J. C. Tran

{{Short description|Vietnamese-American poker player (born 1977)}}

{{Infobox poker player

| name = J.C. Tran

| nickname = "J.C."

| image = J. C. Tran 2019.jpg

| caption = J. C. Tran at the 2019 World Poker Tour Legends of Poker

| residence = Sacramento, California

| birth_name = Justin Cuong Van Tran

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|January 20, 1977}}

| birth_place = Socialist Republic of Vietnam

| wsop bracelet count = 2

| wsop final tables = 11

| wsop money finishes = 46

| wsop main event best finish rank = 5th

| wsop main event best finish year = 2013

| wpt titles = 2

| wpt final tables = 8

| wpt money finishes = 20

| updated = 2014-07-16

}}

J. C. Tran (born Justin Cuong Van Tran January 20, 1977, in Vietnam) is a Vietnamese-American professional poker player, based in Sacramento, California.{{cite web |url=http://www.pokerpages.com/players/profiles/55974/jc-tran.htm |title=J.C. Tran |access-date=April 24, 2008 |work=pokerpages.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423075111/http://www.pokerpages.com/players/profiles/55974/jc-tran.htm |archive-date=April 23, 2008 }}

Tran is a two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, a World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event champion, has made eight World Poker Tour (WPT) final tables, winner of a WPT title, won at the World Poker Challenge and is the WPT Player of the Year of their fifth season. Tran was the chip leader coming into the final table of the 2013 WSOP Main Event November Nine. He ended up finishing in 5th place for $2,106,893 for the biggest cash of his career.

Early life

Tran was born in Vietnam, and is the youngest of eight children of Vietnamese parents. When he was two years old, his family moved to the United States, where he later received a degree in Business Management Information Systems from California State University at Sacramento.{{Cite web |title=J.C. Tran |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/jc-tran/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406035312/http://www.worldpokertour.com/Shared/Players/Bios/J/Justin_Tran.aspx |archive-date=April 6, 2008 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=World Poker Tour |language=en-US}}

Tran built his bankroll playing the $9/$18 game at [http://www.capitol-casino.com/ Capitol Casino] in Sacramento, California. Tran has since noted that it had become too much of an action game to eke out a positive gain.

Poker career

Tran has finished in the money at numerous poker tournaments, finishing 5th at the 2004 World Poker Finals in Mashantucket and on the television bubble of the 2004 L.A. Poker Classic and 2005 Borgata Poker Open.{{Cite web |title=2004 World Poker Finals, No Limit Hold'em Final Day - WPT |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7299 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2004 L.A. Poker Classic, No Limit Hold'em Championship - WPT |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=9906 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=World Poker Tour - WPT Borgata Poker Open, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14069 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} He finished 5th in the 2006 L.A. Poker Classic.{{Cite web |title=2006 L.A. Poker Classic, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=16320 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} All of these events were televised on the World Poker Tour (WPT).

Tran has cashed in the $10,000 no limit hold'em WSOP main event in both 2004 and 2005, finishing 117th both years.{{Cite web |title=35th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2004, World Championship Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=6628 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=36th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2005, No Limit Texas Hold'em - World Championship Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14015 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} Tran also finished 2nd in a World Series of Poker circuit event, winning $251,920.{{Cite web |title=WSOP Circuit - WSOPC Las Vegas, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=16204 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

On October 2, 2006, Tran won the main event at PokerStars' WCOOP, winning $670,000.{{cite web |url=http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/9/wcoop-eighteen-jc-tran-captures-main-event.htm |title=WCOOP #18, $2,500 NL Hold'em: J.C. Tran Captures Title in Main Event |access-date=April 24, 2008 |last=Hintze |first=Haley |date=October 2, 2008 |work=PokerNews.com}}

In February 2007, Tran finished 2nd in the 2007 L.A. Poker Classic, winning $1,177,010.{{Cite web |title=2007 L.A. Poker Classic, No Limit Hold'em - WPT Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=25908 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} On March 25 he won his first WPT title, the World Poker Challenge, earning $683,473.{{Cite web |title=World Poker Challenge, No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=26621 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} He was also the World Poker Tour's Player of the Year.{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2022 |title=WPT Season Five Player of the Year J.C. Tran Picks Up a Pot Main Tour WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas Season 2022 1C |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/live_update/season-five-wpt-player-of-the-year-j-c-tran-picks-up-a-pot-main-tour-wpt-world-championship-at-wynn-las-vegas-season-2022-1c-1200-600-1200/ |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=World Poker Tour |language=en-US}}

