Sick Call Kenny Tran, Hevad 'Bulldozer' Khan, Jerry 'One Million' Yang, Philip 'Blow Up' Hilm, and Raymond 'Dunking on Youngsters' Rahme were amidst some of.
Jerry Yang started with nothing. He will never forget where he came from and is never takes his poker success – or how far he has come – for granted.
Tough and Challenging Beginnings for Jerry Yang
- 2007 WSOP Champion - Jerry Yang Hand #205 - Jerry Yang has the button and raises to 2.3 million. Tuan Lam moves all in for 22.2 million, and Yang thinks for about ten seconds before he calls.
- He has worked as a social worker and therapist but stopped working after he won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 2007. He converted $225 into over $8.2 million. He made the $225 after winning a satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.
Jerry Yang was born with nothing. He began his life in Laos as an ethnic Hmong but moved to Thailand in the 1970s following the political unrest in the country and the ultimate takeover of the communists. They lived for four years in a refugee camp, where 2 of his siblings died. In 1979 the family moved to America where Yang lives today with his wife and six children.
Yang fought hard to give himself a better life and earned a Masters degree in health psychology. He has worked as a social worker and therapist but stopped working after he won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 2007. He converted $225 into over $8.2 million. He made the $225 after winning a satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. It wasn't even a close call for the 16 hours he played; he had all the players fighting for their lives pretty much from beginning to end. In 2007 he got the WSOP bracelet.
Because of what he has been through, Jerry Yang is a poker player with more than just a heart. He cares and puts his money where his mouth is. He will never forget the day his father was told the family could come to America. For him, winning means he can use his money for the greater good as well as himself. He wants to give something back and thus committed 10% of his winnings to 3 different charities.
Jerry Yang's Poker Career
Jerry began his poker playing in 2005 and, at the time, could not have been considered more than just an amateur. But he caught on quick and by the WSOP Yang had received four cashes in local events. Jerry is known for his poker playing strategy. He likes to study his opponents in the hope of beating them at the tournaments. He tries to figure out any weakness and then zoom in on it.
How Jerry Has Matured In His Game
Jerry wasn't always like this though. When he played at Full Tilt Poker.com, Jerry was a bit of a wild card. But it didn't take long for him to get smart and gain control. He quickly nailed 7 out of 8 of his opponents thereafter. It was probably his psychology and social work background that helped him not only focus on his own weaknesses at the table and get a hold over them, but those of his opponents too. Anyone who is a half-decent poker player will understand that the game is so much more than just the cards – strategy, focus and understanding of what is going on around you, is a huge part too.
Jerry Yang is a true rags to riches story. Following in the tradition of previous World Series of Poker champions, Jerry turned $225 into more than $8.2 million. Bursting onto the poker scene in extraordinary fashion, Yang controlled the nearly 16 hours of final table play from start to finish. He emerged with the coveted WSOP bracelet as 2007 Main Event Champion.
2007 Wsop Main Event Champion
Humble Beginnings
Born in Laos, Jerry Yang grew up poor in a politically unstable environment. His humble upbringing has helped him keep his new stature as WSOP Champion and millionaire in perspective. Yang told ESPN in a post-match interview: 'The day the American government called my father's name and said, ‘Hey, you can come to America,' that was the happiest day of my life. My winning today also means a lot to me, because I know that I can use this money to do a lot of good for other people out there.' Socially conscious, Jerry is determined to give something back. He pledged 10% of his winnings to three different charities − the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and the Ronald McDonald House.
Final Table Play
Tough and Challenging Beginnings for Jerry Yang
- 2007 WSOP Champion - Jerry Yang Hand #205 - Jerry Yang has the button and raises to 2.3 million. Tuan Lam moves all in for 22.2 million, and Yang thinks for about ten seconds before he calls.
- He has worked as a social worker and therapist but stopped working after he won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 2007. He converted $225 into over $8.2 million. He made the $225 after winning a satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.
Jerry Yang was born with nothing. He began his life in Laos as an ethnic Hmong but moved to Thailand in the 1970s following the political unrest in the country and the ultimate takeover of the communists. They lived for four years in a refugee camp, where 2 of his siblings died. In 1979 the family moved to America where Yang lives today with his wife and six children.
Yang fought hard to give himself a better life and earned a Masters degree in health psychology. He has worked as a social worker and therapist but stopped working after he won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 2007. He converted $225 into over $8.2 million. He made the $225 after winning a satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. It wasn't even a close call for the 16 hours he played; he had all the players fighting for their lives pretty much from beginning to end. In 2007 he got the WSOP bracelet.
Because of what he has been through, Jerry Yang is a poker player with more than just a heart. He cares and puts his money where his mouth is. He will never forget the day his father was told the family could come to America. For him, winning means he can use his money for the greater good as well as himself. He wants to give something back and thus committed 10% of his winnings to 3 different charities.
Jerry Yang's Poker Career
Jerry began his poker playing in 2005 and, at the time, could not have been considered more than just an amateur. But he caught on quick and by the WSOP Yang had received four cashes in local events. Jerry is known for his poker playing strategy. He likes to study his opponents in the hope of beating them at the tournaments. He tries to figure out any weakness and then zoom in on it.
How Jerry Has Matured In His Game
Jerry wasn't always like this though. When he played at Full Tilt Poker.com, Jerry was a bit of a wild card. But it didn't take long for him to get smart and gain control. He quickly nailed 7 out of 8 of his opponents thereafter. It was probably his psychology and social work background that helped him not only focus on his own weaknesses at the table and get a hold over them, but those of his opponents too. Anyone who is a half-decent poker player will understand that the game is so much more than just the cards – strategy, focus and understanding of what is going on around you, is a huge part too.
Jerry Yang is a true rags to riches story. Following in the tradition of previous World Series of Poker champions, Jerry turned $225 into more than $8.2 million. Bursting onto the poker scene in extraordinary fashion, Yang controlled the nearly 16 hours of final table play from start to finish. He emerged with the coveted WSOP bracelet as 2007 Main Event Champion.
2007 Wsop Main Event Champion
Humble Beginnings
Born in Laos, Jerry Yang grew up poor in a politically unstable environment. His humble upbringing has helped him keep his new stature as WSOP Champion and millionaire in perspective. Yang told ESPN in a post-match interview: 'The day the American government called my father's name and said, ‘Hey, you can come to America,' that was the happiest day of my life. My winning today also means a lot to me, because I know that I can use this money to do a lot of good for other people out there.' Socially conscious, Jerry is determined to give something back. He pledged 10% of his winnings to three different charities − the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and the Ronald McDonald House.
Final Table Play
Friend of the online poker room Full Tilt Poker, Yang was the wild card when final table play began, but quickly took control. Displaying nerves of steel, he built up a huge chip stack and proceeded to dominate the action, knocking out seven of his eight opponents.
When it came down to heads-up play, the 2007 WSOP winner called his opponent's all-in bet with pocket eights. His opponent turned over A-Q off-suit, and the race was on. The flop brought a Queen and Jerry fell behind, but the turn gave him some outs as he'd developed a gut-shot straight draw. The miraculous river card – a 6 – completed his straight, and Jerry let out an ecstatic scream as he was crowned champion of the Main Event. After making a victory lap around the table and celebrating with his friends and family, Jerry made sure the dealer didn't get left out, giving her a giant hug as well.
2007 Wsop Main Event Winner
Outside of Poker
2016 Wsop Champ
Yang now lives in Temecula, California. Jerry Yang is more than a poker player − he is a psychologist and social worker with a Masters Degree in health psychology. He is married with six children, and always makes sure to kiss a picture of his kids before he goes all-in.
