Professional poker player, Men Nguyen, is known as “The Master.” Born in Phanthiet, Vietnam, today he lives in Bell Gardens, California. Nguyen is a respected player who is not only known for his great play but also for his compassionate nature. He works hard to give back to people in his home country and also was active in reaching out after the September 11th attacks.
Men Nguyen didn’t have an easy time himself. He came to the United States as a refugee. Not familiar with the language, it was difficult for him to find a job and support himself. When he was able to learn enough English, he got a job as a furniture mover and then as a machinist.
Nguyen was familiar with Five Card Stud, having played it in Vietnam. However, the rules were a bit different than those that govern the role in the States. Instead of jumping into a game of Five Card Stud, he began to play Seven Card Stud instead even though he didn’t know how to play. His first experience was disastrous. He lost more than $2,000 in one night. This was a huge sum of money for him and obviously a huge disappointment. However, he was determined to figure things out and thus, went back out the following weekend, winning $3500. After that, he became a regular at Caesar’s Palace.
In the latter part of the 1980s, Nguyen began participating in tournaments. In his first tournament, he competed in Seven Card Stud Eight or Better. He finished in 8th place. It would be another year before Nguyen would win a tournament of his own. This one would be an Eight or Better tournament, took place at the Bicycle Club and won him over $27,000.
Nguyen would soon take up No Limit Hold’em and begin competing in tournaments. His winnings in a Caesar’s Palace tournament helped him purchase a dry cleaning business and a furniture store. He ran these for a while but then eventually quit to become a full time professional poker player, after neither of his businesses panned out.
Men Nguyen has gone on to earn a reputation as a competitive and hard working poker player. He is also known to be an excellent poker instructor, demanding the best of his students. Nguyen is a self-admitted student himself, learning the game by watching other poker players compete.
Nguyen has had some pretty notable finishes and cashes in 2009. He won more then £25,918 at the WSOPE 2009 £10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event, finishing in 26th pace. Nguyen won £35,412 at the WSOPE 2009, £2500 Pot Limit-Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha, finishing in 4th place.
Three of Men’s largest wins ever were all over $100,000. He won $241,193 in the WPT Season 6 World Poker Open, $238, 756 in the 2006 WSOPC Caesars Indiana tournament (1st place finish) and $128,045 in the 2006 WSOP Event 38, No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball with re-buys, finishing in fourth place.
