David Dragon Pham

A poker biography of David Dragon Pham.

Quick Information Name - David "Dragon" Pham Born - February 10, 1967, Vietnam Poker Room - Not available

Biography

In a small unstable boat, 195 Vietnamese were on board trying to escape from their country to save their lives, brave the odds, and find their destiny in a foreign land -- the United States. It had not been easy for them to pass through the waters and reache their destinations. Many of them had died and most were besieged with fear of how they would survive. However, a 17-year-old lad who was also in the same boat, had not been scared because he knew that only in being frightened could he prove that he was brave enough to live and survive.

This was the story of a dragon -- a well-known figure in the poker realm. He is none other than David Pham, who was born in South Vietnam on February 10, 1967. It was during the time that he arrived in the United States that his rag-to-riches story began. He began as a worker in a cleaning company owned by his cousin Men Nguyen, who was a known master of poker. Under Nguyen's guidance, Pham learned everything he needs to know about poker. Eventually, Pham was able to join the society of poker players and became a dynamic participant in every event.

Due to his important contributions and triumphs in poker, he was awarded the title “Player of the Year” in 2000 by the Card Player Magazine. However, that was just the beginning of Pham's career in poker. In 2001, he joined the World Series of Poker (WSOP) where he received the most-coveted poker bracelet and defeated famous names of the field. After two years, Pham won nearly half a million dollar for winning in the L.A. Poker Classic. In this prestigious poker event, Pham defeated other big-name poker players like Erick Lindgren, Jennifer Harman, and fellow Vietnamese player, Bon Phan. Another $400,000 was added in his account in 2004 when he won over Alan Goehring in the Hold'em event of the Five Diamond World Poker Classic. In 2006, Pham received another valuable poker bracelet in the WSOP, making him one of the very few people who gained this achievement in the history of poker competitions. The strategies of Pham, who was given the nickname the Dragon, have been excellently honed after decades of experiences in the field.

Since the formation of the World Poker Tournament (WPT), David has made four attempts to conquer the finals but is yet to bring home the title. According to 2006 report, Pham has won a total of not less than $5.3 million from all the tournaments he competed in. Since he began joining poker games, Pham has a record of 158 clashes and 28 first-place winnings already.

At present, Pham is happily residing at Bell Gardens, California with his four children. A man with a generous heart, he also donates some of his poker winnings to different charities in Vietnam. After experiencing and achieving so much in life, it's already no wonder why this poker whiz is much admired by his fans and colleagues.