A true rags to riches story, Johnny Chan grew up in Canton, China and moved to Arizona in 1968 and later to Texas where his family expected him to continue in their restaurant business but Chan had other plans. He would lie about going to the bowling alley so that he would sneak out to poker games.
Chan has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets in his career as well as numerous other wins and money finishes. Chan made an appearance in the poker movie Rounders. Chan got his nickname “The Orient Express” after his 1988 WSOP victory over Erik Seidel.
During poker tournaments Johnny keeps an orange in front of him at all times, and says that it helps to combat the aroma of cigarette smoke.
Chan’s 10 WSOP bracelet wins are:
1985: Winner WSOP Limit HoldEm
1987: Winner WSOP Main Event
1988: Winner WSOP Main Event
1994: Winner WSOP 7 Card Stud
1997: Winner WSOP Deuce to Seven Draw
2000: Winner Omaha Pot Limit
2002: Winner Gold Bracelet Match Play - The event was a series of heads up matches between previous bracelet winners and the final two players were Chan and Phil Hellmuth Jr. This time Chan was victorious.
2003: Winner WSOP Pot Limit HoldEm
2003: Winner WSOP No Limit HoldEm
2005: Winner WSOP Pot Limit Omaha
Besides those bracelet wins, Johnny has had several dozen other poker wins and money finishes.