"Asians Rule!!!!!" FINAL SUMMARY: Asian Winners in the 2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker

Well, we didn't win all the events...we had about 2 or 3 bracelets out of all the 55 events. We placed in several of them in second and many in the top 10 minus maybe 3-4 events, but what matters most is WE, AS ASIANS, TOOK THE BIGGEST ONE OF THEM ALL THIS YEAR! On top of that, we also took the 2nd place prize with Tuan Lam battling it out with the eventual winner, Jerry Yang.

From the initial appearance of the name, you would think Jerry is Korean or Chinese, but from what's been reported, he's actually Laotian. He currently lives in Temecula, CA. Looks like the man qualfied from Full Tilt given all the Full Tilt garb he was wearing in the end. So, this ends the 3 year reign of Pokerstars winners taking the title and the gold bracelet in Las Vegas at the Rio.

Jerry picked up $8 and a 1/4 million for his efforts besting 6357 other players who paid $10,000 grand for a chance at this final prize. Tuan Lam didn't do too bad walking away with $4,840,981 dollars in the end. Lam had a little bit more history in playing these events or at least winning high enough to be recorded on Cardplayer's "player results" pages. Before finishing 2nd, he took money placings at last year's WSOP and the year before. Looks like Lam likes this event & after this year, I see him coming until the day he dies.

Yang, on the other hand, never had any official wins on the professional poker circuit. He's a virtual unknown and didn't have the "Hollywood" resume that last year's winner Jamie Gold had. However, what was reported was that this man was incredibly gracious in his win thanking almost everyone in the end. It took Jerry over 16 hours to beat his opponents on the final table in this event that lasted over 11 days. Yang probably thought he earned his keep in all the poker he played over the past 2 weeks.

Well, this conclusion to this year's WSOP goes to show that ASIANS RULE on the professional poker circuit & that everyone will take them more seriously, even though they already did up to this impressive win. However, just like in the business world, Asians understand what it takes to rise to the top. Congratulations brother Jerry & brother Tuan! I'm not coming at you for a loan, but will walk in your footsteps impressed and honored to be your Asian brother. Cheers!



Play Online Poker

WSOP 1st Prize DROPS 33% from last year!!!!

Couldn't resist writing this despite taking a break...

Can't believe it, but I guess George Bush's law cracking down on Internet gambling really squashed the WSOP numbers this year. The 1st prize pot should of grown to more than $12 million like last year when Jamie Gold won it, but it's at $8 million + instead this year.

One word: Stupid

The good thing is that there were thousands who played in almost every hold em event & that all events were stacked with great players.

Taking a break

Sorry folks, but we have to temporarily put this blog "on hold."

Unfortunately, I don't have the bandwidth to keep this up with about 10 other blogs & a few businesses besides. I have a bias and love Asians in Poker, but can't continue it.

If someone wants to continue this, just let me know. I'll give you editor rights & you can continue the blog. I'll furnish a lot of the ideas I had.

Continued luck to the Asian brothers and sisters on the Poker circuit!

Joanne 'JJ' Liu - Clearing Up Rumors, 2007 WSOP

Update #12: Asian Winners & Leaders in the 2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker

Play Online Poker

Event 33 - Pot-Limit Omaha, $1500 buy-in, Chau Giang in 5th earning $96,005 and 435 Player of the Year points [COMPLETE]

In Event 34 - Limit Hold'em, $3000 buy-in, Brandon Wong gets his 4th cash in this year's WSOP earning him $135,615 and 900 points in the Player of the Year race. In the The Milwaukee's Best Light Player of the Year Standings, he brings his total to 120 points and total winnings of $163,738. Only less than a handful of players have more cashes than him thus far (albeit many have 4 cashes as well). David Pham finished 4th with $62,906 in winnings. [COMPLETE]

Name Le took down $239,230 and 3rd place in Event 35 - No-Limit Hold'em, $1500 buy-in. Two thousand five hundred and fourty one players entered. Paul Cheung took 6th and a little less than $80k home with him. Edward Im placed just outside the top 10 in 11th. [COMPLETE]

Unfortunately, not a single Asian placed in the top 20 in Event 36 - World Championship Omaha High-Low 8/OB, $5000 buy. It's only the 2nd or 3rd event we couldn't get someone in the top 10. [COMPLETE]

Gioi Luong placed 7th in Event 37 - Pot-Limit Hold'em, $2000 buy-in, earning him $31,070 and 240 Player of the Year points. [COMPLETE]

