Johnny Chan

Johnny Chan was born in 1957 in Canton China. At the age of 6 his family moved to Phoenix Arizona. Chan could not speak a lick of English and was teased a great deal as a child because he did not understand the language. The Chan family decided to move to Houston when Johnny was 12. His father owned a restaurant there and Johnny worked in till he was 21. Chan's father wanted him to continue the family business but Johnny had other plans. But lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet.
 
Being a young Asian boy in Houston Chan had a hard time. Chan found his calling in his late teenage years but it was bowling not Poker that Chan enjoyed more than anything. He would play poker when he was not bowling. One night at his father's restaurant he was playing nickel/dime/quarter poker with some friends when an air conditioning repairman asked him if he would like to sit in a different game. Chan asked what it would take to play and the man responded $300 to $500. Chan sat and won a little over 1k. He began winning every week until they told him they where canceling the game. Out of curiosity Chan went by the game on the respective night and all the normal cars where in the parking lot. Chan had been ousted because of his talents.

When Chan was only 16 years old he made his first trip to Vegas where he illegally sat with $500. In one night he had turned his $500 into a little over 20k. However, he lost it all the very next night.

At his fathers request Chan enrolled into the University of Houston to get a degree in hotel and restaurant management. Chan attended for short time then decided he needed action and a 30k a year job just would not cut it.

So in 1978 Johnny moved to Vegas. He started playing at the $3 tables because he only had a $120 bankroll. In those days Johnny was not a great player. He held Casino Jobs so that he could play in the games. He even hocked off much of his jewelry and positions so he could play. Doyle Bronson says "Johnny was a hot headed kid with some talent. But he couldn't keep his temper under control on know when to quite playing". Chan continued to be the "Fish of Las Vegas" until his son Jason was born in the early 80s.

Chan who used to smoke upwards of 4 packs of cigarettes a day quit smoking, started exercising, eating right and started playing right too. To help detour the smell of cigarettes Chan decided to bring an orange with him to the poker table. "I like that smell much better than cigarettes" says Chan. It has become his trademark at the table.

Still relatively unknown on the tournament trail Chan entered into Bob Stupak's(owner and founder of Las Vegas's Stratosphere where Johnny now owns a restaurant) America's cup tournament. Towards the end of the tournament Chan knocked out 13 of the final 16 players in a little over 30 minutes. He was quickly nicknamed "The Orient Express".

Chan was the first great Asian poker player. Since he broke into the game there has been a huge influx of great Asian players. There is over 50 Asian pro's on the pro tournament circuit today.

Chan's playing style is extremely aggressive. He has been called a bully at the table more than once. It has served him well. In 1987 he won the main event at the World series of poker. Then one year latter he came back and successfully defended his title. Poker enthusiast and Lakers Owner Jerry West was so impressed with Chan's performances that he promised if Chan had a three-peat he would give him a NBA championship ring. Amazingly Chan almost did it. In 1989 Chan found himself heads up at the final table against a relatively unknown punk kid named Phil Helmuth. Chan lost and the rest as they say is History.

Chan's 1988 victory over Erik Siedel was immortalized in the Matt Damon, Ed Norton Movie "Rounders". Johnny even had a cameo appearance where Mike McDermott(Matt Damon's Character) sits down at a 300-600 Holdem game with Chan. Mike plays tight and decides to bluff Chan on one hand and does so successfully. However, The editors cut out Chan's famous line after Mike takes it down.
Chan asks "Did you have it".
Mike answers "Sorry John I don't remember"
Edited out Chan Answers "What's yours is yours"

When asked about his tournament performances over the past few years Chan says "Tournaments are for people who want to be a celebrity, I am already a celebrity. I make my money in the ring games." Chan is not very modest. When asked about Amarillo Slim Preston (the 1972 winner of the WSOP) Chan replied "He won't even sit with me, I would eat him alive".

How much money he make? Chan declined to answer stating "The tax collectors don't need to know how much I make". Chan is a fan of the finer things in life. He has 3 Mercedes', one red convertible with a license plate reading 333JJ (One of Chan's big winning hands). He has a million dollar country club ranch in Las Vegas and likes to sport nice clothes and jewelry including a $15,000 Watch. After winning 75k in one session Chan said "This doesn't even cover my monthly expenses".

Chan's lifelong goal is to own his own Casino. He is well on his way. Including owning his own restaurant in the Stratosphere he has worked as a floor man and pit boss. Chan says he knows everything about running a casino. Most recently he has served as a poker room expert at Ft McDowell Casino just outside of Phoenix. As part of his job he plays tournament winners heads up. The first time he did this he beat the player in less than 10 minutes.

Johnny is a true legend of the game. His playing style was revolutionary and he continues to win consistently; even if it's not on ESPN.

Official Site - ChanPoker.com