Johnny Chan
{{Short description|American poker player (born 1957)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{About|the poker player|the actor|Johnny Chan (actor)}}
{{redirect|Chen Jinhai|the lawyer|Adrian Tan}}
{{Infobox poker player
|name = Johnny Chan
|nickname = Orient Express
|image = Johnny Chan 2008.jpg
|caption = Johnny Chan at the 2008 World Series of Poker
|residence = Las Vegas, Nevada
|birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1957}}
|birth_place = Guangzhou, China
|death_date =
|death_place =
|wsop bracelet count = 10
|wsop final tables = 27
|wsop money finishes = 45
|wsop main event best finish rank = Winner
|wsop main event best finish year = 1987
|wsop main event best finish year 2 = 1988
|wsop main event best finish year 3 =
|wsop main event best finish year 4 =
|wpt titles = 0
|wpt final tables = 0
|wpt money finishes = 6
|ept titles =
|ept final tables =
|ept money finishes =
|updated = 2014-01-24
}}
{{Chinese|title=Johnny Chan|t=陳金海|s=陈金海|p=Chén Jīnhǎi|j=Can4 Gam1hoi2|t2=陳強尼|s2=陈强尼|p2=Chén Qiángní}}
Johnny Chan ({{zh|t=陳金海}};He has another Chinese name "Chen Qiangni" ({{zh|t=陳強尼|s=陈强尼|p=Chén Qiángní|first=t}}) which is also commonly used by Chinese-language media. It is a transliteration of "Johnny Chan" (as "Chen" for "Chan", "Qiangni" for "Johnny") rather than his Chinese birth name. (born 1957) is an American professional poker player. He has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, including the 1987 and 1988 World Series of Poker main events consecutively.
Early life
Chan moved with his family in 1962 from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, then in 1968 to Phoenix, Arizona, and later in 1973 to Houston, Texas, where his family owned restaurants. He started playing cards with the staff of the restaurant.
When he was 21, Chan dropped out of the University of Houston, where he was majoring in hotel and restaurant management, and moved to Las Vegas to become a professional gambler.
However, his first live casino experience was before his 21st birthday. During a visit in Las Vegas at the age of 16, Chan managed to buy in for a cash game, allegedly turning $500 into $20,000 in one night, before losing the whole $20,000 the next day.{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2020 |title=Johnny Chan's Life: Biggest Profits, Losses and Net Worth |url=http://somuchpoker.com/johnny-chans-life-biggest-profits-losses-private-life-net-worth/ |access-date=September 21, 2020 |website=Somuchpoker |language=en-US}}
Poker tournaments
=World Series of Poker=
Chan won his first WSOP bracelet in 1985 in a Limit Hold'em event.{{Cite web |title=16th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1985, Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8047 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} Chan won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1987 and 1988 becoming the first foreign national to win the main event.{{Cite web |last=Krier |first=Beth Ann |date=May 15, 1989 |title=Could Three Consecutive World Titles Bring Even More Luck to Poker Ace Johnny Chan? : Big Deal |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-15-vw-233-story.html |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=18th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1987, No Limit Hold'em World Championship |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8035 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=19th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1988, No Limit Hold'em World Championship |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8023 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} A videotape of the 1988 WSOP final heads-up match is featured in the 1998 movie Rounders, in which Chan makes a cameo appearance. He almost won a third consecutive title, but finished as the runner-up in 1989 to Phil Hellmuth.{{Cite web |title=20th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1989, No Limit Hold'em World Championship |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8011 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} He is the last player to win back-to-back WSOP Main Events.