Notable victories include:

2003 Heavenly Hold'em, $300 limit hold'em: $74,150{{Cite web |title=2003 Heavenly Hold'em, Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=10914 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
2005 Rio Las Vegas Poker Festival, $1,500 no limit hold'em: $97,470{{Cite web |title=Rio Las Vegas Poker Festival, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=11470 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
2007 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic: $523,075{{Cite web |title=2007 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=29203 |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

On June 28, 2008, Tran won his first bracelet at the 2008 World Series of Poker in Event 49, $1,500 No Limit event besting a field of 2,718.{{Cite web |title=39th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2008, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=29722 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} Tran took home $631,170 in winnings.{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2008 |title=Congratulations to J.C. Tran – Champion of Event #49 ($631,170) |url=http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2008-world-series-of-poker/event-49-1500-no-limit-holdem/ |access-date=June 30, 2008 |website=PokerNews.com}} In all, Tran cashed in 7 events at the 2008 WSOP, good for $896,392 in total winnings and a 6th-place finish in the 2008 WSOP Player of the Year.[http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/players/2008.asp?sort=poypts 2008 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Standings], worldseriesofpoker.com

In November 2008, Tran won The PartyPoker.com Premier League III by beating Tony G in heads-up play. Tran took home $300,000 for winning first place at the final table.{{Cite web |title=PartyPoker.com Premier League Poker III, No Limit Hold'em - Final |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=33474 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

In June 2009, during the 40th Annual World Series of Poker, Tran won his second bracelet for winning the $2,500 Pot-limit Omaha event.{{Cite web |title=40th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2009, Pot Limit Omaha |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=35081 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

He has made the November 9 final table of the 2013 WSOP main event, where he started as chip leader but finished in 5th place, earning $2,106,893.{{Cite web |last=Narayanan |first=Vin |date=16 July 2013 |title=J.C. Tran the chip leader at the final table of the WSOP Main Event |url=https://www.casinocitytimes.com/vin-narayanan/article/j-c-tran-the-chip-leader-at-the-final-table-of-the-wsop-main-event-62383 |access-date=November 25, 2023 |website=Casino City Times}}{{Cite web |date=12 November 2013 |title=JC Tran Becomes a Father (Again) |url=http://www.bluffeurope.com/poker-news/en/JC-Tran-Becomes-a-Father-Again-_13807.aspx |access-date=November 25, 2023 |website=BLUFF Europe}}{{Cite web |title=44th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2013, World Championship - No Limit Hold'em (Event #62) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=80534 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

Tran used all his poker knowledge and experience to overcome a short stack and with the major support of his friends and family, he won the latest WPT event held at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Mar 15–19, 2014.{{Cite web |title=World Poker Tour - WPT Rolling Thunder, WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=200001 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

As a result of his second WPT title, he became only the 20th player in history to win multiple WPT events.

As of 2023, he has over $13,300,000 in live tournament winnings.{{Cite web |title=Justin Cuong Van Tran's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=18856 |access-date=April 19, 2018 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database}}

class="wikitable"
+ World Series of Poker results
Year ! Cashes ! Final Tables ! Bracelets
2004 \| 3 \| 2 \|
2005 \| 4 \| 1 \|
2006 \| 6 \| 1 \|
2007 \| 4 \| \|
2008 \| 7 \| 3 \| 1
2009 \| 4 \| 1 \| 1
2010 \| 2 \| \|
2011 \| 3 \| \|
2012 \| 2 \| \|
2013 \| 5 \| 1 \|
2014 \| 3 \| 2 \|

class="wikitable"

+ World Series of Poker results

Year

! Cashes

! Final Tables

! Bracelets

2004

| 3

| 2

2005

| 4

| 1

2006

| 6

| 1

2007

| 4

2008

| 7

| 3

| 1

2009

| 4

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 2

| 5

| 1

2014

| 3

| 2

Awards

ALL IN Magazine 2007 Poker Player of the Year [http://www.allinmag.com/poker/inside-poker/the-action/2014/05/30/20/30/march-2008-all-in-player-of-the-year-jc-trans Poker Player of the Year: J.C. Tran]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}