passion for the game despite early losses.[4] [12]Poker career
World Series of Poker accomplishments
Johnny Chan first won a WSOP bracelet in 1985 before making his mark with the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event championship in 1987. Competing against a field of 152 players, Chan navigated to victory, defeating Frank Cardone heads-up to claim the top prize of $625,000 and his second WSOP gold bracelet. This win established him as a rising star in professional poker, showcasing his strategic depth and composure under pressure.[13] The following year, Chan achieved a rare feat by winning the Main Event for the second consecutive time, a back-to-back triumph not seen since Johnny Moss in 1970 and 1971. Facing 167 entrants in the 1988 edition, he outlasted the competition to secure another $700,000 first-place payout, defeating Erik Seidel heads-up. The pivotal final hand—where Chan trapped Seidel with a full house—has become iconic, later dramatized in the 1998 film Rounders as a defining moment in poker cinema. These consecutive victories solidified Chan's reputation as one of the game's elite players.[14] Over his career, Chan amassed 10 WSOP gold bracelets, tying him with Doyle Brunson and Erik Seidel for third on the all-time list behind Phil Hellmuth (17) and Phil Ivey (11). His victories span multiple poker variants, demonstrating versatility across formats like Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and No-Limit Hold'em. Key wins include the 1985 $1,000 Limit Hold'em, the 1987 and 1988 Main Events, the 1994 $1,500 Seven Card Stud, the 1997 $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw, the 2000 $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha, the 2002 $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em, the 2003 $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em and $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha, and the 2005 $2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em. The complete list of his bracelet events is as follows:| Year | Event | Buy-in | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Limit Hold'em | $1,000 | $171,000[6] |
| 1987 | No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | $10,000 | $625,000[6] |
| 1988 | No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | $10,000 | $700,000[6] |
| 1994 | Seven Card Stud | $1,500 | $135,600[6] |
| 1997 | Deuce to Seven Draw | $5,000 | $164,250[6] |
| 2000 | Pot Limit Omaha | $1,500 | $178,800[6] |
| 2002 | No-Limit Hold'em | $2,500 | $34,000[6] |
| 2003 | No-Limit Hold'em | $5,000 | $224,400[6] |
| 2003 | Pot Limit Omaha | $5,000 | $158,100[6] |
| 2005 | Pot Limit Hold'em | $2,500 | $303,025[6] |