Robert Cheung takes down another bracelet for the Asian diaspora in Event 38 - No-Limit Hold'em, $1500 buy-in. He takes home $673,628 for one of the bigger 1st place pots this year on top of 1,200 Player of the year points in the 2778 player strong field. Cheung is 3rd in total cash winnings only behind Burt Boutin and Phill Hellmuth. Andrew Lee took 5th and Suey Wong placed 7th cashing in $119,447 and $68,255 respectively. [COMPLETE]

Event 40 - Mixed Hold'em (Limit / No-Limit), $1500 buy-in, had 620 enter, but not a single Asian made the final table. J.C. Tran took 14th and $7,320 home. This was literally pocket change compared the $5,156,284 he's made so far in tournament winnings. [COMPLETE]

IN PROGRESS: In the $50,000 buy-in Event 39 - World Championship H.O.R.S.E. event, Kenny Tran sits on top of the 3rd largest pile of chips going into the final round. First place is set to be $2,276,832, the largest prize thus far in the tournament.

Event 41 - World Championship Seniors No-Limit Hold'em, $1000 buy-in - We like 'em young and use our older age for retirement it seems not many Asians even took part in this. As a result, no one really to note.

Unfortunately, another event and no Asians to speak of in the top 20. Event 42 - Pot-Limit Omaha High-Low 8/OB, $1500 buy-in had a few cashes in the 21st through 30th finishes, but nothing towards the top.

Either the Asians are getting weaker or they're taking a break because another event and not a signle Asian made the final table.

Event 43 - Limit Hold'em, $2000 buy-in Philip Nguyen finish in 18th though. 543 players entered Event 44 - Omaha High-Low 8/OB, $2000 buy-in and 79 players remain.

Update #11: Asian Winners & Leaders in the 2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker

Play Online Poker

Event 26 - H.O.R.S.E, $5000 buy-in is now COMPLETE. Repeating from the last update since it was "heads up" the last time we wrote & Yuebin Guo had already won 3rd place for $99,264 in winnings just ahead of Phil Ivey in 4th and Alexander Jung in 6th taking home $37,901. [COMPLETE]

Having 4 players on the final table in Event 27 - No-Limit Hold'em, $1500 buy-in, we had a really good chance of getting another bracelet. Young Cho did get heads up, but got edged out by a non-Asian to take home $382,357 and runner up. David Woo took 5th ($115,339), Thai Ton 9th ($36,340) and Benjamin Kang took 10th ($28,124). Nevertheless, Young Cho did beat 2314 other players to receive that honor. [COMPLETE]

My friend Jason Song finally hit the big time. He taught me Baccarat last year & I lost touch with him wondering if he was still on the trail for a big win. Well, I was right, but didn't realize he honed his skills well enough to take 3rd. He took home $212,274.00 for his first big win of his life and I'm sure many more. He did it against 826 other players in Event 28 - No-Limit Hold'em, $3000 buy-in. Phil Hellmuth tried to get his 12th WSOP bracelet, but Jason and others prevented that from happening . By the way Jason, if you ever read this, comment below your latest contact info. I'd love to reconnect. [COMPLETE]

Phi Nguyen took 7th in the 341 player full Event 29 - Seven Card Razz, $1500 buy-in. [COMPLETE]

Another final table was chalked full of Asians. Event 30 - No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed, $2500 buy-in, had 847 entries and 3 of the final table were Asians. Terrance Chan took 3rd ($287,345), William Lin took 3rd ($196,758) and Steve Wong took 7th ($47,339). [COMPLETE]

Heads up play is a unique brand of poker and in Event 31 - World Championship Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em, $5000 buy-in with 392 people testing their metal, Kevin Song took 9th and his 2nd cash of the series. [COMPLETE]

Asians don't seem to be fans of 7 Card Stud and in Event 32 - Seven Card Stud, $2000 buy-in only 213 players entered showing that maybe most people aren't as interested in the game. It showed with us only getting 12th with David cashing for the 3rd time this series. [COMPLETE]

Still in Progress: Even 33, Pot Limit Omaha with Chau Giang in 4th (in chips) and the final table set. David Pham and Brandon Wong (seeking his 4th cash of the 2007 WSOP) made the final table of the Limit Holdem event #34. Pat Cheung and Nam Le made the final table in the 2541 player deep Event #35 NL Holdem event. Down to 57 players in the PL event #37.

Scotty Nguyen vs. Daniel Negreanu at the WPT Tunica in an entertaining hand