Men Nguyen Rides Express Lane To The Peak Of Poker Prowess

Although it may not seem like it at first, the world poker is actually fertile ground in which deeply inspirational stories can grow.  The main reason for this is the fact that poker provides an opportunity for people to earn recognition and wealth while competing on a truly level playing field: players are rewarded and penalized based solely on skill regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, etc.  Men “The Master” Nguyen is a living legend of poker and embodies the life-changing effect the game offers.

A lot of pros started playing cards while they were children, generally around the family dinner table using buttons or candy as chips.  The childhood experiences of Men were quite different, living in Vietnam during extremely difficult political and culture times.  At 13, when many pros are sneaking into back rooms or raking in their friends allowance, Men was quitting school and taking a job driving buses to help support the family.

Helping his family was important to the young man and Men did whatever he could for quite awhile.  Men continued to grow and learn while the country becoming increasingly volatile.  Because of the persecution and unrest of the times, many people were leaving Vietnam by boat, risking everything while hoping of finding a safer life somewhere else.  Men was on one of those boats in 1978, along with almost 90 other people, and he was received political asylum in the United States later in the year.

Finding himself in about as foreign an environment as can be imagined, Men studied English and struggled to survive for 3 months before finally getting a part-time job delivering furniture.  After becoming more proficient in English, Men found work as a machinist and stayed in that profession for 8 years.

It wasn’t until 1984 that Men first found his way to Las Vegas and was introduced to American poker via a 7-card stud table.   Things were different in Vietnam, where Men had played five-card stud using only 28 cards (eights- aces).  Playing in America was basically like starting over completely fresh and he quickly earned the nickname “Money Machine,” which stemmed from his almost ATM like distribution of money.  Men made a quick study of his new hobby, however, and the name didn’t last long.

Men won his first poker tournament, at the Bicycle Club, in 1987 and could celebrate both the win and his citizenship, which he had received in the previous year.  Fellow players quit calling him Money Machine and Men quit his job so he could direct his focus at the cards.

A year later, Men was in a hold’em tournament and found himself pitted against World Series of Poker champion Johnny Chan.  1988 was the year Johnny won his second consecutive main event WSOP bracelet.  In contrast, Men had just started playing the popular poker variation earlier that year.  Johnny went all-in and Men called, knocking Johnny out and putting Men into the heads-up finale. 

Men later said that he technically should’ve folded against Chan but, at the time, didn’t know enough to realize it.  The “mistake” worked out well for Men when his head-up opponent offered a split and Men walked out of the casino $44,000 richer. 

Although he’d quit working to improve his game, Men used the money to buy a couple of businesses in Los Angeles.  It wasn’t long before Men realized that being a business owner couldn’t compare to sitting at a poker table.  Men works extremely hard at whatever he does and the hard work didn’t pay off as well behind a desk.  Less money and greater stress allowed Men made his options crystal clear and Men very easily sold businesses in 1990 and Men was playing poker professionally.

Men has won 6 WSOP bracelets, though he hasn’t brought home jewelry from the main event…yet.  Beyond the WSOP confines, he’s won tournaments around the world and is one of the top money players in the game.  While prolific success and legendary abilities can create an anti-social streak in some people,  Men has developed a unique reputation as one of the most open, friendly and helpful players in poker.

He is considered by many to be one of pokers greatest teachers and his nickname, The Master, was bestowed upon him by one of his many students.  Although he’s definitely busy winning his own money, Men has made himself available as teacher to many different people.  Learning from one of the absolute best, Men’s student have exacting standards to live up to with respect to both mechanics and ethics.

Because he has been so incredibly successful in poker, Men has been able to help people in ways that would’ve seemed impossible as he fleeing Vietnam.  He donated a great deal of money to help people in New York after the 9/11 attacks, he built a kindergarten in Vietnam and he regularly sends money to children there.