| Men Nguyen | |
|---|---|
 Men Nguyen at the 2006 World Series of Poker | |
| Nickname(s) | The Master |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 6 |
| Money finish(es) | 62 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | 4th, 1996 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | 4(+1) |
| Money finish(es) | 8 |
Men "The Master" Nguyễn (born 1954 in Phan Thiet, Vietnam) is a Vietnamese-American professional poker player.
Early years
In 1967, he dropped out of school at age 13 and became a bus driver to help support his family.
In early 1978, a staunch anti-Communist, he escaped from the Communist regime of Vietnam by boat and sailed with 87 compatriots to Pulau Besar in Malaysia.
In 1978, he received political asylum from the United States and settled in Los Angeles, California. In 1986 he would become an American citizen.[1]
In 1984 he went on a junket to Las Vegas, Nevada and played poker for the first time in his life. He would continue to go every weekend and lose hundreds of dollars, earning him the nickname "Money Machine."[2] He quickly mastered the game, however, winning his first tournament in 1987.
With his poker winnings, he opened a dry cleaning business and furniture store, but sold them in 1990 because they took too much of his time and didn't make enough money. Through these businesses he would, however, meet and work with many Vietnamese people who would fall under his tutelage.
Professional poker career
Nguyen has over 120 finishes in the money from 2000 to 2004, and has won more than 75 tournaments.
Nguyen is known for tutoring players, many of whom go on to be successful in their own right, including his cousins David Pham and Minh Nguyen. At one time, Benny Behnen, grandson of Benny Binion, believed Nguyen trained more tournament winners than anyone else. Men receives a portion of some of his students' winnings.[3]
In 1991 one of his students gave him the nickname "The Master," and now he is widely known as "Men the Master." He donates a portion of the money he earns through tournaments and tutoring to charities in Vietnam, and in 1996, with the earnings from his final-table finish in the World Series of Poker, built a kindergarten in Vietnam.[1]
Nguyen won the Card Player Magazine Player of the Year award in 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005 and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished tournament players in the world.
As of 2008, his total live tournament winnings exceed $8,600,000.[4]
Controversy
Nguyen has been the subject of several allegations that he has cheated in tournament poker. In December of 2001, poker professionals Daniel Negreanu and John Juanda posted to a public message board accusing Men of collusion in tournament play.[5] The two claimed that Men colluded with other Vietnamese players that he was backing and also deliberately dumped his own chips to a player that he had a financial stake in. Nguyen denied these allegations, stating that the accusers were jealous of his success. In March 2008, poker pro Justin Bonomo publicly accused Men of cheating at the Commerce Casino. Bonomo claimed that Men was colluding with other Vietnamese players that he was backing, and also complained that Men was rude and abusive to dealers and tournament staff. [6]
World Series of Poker Bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | $1,500 Seven-card stud | $120,600 |
| 1995 | $2,500 Seven-card stud hi-lo | $96,000 |
| 1995 | $2,500 Limit Texas hold 'em | $110,000 |
| 1996 | $2,500 Omaha hi-lo | $110,000 |
| 2003 | $5,000 Seven-card stud | $178,560 |
| 2003 | $1,500 Ace to Five Triple Draw Lowball | $43,520 |
Notes
- ^ a b Poker-Babes.com: Men Nguyen profile by Shirley Rosario
- ^ PokerPages.com interview
- ^ Kaplan, Michael (2003-05-15). "Dealing With the Master". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ Hendon Mob tournament results
- ^ Rec.Gambling.Poker Usenet Archive
- ^ PartTime Poker News Article