Nationality
Vietnamese-American
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Born (date and place of birth)
1954 in Phan Thiet, Vietnam
Residence (current location)
Bell Gardens, California, United States
Education (institution, specialization)
Dropped out of school at age 13; no formal higher education documented
Children (number, ages)
Three children
Year started playing poker
Began playing poker in 1984; first tournament win in 1987
Age when started playing
Approximately 30 years old
Year turned professional
Became professional around 1987 following first tournament win
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
1987 tournament win (exact event unspecified) shortly after starting poker, marking his initial breakthrough
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
Tutored by self-driven learning; he later mentored many including cousins David Pham and Minh Nguyen, and his wife Van Nguyen
First important tournament
Entered first important tournament in 1987, won his first tournament one year later after beginning weekend trips to Las Vegas in 1984
Main motivation for turning pro
Desire for financial independence and success; mastery of the game after early losses encouraged full-time dedication
Initial bankroll
Early bankroll built from weekend play losses turned winnings; bankroll size not specifically documented
Poker education (courses, coaches)
No formal poker courses documented; learned primarily through practice and mentoring others
Total live tournament winnings
Over $11,000,000 in live tournament earnings
Number of tournament wins
More than 95 tournament victories across career
Number of final tables
Over 50 final table appearances in major events
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
$394,807 for $10,000 Seven-card Stud WSOP event in 2010
WSOP bracelets (number)
7 WSOP bracelets: 1992, 1995 (2), 1996, 2003 (2), 2010
WSOP cashes (number)
About 134 WSOP cashes
WSOP final tables
At least 53 WSOP final tables
Best WSOP Main Event result
4th place in 1996 WSOP Main Event, $195,000 prize
All Time Money List position
Approximately 58th on US All-Time Money List as of 2024
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Consistent WSOP cashes almost every year since late 1990s, Player of the Year in 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Mixed games specialist, particularly Seven-card Stud and variants (Omaha hi-lo, Triple Draw, etc.)
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Primarily live tournaments specializing in mixed formats and stud games
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Plays various formats including six-handed and full ring
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Seven-card Stud, Seven-card Stud Hi-Lo, Limit Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Ace to Five Triple Draw Lowball
Specialization limits
Tournament play with buy-ins ranging from $1,500 to $10,000+
Favorite casinos/locations
Las Vegas venues, Bell Gardens, Southern California poker rooms
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Aggressive and savvy with a reputation for intense focus and experience in multiple poker variants
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for strategic trapping and aggressive play; reputation for occasional controversy
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combines experience-based intuition with deep mathematical understanding later in career
Style adaptability
Highly adaptable player across many poker disciplines and player styles
Playing strengths
Exceptional mixed games skill, tournament endurance, mentoring and psychological insight
GTO strategy usage
Modern GTO approach integrated along with decades of experience in live play
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Appeared in televised poker events including multiple WSOP broadcasts and WPT final tables
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Featured in Card Player magazine and PokerNews interviews
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Previously owned dry cleaning and furniture stores; sold to focus on poker
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
Well-known poker mentor for many Vietnamese professionals including David Pham and Minh Nguyen
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
David Pham, Minh Nguyen, Van Nguyen (wife)
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Featured in Card Player magazine, PokerNews, and other poker media outlets
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
Accusations of cheating and angle shooting throughout career, notably at WPT Gardens Poker Festival; denied all allegations
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
Involved in multiple controversies regarding chip handling and angle-shooting accusations, none proven definitively
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
Multiple disputes at WPT and other events related to conduct and allegations
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Subject of community criticism due to alleged unethical actions, with reputation impacted
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Consistently denied all cheating allegations and maintained innocence
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Card Player Magazine Player of the Year 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Regarded as a master and influential mentor in the poker community, especially among Vietnamese players
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
Card Player POY awards mentioned above
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Seven WSOP bracelets, over 95 tournament wins, four-time Card Player POY
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Among top players with seven WSOP bracelets, over 11 million in live earnings
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Mentor to many successful players; helped popularize poker in Vietnamese communities
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
Donates portion of earnings to charities in Vietnam; built a kindergarten in Vietnam with WSOP earnings in 1996
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Renowned as "Men the Master," one of the most successful and influential Vietnamese-American poker players in history
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Influential mentor and teacher; credited with training many tournament winners, shaping Vietnamese poker presence globally
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2024|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$777 Lucky 7s No-Limit Hold'em|777|835|$1,554|6292|||2024|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$800 Independence Day Celebration - No-Limit Hold'em|800|89|$5,560|6792|||2024|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$400 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold'em|400|27|$17,580|19303|||2024|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better|1500|28|$4,904|611|||2024|USA|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$300 Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Hold'em|300|19|$16,770|20647|||2010|USA|41st Annual World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Six Handed|5000|2|$412,746|||2010|USA|41st Annual World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship|10000|1|$394,807|||1996|USA|27th Annual World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|Main Event|unknown|4|$195,000|||1992|USA|23rd Annual World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$1,500 Seven-card stud|1500|1|$120,600|||
WSOP Circuit events
2005|USA|WSOP Circuit Event|Caesars Indiana|No-Limit Hold'em Championship|unknown|2|$243,200|||