JC Tran

Born Justin Cuong Van Tran on January 20, 1977 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, J.C. Tran moved to the United States at a young age with his family. The youngest of eight children, Tran’s large family relocated to Sacramento, California, where he would go on to attend California State University, graduating with a degree in Business Management Information Studies.

After being introduced to poker by his brother on a visit to a casino on his 21st birthday, and playing in home games around his college campus, Tran began to build his bankroll playing $9/$18 at Capitol Casino in Sacramento.

Tran has gone on to establish himself as one of the most feared and respected tournament players in the world. He has become a regular on the World Poker Tour circuit, with his first notable cash coming in October 2004 as he finished 13th at the Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship for $30,000. Less than a month after this he went on to finish 5th at another WPT event, the 2004 World Poker Finals in Mashantucket, for $353,850.

In total Tran has reached 8 WPT final tables, winning the 2007 $5,000 NLHE Championship Event for a $683,473. This win also helped Tran to be named the WPT Player of the Year for 2007.Tran has been successful at the World Series of Poker with 40 in-the-money finishes, 8 final tables, and two bracelets. His two bracelets came in 2008 and 2009, with Tran showing his versatility taking down the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em and the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha. Tran has also shown himself to be a highly capable online player: he won the main event of the 2006 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker for $670,000.

Tran is also currently a member of the 2013 November Nine, and will go into the final table as chip leader with eight million chips more than second place, and favourite to take down the Main Event. Tran has the opportunity to be the first big-name professional player to win the WSOP Main Event since Carlos Mortensen took it down in 2001; though ironically Tran eliminated Mortensen in 10th place this year, making him the final table bubble-boy. This is Tran’s first deep run in the Main Event, and with a good chip lead and a reputation as one of the strongest and most reliable tournament players of our era, he has a fantastic chance to take down the big one.