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Jerry Yang (poker player)
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This article is about the poker player. For the Yahoo! co-founder, see Jerry Yang. Xao "Jerry" Yang (Traditional Chinese: 楊係, Simplified Chinese: 杨係, Pinyin: Yáng Xì) (born 1968) is a poker player from Temecula, California and the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event champion.
Yang started playing poker in 2005.[2] An amateur player at the time, Yang entered the 2007 World Series of Poker after winning a $225 satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.[3] Prior to the World Series, he had four cashes in local California events.[4]
At the final table, Yang went from starting eighth in chips to holding a big chip lead that he never relinquished. The process of accumulating this chip lead involved Yang knocking out seven of the eight other players at the final table. Heads-up against Tuan Lam, he won the title with 8♣ 8♦ against Lam's A♦ Q♦ when he hit a nine-high straight on the river after Lam had caught a queen on the flop. After a 12-hour final table, Yang had won US$8,250,000 for the victory.
Yang summarized his tournament strategy:[2]
I study my opponents very carefully, and when I sensed something, when I sensed some weakness, I took a chance. Even if I had nothing, I decided to raise, reraise, push all-in or make a call....The only way that I could win this tournament was by being aggressive from the very beginning and that’s exactly what I did. And thank God I was also able to pick up some good cards at the same time.
Once Yang was guaranteed a share of the prize money he pledged to donate 10% percent of his winnings to three charities (the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and the Ronald McDonald House),[2] as well as his alma mater, Loma Linda University.[5]
As a result of winning the Main Event, Jerry Yang currently ranks 12th in the all time money list for live tournaments.[6]
Yang also entered the 2008 main event, but was eliminated during Day 2b.[7]
Personal life
Yang, an ethnic Hmong, was born in Laos. When the communists took over in the 1970s, his family escaped to Thailand where they spent four years in a refugee camp. He lost a brother and sister while living in the camp. He and his family moved to the United States in 1979.[8]
Yang holds a Master's degree in health psychology from Loma Linda University and worked as a therapist and social worker. He quit his job after winning the World Series.citation needed He is married and has six children.[3]
Notes
- ^ USA Today: Who's who at the World Series of Poker's main event final table
- ^ a b c Yang wins $8.25 million World Series of Poker, an Associated Press article via MSNBC
- ^ a b Pokerpages.com Jerry Yang profile
- ^ Cardplayer.com: Jerry Yang
- ^ Sole survivor: Yang takes World Series of Poker, $8.25M from CBS SportsLine.com
- ^ thehendonmob.com All Time Money List
- ^ Jerry Yang Busts Out- Countdown at Main Event Day3 of World Series of Poker Continues
- ^ Poker Babes profile: Jerry Yang
External links
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