AuzPoker

Name: Thuan Scotty Nguyen

Birthplace: Vietnam

D.o.B: October 28, 1962

Nguyen’s a Vietnamese American poker player, and is known for his animation and emotion on the felt. In the 1998 WSOP main event’s final hand, the board played a full house (9, 9, 8, 8, 8 ) and Nguyen jeered at his opponent, Kevin McBride, “You call, gonna be all over, baby!“. McBride called. It was all over; Nguyen played a higher full book, 9’s over 8’s. Nguyen never wears his 98 bracelet, because the following day his brother was struck by a car, in Vietnam, and killed.
After making a few WPT final tables, Nguyen eventually took down the event in 1996, making him just one of five players to win both the WSOP and WPT. As of 2008, his total prize pool is just shy of 10 million USD.

Name: Allen Cunningham

Birthplace: California

D.o.B: March 28, 1977.

Whilst not necessarily one of the most well-known poker players affiliated with the Full Tilt team, Allen’s definitely one of the most consistent. Allen utilizes a well-disciplined and analytical style of poker-play at the table, which is hard to find anywhere in the world. Introduced to poker at a young age, he dropped out of college at the age of 19, to play on the felt full-time. Constantly grinding and improving his game, Cunningham was counting down the days til the next big step up in his career. Unfortunately, it didn’t come for a while. In 1999, he finally caught a break; finishing top ten in six different tournaments, which was enough to replenish his bankroll and earn him the title of the “Best All-Rounder”.

Just four months after those tournaments, Allen took down second place in the 1000USD No Limit Hold’Em tourney,  and taking home the Seven-Card Stud event. Summer of 2000 saw him at the WSOP, where he proved himself to be a far more matured player than given credit for. He managed to his the top twenty  in five separate tournaments, with his top win earning him just over 113,000USD.

Fast forward to 2007, where he wins his fifth bracelet at the 07 WSOP, and is well-established as one of the most consistent and well-disciplined players at the tables.

Name: Jerry Yang

Birthplace: Laos.

D.o.B: 1968

Yang started playing poker in 2005 as an amteur. He had four minor cashes in local California events before winning a 225USD satellite to enter the world series of poker. Yang hit the final table with a short stack, but went on to knock seven of the remaining players out to go heads-up with Tuan Lam. He won with pocket 8’s against Lam’s suited AQ, catching a 9-high straight on the river after Lam flopped his Queen, taking home 8.25million USD. Yang revealed his tournament strategy:

I study my opponents very carefully, and when I sensed something, when I sensed some weakness, I took a chance. Even if I had nothing, I decided to raise, reraise, push all-in or make a call….The only way that I could win this tournament was by being aggressive from the very beginning and that’s exactly what I did. And thank God I was also able to pick up some good cards at the same time.

Once Yang was in a position that guaranteed him a share of the prize money, he pledged 10% of his rake to charity. As a result of his victory, Yang currently ranks 13th in the top winners of prize money in live games.

Name: Peter Eastgate

D.O.B: December, 1985

Birthplace: Odense, Denmark.

Peter’s main take comes from online poker, specializing in short-handed and heads-up high limit cash games. (200/400$ level) Widely regarded as one of the top online players from Denmark,  Eastgate is a high-school graduate who passed up college to pursue a dream of becoming a professional poker player. First going pro in ‘05, he recently took down the 2008 WSOP main event at the ripe age of 22, making him the youngest ever WSOP winner! Eastgate’s take from the event was just over 9million USD, after winning a seat via the Ladbrokes poker site.

Name: Jamie Gold.

Birthplace: California

Jamie Gold’s total winning amount to over 12million USD, after taking home the 2006 WSOP Main Event. His winnings after this event have left him as the biggest winner in poker history! He’s notoriously known for his cool attitude towards betting a load of money, with an ultra aggressive playing style countered by a calm countenance. Contrary to most players, who play with their poker-face intact, Jamie Gold is active, yet calm and composed all during his poker antics.

After his first major win, Gold terminated his current contract with Bodog (who originally brought him into the ranking for the World Series tournament), and went onto become the head of an entertainment company, Buzznation. In the latter months of ‘06, he began to work on a brand-name reality show, which should hit the screens in about a years time. He claims that he has a deep love for poker (specifically texas hold’em), and will continue playing the game… potentially launching himself far further ahead of the rest of the professional poker scene in terms of actual winnings - he is currently the biggest winner in WSOP history.

Name: Joe Hachem

Birthdate: Nov 3rd, 1966.

Birthplace: Lebanon

Joe was a Chiropracter by trade, but fell ill and decided to focus on poker. Prior to the win that made his name, Joe only really played online poker, and occasionally played at Crown casino in Melbourne. He finished 10th in the $1,000 NLHE World Series event, winning ~$26,000 before participating in the main event at the WSOP.

He won the 2005 WSOP Main Event (buy in of 10,000) to win a record-breaking $7.5million. As the short stack of the final table, he didn’t take the chip-lead until there were but 3 players remaining in the event. This brought about the hand known as the Hachem: 3,7o. In the final hand, Joe called a 300k to 700k raise with 3,7o, flopping 4,5,6, giving Hachem a straight. The turn bought an Ace, the money card, giving Dannenmann top pair with an open-ended draw. Hachem bet, Dannenmann raised, Hachem moved all-in and that ensured his victory. Hachem turned 7-3 offsuit into $7.5 million

If you’re interested in playing poker in Melbourne for cash, then you’ve actually got very limited options. Fortunately, the facilities at the one place that is available to you are great, and you’ll be able to spend a fortune (or win a fortune), whilst having a good time.

Sporting both old-school brick & mortar tables as well as new-school Poker Pro (electronic) tables, Crown Casino has got it all when it comes to poker. The lowest limit for Texas Hold’em has recently been bumped up, from 50c/1$, to 1$/2$ on the PP tables. I’ve personally been lucky enough to be at the tables with the likes of Joe Hachem, his wife and Shane Warne. It’s a great, relaxed environment to be in, where you’ll come across all kinds of players - both pro and fish alike.