Poker Player Profiles #8
Men “The Master” Nguyen: A real-life rags to riches story, Men escaped from Vietnam in 1978 and made it to Los Angeles, where he worked odd jobs and learned poker. He became a full-time professional player in 1990, and in 1996 won two WSOP bracelets. He has since won four more, and was named “1997 Player of the Year.” Part of his winnings are donated to two schools he has built in his native country of Viet Nam.
Scotty Nguyen: Scotty arrived in the US when he was 14 years old. He was introduced to poker in California, and is one of the highest earning professionals in the game. He won the WSOP Main Event in 1998, and the HORSE event, considered one of the poker world’s most prestigious wins, in 2008. He frequently visits his family in Vietnam, and gives much of his earnings to his large extended family there.
Puggy Pearson: A player from the olden days, Pearson won the WSOP Main Event in 1973, and was the second living person inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. He is credited, along with Benny Binion, with creating the poker tournament freeze-out concept and developing the World Series of Poker. He won four bracelets, and specialized in seven-card stud. Pearson passed away in April 2006.