Chan added bracelets with victories at the WSOP in 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2002.{{Cite web |title=25th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1994, Seven-Card Stud |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7905 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=28th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1997, No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7814 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=31st World Series of Poker - WSOP 2000, Pot Limit Omaha |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1974 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=33rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 2002, No Limit Hold'em - Gold Bracelet Match Play |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=4396 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
In 2003, Chan won his eighth and ninth bracelets in Pot Limit Omaha and No Limit Hold'em events, both with a $5,000 buy-in.{{Cite web |title=34th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2003, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=5532 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=34th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2003, Pot Limit Omaha |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=5541 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
In 2005, Chan became the first player to win ten World Series of Poker bracelets, defeating Phil Laak in a $2,500 Pot Limit Texas hold 'em event.{{Cite web |title=36th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2005, Pot Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8809 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} He is currently tied with Doyle Brunson and Erik Seidel for third place with 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, behind Phil Ivey (11) and Phil Hellmuth (17). He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.{{Cite web |title=Poker Hall of Fame |url=http://www.pokerpages.com/pokerinfo/hallofame/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125045458/http://www.pokerpages.com/pokerinfo/hallofame/ |archive-date=January 25, 2009 |website=PokerPages.com}}
In 2008, Chan cashed for the first time in the Main Event since 1992, earning $32,166 for his 329th-place finish.{{Cite web |title=39th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2008, World Championship No Limit Hold'em: Hendon Mob Poker Database |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=29730 |access-date=July 31, 2021 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
In 2010, Chan cashed in the Main Event taking 156th place for $57,102.{{Cite web |title=41st World Series of Poker - WSOP 2010, World Championship - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=40145 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
Chan's last recorded cash dates back to 2019, when he had a fairly deep run in the WSOP Main Event, eventually busting in 560th place.{{Cite web |last=Peckaitis |first=Tadas |title=What Ever Happened To Johnny Chan? |url=https://www.casino.org/blog/what-ever-happened-to-johnny-chan/ |access-date=April 9, 2021 |website=Casino.org|date=April 9, 2021 }}
==World Series of Poker Bracelets==
| class = "wikitable"
!Year !Tournament !Prize (US$) |
| 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
|2003|$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha |$158,100 |
| 2005
|$2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em |$303,025 |
=Poker Superstars=
Chan competed in the $400,000 Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament in February 2005. He came back from having $20,000 chips out of $3,200,000 in play to finish in second place to Gus Hansen.{{Cite web |title=Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, Grand Final |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=15494 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} Chan later competed in Poker Superstars II during the summer of 2005. He defeated 22 players to make it to the finals. He defeated Todd Brunson in the finals after three matches to win the $400,000 first prize.{{Cite web |title=Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 2, Grand Final |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=16775 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} Chan appeared in Poker Superstars III where he made it as far as the semi-finals but was defeated by Todd Brunson after three matches.
= Poker After Dark =
On NBC's late-night show Poker After Dark, a six-person $20,000 buy-in winner-takes-all tournament, Johnny Chan has the most victories to date with four wins in six appearances. He came in second and fifth when he did not win.{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season IV, Week 2 - Nets vs Vets |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=32771 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
His appearances in which he made it to heads-up were:
- WSOP Champions — originally aired January 15–20, 2007 — Won heads-up against Chris Moneymaker{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season I, Week 3 - WSOP Champions |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=26377 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
- Champions Week — originally aired June 11–16, 2007 — Lost heads-up against Joe Hachem{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season II, Week 1 - Champions Week |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=27852 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
- World Champions — originally aired February 11–16, 2008 — Won heads-up against Phil Hellmuth{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season III, Week 4 - World Champions |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=31141 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
- International — originally aired February 25 – March 1, 2008 — Won heads-up against Patrik Antonius{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season III, Week 6 - International |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=31236 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
- Dream Table III — originally aired March 23–27, 2009 — Won heads-up against Jennifer Tilly{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season V, Week 2 - Dream Table III |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=34938 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
=Other tournaments=
Chan won Bob Stupak's 1981 American Cup poker tournament. He defeated all 9 other players at the final table in less than an hour. As a result, Stupak gave Chan the nickname "the Orient Express".
