Johnny Chan, along with Doyle Brunson, are the only living card players to have twice won the World Series of Poker, played annually at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. His second victory, in 1988, is legendary: He lost the biggest pot in the history of the tournament, then cameback to take the title
He was immortalized in Rounders as he played himself as the best poker player in the world. Johnny Chan may be poker’s most well known name. He is a legend in thepoker world for winning ten World Series of Poker gold bracelets, tied for the most along withDoyle Brunson. But more impressively is that two bracelets were from back to back Championship events in 1987 and 1988. Amazingly he almost won in 1989 too, but finished second to Phil Hellmuth.
The ten gold bracelets from the World Series of Poker are from the twoChampionship events in 1987 and 1988, Limit Hold em in 1985, Seven-Card Stud in 1994, Deuce to Seven Draw in 1997, Omaha Pot Limit in 2000, No Limit Hold emand Pot Limit Hold em in 2003, Pot Limit Omaha in 2005, and the other bracelet was from the Gold Bracelet Match Play in 2002. The event was a series of heads up matches between previous bracelet winnersand the final two players were Chan and Phil Hellmuth Jr. He was inducted into the Poker Hall ofFame in 2002.
Notable tournament wins:
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 $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha $158,100
2005 $2,500 Pot Limit Hold’em $303,025
