Player Profiles: Scotty Nguyen

July 08, 2008 - Thomas Clarke

Name: Scotty Nguyen

Nationality: American (Born in South Vietnam)

Born: 28^th October 1962

Nickname: The Prince of Poker

Biggest win: $1,989,120 (WSOP 2008 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E event 1^st place)

Winnings to date: $9,705,861

Major titles: 6

WSOP bracelets/money: 5/36

Think You're as Good as Scotty Nguyen? Test your Skills at CelebPoker!

Scotty Nguyen is a quite remarkable poker player and person. Originally from South Vietnam he and his family survived a daunting trip from Vietnam to Thailand when he was 14 years old to try and have a better life. The boat that had 16 people on it was only supposed to be at sea for 2 days but they spent 23 days on the water. The day before their rescue plans were made to eat Nguyen's 12-year-old brother, luckily this never happened.

Fast forward to Sunday June 29^th 2008 and Scotty is celebrating the biggest win of his career his second million-dollar prize and his 5^th WSOP bracelet. He now has over $9.5million in tournament wins not bad for a kid from Vietnam.

Nguyen is one of the most pleasant and charismatic players on the poker tables hence why he got his nickname of "The Prince of Poker". He is also more importantly a prolific poker player and one of the most regular and also most successful players around.

In 1998 he famously beat American Kevin McBride heads-up to win the WSOP main event and the $1million first prize. In the now infamous final hand the board showed a full house and Nguyen said one of the most famous lines in WSOP history.

"You call this one, and it's all over, baby!" – Scotty Nguyen

McBride did indeed call, hoping to split the pot as he was playing the full house on the board, but Nguyen was holding a nine that gave him a higher house and gave him first place. Tragically Nguyen brother was killed in a car crash the next day in Thailand leading Nguyen to never wear his WSOP 1998 main event bracelet.

Nguyen nearly repeated his WSOP main event win in 2007 when he was strongly placed with 2 tables left but unfortunately was knocked out in 11^th place.

Nguyen continues to be one of the most entertaining players to watch on any table and his most recent win in the $50k H.O.R.S.E event simply underlines his name in the history books as one of the best players ever.

Think You're as Good as Scotty Nguyen? Test your Skills at CelebPoker!