Chan won the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em tournament at the America's Cup of Poker in consecutive years in 1982 and 1983.{{Cite web |title=America's Cup Of Poker 1982, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=25148 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=America's Cup Of Poker 1983, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=25150 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
Chan played in the 2004 and 2005 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions events and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship in the same years.{{Cite web |title=World Series of Poker - WSOP Tournament of Champions 2004, No Limit Hold'em - Tournament of Champions |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8564 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=World Series of Poker - WSOP Tournament of Champions 2005, Tournament of Champions - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14994 |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
As of 2023, his total live tournament winnings exceed $8,700,000.{{Cite web |title=Johnny Chan's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=44 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} His 54 WSOP cashes account for $4,715,015 of those winnings.{{Cite web |title=Johnny Chan |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=262 |access-date=April 2, 2024 |website=WSOP.com}}
Personal life
In addition to playing poker, Chan owns a fast-food franchise in the Las Vegas Stratosphere Hotel and is a consultant for casinos and game makers. Chan has written for Card Player magazine. He appeared in the first (2006) and 2011 seasons of the GSN series High Stakes Poker.{{Cite web |last=Cacovean |first=Alexandra |date=January 18, 2018 |title=High Stakes Poker TV Show Is Back... On YouTube |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2018/01/high-stakes-poker-is-back-on-youtube-29722.htm |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}
In 2005, Chan collaborated with Mark Karowe to release Play Poker Like Johnny Chan ({{ISBN|1-933074-48-5}}), an instructional book on several different types of poker.{{Cite book |last1=Chan |first1=Johnny |last2=Karowe |first2=Mark |date=January 1, 2005 |title=Play Poker Like Johnny Chan, Book One: Casino Poker |publisher=Top PLayer Media LLC |isbn=1933074485 |language=English}} On November 28, 2006, the follow-up titled: Million Dollar Hold'em: Winning Big in Limit Cash Games ({{ISBN|1-58042-200-4}}), which focuses on limit hold'em strategy, was released.{{Cite book |last1=Chan |first1=Johnny |last2=Karowe |first2=Mark |date=November 28, 2006 |title=Million Dollar Hold'em: Limit Cash Games |publisher=Cardoza Publishing |isbn=1580422004 |language=English}}
In 2007, Chan launched an online poker room, ChanPokerOnline.com. It closed in August 2008.{{Cite web |title=ChanPokerOnline Closes Down: The End for the Johnny Chan Casino |url=http://casinosmack.com/blog/chanpoker-closes-down-the-end-for-the-johnny-chan-casino/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713074114/http://casinosmack.com/blog/chanpoker-closes-down-the-end-for-the-johnny-chan-casino/ |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |publisher=Casino Smack}}
Chan is a former smoker who also does not drink alcohol.{{cite web|title=Johnny "Oriental Express" Chan|website=Poker.com|url=https://poker.com/poker-pros/johnny-chan/|access-date=29 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728202950/http://www.poker.com/poker-pros/johnny-chan-poker-pro.htm|archive-date=28 July 2017}}
Chan wrote a regular article in the bi-monthly magazine Trader Monthly.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
=In popular culture=
Johnny Chan portrayed himself in the 1998 film Rounders.{{Cite web |last=Seaton |first=Paul |date=March 16, 2020 |title=Johnny Chan - Rounders Movie Legend |url=https://www.pokergonews.com/articles/johnny-chan-rounders-movie-legend/ |access-date=July 28, 2021 |website=PokerGO News |language=en-US}} In a flashback scene, Chan is bluffed out of a pot by the main character Mike McDermott (Matt Damon).{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=September 10, 2023 |title=Rounders 25th Anniversary: Johnny Chan Reflects on Cameo, Meeting Matt Damon & More |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/09/rounders-25th-anniversary-johnny-chan-44424.htm |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}
He also appeared in the 2009 Hong Kong movie Poker King as himself.{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2009 |title=Johnny Chan: Chinese Poker Movie "Can Easily Be Bigger Than Rounders." |url=http://www.bluffeurope.com/poker-news/en/Johnny-Chan-Chinese-Poker-Movie-Can-Easily-Be-Bigger-Than-Rounders-_5367.aspx |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=BLUFF Europe}}
Notes
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Johnny Chan (poker player)}}
- [http://goldsea.com/Personalities/Chanjohnny/chanjohnny.html Goldsea article and interview]
- [https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/2892-johnny-chan Card Player profile]
- [https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=44 Hendon Mob profile]
- [http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player_johnny-chan PokerListings profile]
- [https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/johnny-chan/ PokerNews profile]
- [https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/johnny-chan/ WPT profile]
- [https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=262 WSOP profile]
{{WSOP Main Event champions}}
{{Poker Superstars Winners}}
{{1980s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{1990s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{2000s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{Poker Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chan, Johnny}}
Category:Hong Kong emigrants to the United States
Category:Sportspeople from Guangzhou
Category:Poker players from the Las Vegas Valley
Category:Poker After Dark tournament winners
Category:Super Bowl of Poker event winners
Category:University of Houston alumni
Category:World Series of Poker bracelet winners